Consumer complaint received 2018-06-14
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: AZ
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
This is in regards to my personal account for a potential scam to obtain funds from my chase banking accounts claiming to do a QA assignment I was provided ( see attached ). I have contacted Chase in regards to my personal account. An Alert from Chase about Your ATM Deposit {$2400.00} made XXXX From : Chase XXXX To : XXXX   XXXX Date : Wed, XX/XX/2018, XXXX XXXX The amount shows pending but is in my checking balance. 

I received a message from someone who is known to me via XXXX with an employment opportunity. on XX/XX/XXXX as follows : A reputable market research firm is looking for part-time XXXX XXXX to help evaluate customer service in the USA. I just thought to let you know that I and two of my friends have been participating in it during our leisure time for nine weeks now and I must confess it has been awesome and rewarding since I was introduced to this extra income opportunity by one of my contacts XXXX. The program is flexible-hour setup where a company pays you to pose like a regular customer and then provide feedback to the company on things like how clean the store was or how well the employees interacted with you. You can earn as much as three thousand dollar s a month and it is fun and rewarding. 

-It is secure and hundred percent legitimate unlike other part-time programs out there. 
-You do not need more than 1 or 2 hours per assignment as it involves retails stores around you. 
-No work experience in marketing or research is required. 

You can sign up through the secured URL below if you or anyone you know is interested and they will get back to you with more details. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX I am sure it will help take care of some bills just the way it does for me. 

XXXX XXXX. 
<XXXX. The> ( an attachment ) I contacted the agency through the link provided and received this response via email. 
CONGRATULATIONS : YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED From : XXXX XXXX XXXX To : XXXX   XXXX Date : Fri, XX/XX/2018 XXXX XXXX Welcome Shopper, Your information was received via a secured server in accordance with a referral from one of your XXXX contacts concerning a part-time discreet shopper job. The contact details you filled in our application form have been verified and stored in our database. Here is your unique I.D number XXXX, we hereby confirm your entry as one of the candidates for the role of a XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX is one of the most effective market research companies in the world as reflected in our yearly ranking among the top market research firms. Our goal is to offer a clear view of the dynamics for success in todays complex and competitive marketplace. Through our custom quantitative and qualitative approaches, we provide global brands with the most strategic and actionable guidance to deliver better business performance and growth. 

MYSTERY SHOPPING PROGRAM Mystery Shopping is a tool used by companies to measure the quality of the goods and services they provide. Shoppers are sent by companies to act as typical shoppers to interact with the business and report back on the experience of the goods and/or services received. The reports provide a tool for management to assess the quality and performance of the goods and services they provide. At no time does the shopper reveal the real purpose of the visit. 

Our shoppers look upon shopping as an opportunity to help improve service levels at the places they like to frequent. Our shoppers are conscientious, reliable and objective. They approach each new assignment as if it were the first time they had ever heard of the store. They only accept assignments, which they will complete on time, objectively, and without bias. They know the importance of following directions, they read and follow each client 's evaluation criteria to the letter. 

JOB DESCRIPTION : *You will receive funding for each assignment. 
*You will receive the instruction for your assignment via mail on the location and details of the assignment. 
*You are to complete the assignment as fast and discreetly as possible. 
*You will be asked to visit a business location to conduct business be it a restaurant, shopping store etc. 

PAYMENT TERMS : You will receive a flat sum of {$300.00} per assignment and you will be working on at least two assignments per week. The company will furnish you with all expenses needed for the assignment and any other expenses incurred during the course of executing your assignment. 

ASSIGNMENT UPDATE : Your first assignment instruction will be sent to you via email next week prior to the delivery of your first package, the envelope will be delivered to you via USPS Priority Mail. There are no hidden fees, theres no catch. You can earn money doing something you probably love. 

Kindly answer the questions below : 1. Do you have any of these departmental stores around you? 
XXXX 's, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX. 

2. Do you have an XXXX store close to you? 

3. Do you have a Post Office near you? 

NOTE : Please confirm the receipt of this email by sending a text to ( XXXX ) XXXX and endeavor to always check your inbox and SPAM/JUNK folders for updates from us. You can also add this email ( XXXX ) to your address book. 


Best Regards, XXXX XXXX, Head of Recruitment, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

At this point, I received an envelope via USPS next day containing a letter and a check for XXXX $ instructing me to deposit the check and await instructions for the assignment which was emailed to me as follows. FIRST ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS You flagged this message From : XXXX XXXX XXXX To : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date : Tue, XX/XX/2018 XXXX XXXX Attachments Shopper Assessment F ... rtf ( 47 KB ) Hello XXXX, Mystery shopping is used by watchdog organizations or even companies themselves to measure certain parameters such as customer service, product selection, agent fairness, etc. It is an information gathering and quality assurance tool used by market research companies like us. Congratulations you have received your first assignment package. With it you have a check of {$2400.00}, you are to deduct your commission which is {$300.00}. The rest will be used for your assignment. Complete your mystery shopping assignment as stated below : Deposit the check received with this package at your bank and proceed with your assignment after it clears ( which should be in 24 to 48 hours ) XXXX GIFT CARD You are to evaluate the nearest store selling XXXX GIFT CARD. 
Visit any of these stores around you to purchase XXXX gift cards : XXXX 's, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX and XXXX. 

Go to the register and add cash of {$500.00} each to four cards -Total : {$500.00} x 4 =  {$2000.00} OR {$200.00} each to ten cards -Total : {$200.00} x 10 = {$2000.00} depending on which denomination of cards that is available at your chosen store. 

AFTER PURCHASE OF CARDS 1 .Open the pack and peel the silver scratch-off area 2.  Capture images of card front and back and purchase receipt. 
3. We will give you instructions on what next to with the cards.

4. The balance of {$130.00} would be used for a subsequent assignment.

5. You are required to purchase the cards with cash. 

Please do not discard the cards as they will be used for your subsequent assignments. 

Here are the details we will need from the SURVEY, you can also find the assessment form attached to this email. 

-Store Name, Address, Date and time of visit - -Name of the cashier/Attendant { if visible on Tag ) -Did the store clerk thank you upon completion of your purchase? 
-What was your overall experience with the staff in the store? 
-How long it took you to get check out -Captured images of card front and back and the purchase receipt ( Phone camera accepted ) At any store chosen for your XXXX GIFT CARD, under no circumstances should you acknowledge that you are evaluating their services as that will deter the purpose of the whole program, so if asked if you are a mystery shopper please answer NO. 

As soon as the evaluations are completed, kindly complete the assessment form attached to this email and send to XXXX along with the required pictures of the cards and receipts. 

Please confirm receipt of this email by text to : ( XXXX ) XXXX Email completed report to XXXX XXXX at XXXX Remember you are to pick four ( 4 )  XXXX GIFT CARDS of {$500.00} each OR ten ( 10 ) XXXX GIFT CARDS of {$200.00} each in the store and pay with cash. 
XXXX XXXX, Head of Recruitment, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX, Head of Recruitment, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

I had done research online in regards to the credibility of the organization, there is a website for the firm XXXX XXXX, which is a PI form out of XXXX XXXX, NV. I used the contact form on the web page and sent an inquiry with an image of the check and letter I had received. 

Today, the actual XXXX XXXX private investigator contacted me and told me the individuals named is not affiliated with their agency and the checking account is not one of their banking accounts. They suggest this is a scam. The letter instructions were intending to get me to purchase 4 XXXX gift cards with {$500.00} cash each, scratch off the silver banner on the back and send them photographs to prove I had completed the QA assignment. I was to purchase at one of the following stores XXXX of XXXX XXXX and then complete a form regarding my QA contact with the employees within the named organizations. I was instructed to withdraw {$2000.00} cash from the deposit of this check keep {$300.00} for my fee and the other {$130.00} would be used on a later assignment which I would receive instructions. The firm then began texting me to find out the second the check posted to my account to detail exactly what I was to do by item, although they had already sent instructions. They claim the person who had requested the QA was pressing them with a deadline. This caused me to be alerted to the possibility that they were not actually part of the organization so I sent a contact form to XXXX XXXX via the website, noting also that according to their site, they ask the people applying to obtain some sort of a card, probably security clearance. They notified me that they suspect fraud and that it is likely that once the person had the identifying information from the cards the check would likely bounce and I would be held liable for the {$2400.00} from my personal account. 
I did not provide these individuals with my banking information, but they do have my identifying information phone and email as well as my personal home address.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation