Trying to get out of Hallmark merchandising cause my boss is the devil and nothing I do is satisfactory. There’s always something and she wants me to prioritize that job when I’ve a theatre background and it’s a part time gig that pays barely above minimum wage and you only get 10-13hrs/week in the off-season. So I’ve been looking for Work From Home jobs, like virtual assistants and data entry jobs. Applied for two on LinkedIn recently. Here’s the story of the one I’ve heard from (names, links and all):
Karla Camarata contacted me on LinkedIn, where I applied for the work from home data entry job opening, saying I was shortlisted for an online interview with Kellie O'Malley (hereon referred to as They) on google hangouts. I was asked to add an email ([email protected]) to my Google Hangouts account and contact them about the job interview. A day or two later they finally understood what I was messaging them for (I swear it sounded like a bot with how horrible the grammar was on that first day). They interviewed me that night, asking me to say Yes/Proceed or Okay after every message they sent, further making me believe it was a bot. During the interview I did some light research on M-Power Solutions and their parent company (the link on the LinkedIn page: https://www.dxc.technology/au/ahp/144020-dxc_red_rock) DXC Technology.
I scored an 86.23% on the interview, and was told I was hired at M-Power Solutions. They informed me I would be paid $20/hr in training and $40/hr after, many benefits, could have flexible hours. They then asked how often I'd like to be paid and which bank I used. I got a list of applications the job would require me to use and familiarize myself with. They then said funds would be provided to me by the company to purchase said materials. They asked for my mailing address (thankfully my physical address is different) and my phone number. I got a Job Offer Letter in my email. Reading over it seemed legitimate enough, though I double checked I could work outside of the stated 8am-4pm purview listed in the document cause I'm a night owl. They had to clarify twice though cause the first explanation was confusing to me. I signed it and sent it back.
The following day they checked in with me on Google Hangouts again, asked for an idea of my working space at home, asked for a photo and said I was going to need more space. Said I'd make it work. They asked if I could be trusted three times before I was told photos of a check would be emailed to me to mobile deposit into my bank account. The check was listed at $2300.00 from Well's Fargo. I've been wary this entire process but this was a major red flag. THIS much money for computer applications they could buy themselves and send me a digital code for? My father said maybe it was a Simon Says trust exercise, so I deposit it into my account (mind you, this is 8pm on a Thursday so my bank's closed). They then ask if the funds are available, I say no, sometimes it takes a while to approve them. They said to check in the next day.
Next day, I get a call from my bank saying it was a scam and they put a hold on that check/money until sometime in January. Luckily I can still access my account and the scammers didn't get my SSN or bank account information, but now I'm nervous what will happen when the 'fruadulant check/funds stolen' notification comes in to my bank. Now because I haven't replied in a couple days I've been getting missed calls and messages on Google Hangouts from Kellie O'Malley. The most recent one states "The Company we get you arrested for holding the Company Funds". Typos and all. I'm tempted to say "Take it back, I don't want it. My bank put a hold on my account."
I just want to be done with all of this. Luckily my bank has my back.
