"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams

PineCone Walmart Research Survey Phishing Scams

Online users, beware of phishing PineCone Research email messages like the one below, which ask recipients to take part in a Wal-Mart evaluation survey. Every month, thousands of these phishing email messages are sent out by scammers to trick their potential victims into sending them their personal information. Therefore, online users are asked never to respond to unsolicited email messages that request personal or financial information, and to be careful when asked to do surveys that collect personal and sensitive information that can be used against them.

The "PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scam

From: PineCone Research™ [scott@pineconeresearchpanel.com]
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2017 9:25 AM
Subject: Survey Directives for Evaluation #85839-1001

Dear Survey Participant,

Your survey packet will be delivered within the next one business day. Enclosed with your packet is a check for $1400 USD

You will visit a Wal-Mart™ store to conduct an evaluation survey on their transfer services for customer satisfaction standards, employees adherence policy, associate skills and facility cleanliness.

As a survey participant you are to carefully observe your experience at the store by acting cool, calm and confident during the period of your evaluation in order not to arouse any suspicion.

SURVEY CONDUCT GUIDELINES

Upon receipt of your survey packet, you are to cash the check then proceed to the Wal-Mart™ location to utilize their services in sending a transfer to a panelist at the recipients' end. Visit Wal-Mart™ to find a location to conduct your survey.

You are to deduct $500 USD as your compensation for this survey.

Afterwards, you will proceed to send two transfers of both $450 USD and $420 USD to a panelist for conducting their survey at the recipients' end. You are to conduct one survey for both transfers.

You are to use the balance of $30 USD for the transfer fees by minutes service.

RECIPIENT TRANSFER INFORMATION

Name: ROBERT J SCHMITZ

City, State: PHOENIX, ARIZONA (AZ) 85083

First Transfer Amount: $450 USD

Second Transfer Amount: $420 USD

SURVEY REPORT GUIDELINES

Upon completion of your evaluation at the Wal-Mart™ store, you are to submit the survey report using the parameters below by replying to this Email

Full Name:

Wal-Mart™ Store Address:
Accessibility To Location:
Ambiance Of Store:
Appearance Of Attendant:

Appropriateness Of Attendant:

Courteousness Of Attendant:

Security Protocol (if any):

Time Taken To Complete Evaluation:

Personal Opinion For Future Improvements:

Eight Digits Reference Number Provided On Both Receipts:

Forward your report and questions (if any) by replying to this Email

Thank you for your continued interest and CONFIDENTIAL participation in PineCone Research™... we look forward to being able to include you in our next surveys.

Sincerely,

PineCone Research™
250 East 5th St. 9th Fl
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Attn: Karen Scott

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Comments(Total: 16)

August 20, 2019 at 9:24 AM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

"From: PineCone Research LLC <scott@pineconeresearchpanel.org>

Sent: Monday, August 19, 2019 6:07 PM

Subject: ASSIGNMENT ($500)

You have been selected as a Customer Service Evaluator to participate in our short 10-15 minutes paid research survey on WalMart stores in your area.

COMPENSATION: You will get paid $500.00 for each completed assignment.

You will visit the nearest WalMart store in your area to conduct your evaluation survey on their services for customer satisfaction standards, associate-skills, facility cleanliness and products testing.

As a survey panelist, you will act as a potential customer at the assigned WalMart store and conduct your survey on the efficiency and customer service of the store.

Complete the Sign Up form below >

Full Name:

Mailing Address:

Zip Code:

Age:

Phone Number (cell):

Work Experience:

Alternate Email:

Sincerely,

PineCone Research LLC

500 Creekside Drive

Pottstown, PA 19464

Attn: Elaine Scott (Operations Manager)

[P: 2672239049]"

Here is another scam.

Delete

July 10, 2019 at 9:45 AM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

"From: PineCone Research LLC [mailto:survey@pineconeresearchpanel.com]

Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2019 6:08 PM

Subject: WAL-MART SURVEY DIRECTIVES

Importance: High

Survey No: 56990-1001

Dear Survey Panelist,

Your survey assignment is ready to be mailed and will get delivered within the next 1-3 business days. Enclosed within is a check for $1400.00 meant to cover the expense and compensation for your WalMart Evaluation Survey.

WALMART SURVEY DIRECTIVES [#56990-1001]:

You will visit the nearest WalMart store in your area to conduct your evaluation survey on their store services for customer satisfaction standards, associate skills, facility cleanliness and products testing

During the period of your survey, you are to carefully observe the quality of efficiency and customer service of the store in order to submit a fair and unbiased rating in your survey report.

Locate a WalMart store to conduct your survey >

You will get paid $500.00 for each completed assignment.

To confirm your survey participation, complete the information below >

Full Name:

Complete Mailing Address:

Phone Number (cell):

Sincerely,

PineCone Research LLC

500 Creekside Drive

Pottstown, PA 19464

Attn: Elaine Scott (Operations Manager)

P: 2672239049"

Received this scam.

Delete

May 20, 2019 at 10:34 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: San Jose, California, United States

If the $1400.00 check comes to you as a cashiers check, how can they tell whether you cash it or not?

Delete

May 20, 2019 at 11:48 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

They want you to cash the check and send them the money. Once the bank discovers the check is a fake, you will have to pay the money back along with the fees associated with the processing of the check.

Delete

February 27, 2019 at 4:27 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: "PineCone Research LLC" <scott@pineconeresearchpanel.org>

Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 12:01:50 PM

Subject: WALMART ASSIGNMENT

You have been selected as a Customer Service Evaluator to participate in our short 10-15 minutes paid research survey on WalMart stores in your area.

COMPENSATION: You will get paid $500.00 for each completed survey.

You will visit the nearest WalMart store in your area to conduct a survey b

y utilizing their store services for customer satisfaction standards, assoc

iate skills and facility cleanliness.

As a survey-panelist, you will act as a potential customer to the assigned

WalMart store to conduct your evaluation survey on the efficiency and custo

mer service of the store.

Please complete the Sign Up form below >

Name:

Current Mailing Address:

Zip Code:

Age:

Phone Number (cell):

Work Experience:

Alternate Email:

Sincerely,

PineCone Research LLC

250 E 5th St 9th Fl

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Attn: Karen Scott (Research Operations Manager)

P: 5136667709"

Delete

November 21, 2018 at 7:00 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: Hartwell, Georgia, United States

Just received a check and email today November 21st also. Need the money, but I will survive without this headache and suffering of being in additional $1,450.00 in debt because of this scam.

Delete

November 14, 2018 at 9:56 AM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Just got an email from this scam today, Nov. 14, 2018. Wording altered slightly from the more recent post directly above.

= =

"You have been selected as a Customer Service Evaluator to participate in our short 10-15 minutes paid research survey on WalMart stores in your area.

COMPENSATION: You will get paid $500.00 for each completed survey.

You will visit the nearest WalMart store in your area to conduct a survey by utilizing their WalMart-2-WalMart transfer services for customer satisfaction standards, associate skills and facility cleanliness.

As a survey panelist, you will act as a potential customer to the assigned WalMart store to conduct your evaluation survey on the efficiency and customer service of the store in order to submit a fair and unbiased rating in your survey report.

Please complete the Sign-Up form below:

Name:

Current Mailing Address:

Zip Code:

Age:

Phone Number:

Work Experience:

Alternate Email:

Sincerely,

PineCone Research LLC

250 E 5th St, 9th Fl

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Attn: Karen Scott (Research Operations Manager)

P: 513-666-7709

Thank you - We appreciate and value your participation!"

Delete

May 15, 2018 at 8:53 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

Here is another scam:

-Forwarded Message-

From: PineCone Research LLC

Sent: May 15, 2018 1:24 PM

Subject: WALMART ASSIGNMENT

You have been selected as a Customer Service Evaluator to participate in our short 10-15 minutes paid research survey on WalMart stores in your area.

Compensation: You will get paid $500.00 for each completed survey.

You will visit the nearest WalMart store in your area to conduct a survey by utilizing their WalMart-2-WalMart transfer services for customer satisfaction standards, associate skills and facility cleanliness.

As a survey panelist, you will act as a potential customer to the assigned WalMart store and conduct your evaluation survey on the efficiency and customer service of the store.

Please Complete The Sign Up form Below:

Name:

Mailing Address:

Zip Code:

Phone Number (Cell):

Work Experience:

Alternate Email:

Thanks for your interest and CONFIDENTIAL participation in PineCone Research. . .we look forward to being able to include you in our sequel surveys.

PineCone Research LLC

250 E 5th St 9th Fl

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Attn: Gary Scott (Research Operations Manager)

P: (513) 666-7709

Delete

April 2, 2018 at 12:28 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: Pontiac, Michigan, United States

I am a victim of this scam & was ripped off for $1450. It involves Wire, Bank & Mail Fraud. Have NOTHING to do with it.

Delete

May 20, 2019 at 10:12 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
an anonymous user from: San Jose, California, United States

How did they rip you off? Did you cash the check? Mines a cashiers check. Not sure what to do with it.

Delete

May 20, 2019 at 10:21 PM by
"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams
info

Report it to the police.

Delete

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

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Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

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"PineCone Walmart Research Survey" Phishing Scams