Aquesst Hiring Team Scam - How to Protect Yourself

Red Flags of the Aquesst Scam

• Unsolicited Text Outreach: The scammers usually text from random numbers (often foreign or masked) offering high-paying remote roles like "Data Entry" or "Help Desk Assistant".
• Encrypted Chat Interviews: They will quickly rush you to download an app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal to conduct a text-based "interview".
• Upfront Personal Data: They will ask for sensitive documents (like your Social Security Number, photo ID, or bank details) very early under the guise of "onboarding".
• No Money Needed: Legitimate agencies like Aquesst will never ask you to pay fees, send money, or buy specific equipment.

What to Do Right Now

1. Do Not Engage: Stop messaging the sender immediately. Do not click any links, open attachments, or reply.
2. Block and Report: Use your phone's built-in features to report the text as spam or junk, then block the number.
3. Verify Independently: If you want to check a recruiter's legitimacy, navigate to the official Aquesst Contact Page directly via your browser. Reach out via their official email (contact@aquesst.com) or phone number ((678) 242-1350) to verify the employee.
4. Report Fraud: File a report with the FTC Report Fraud Portal or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).