Please Help - Is this whole job offer a scam?

Hello, its my first time posting on this forum and i am not too sure about a job offer i recently got.

I applied for a job on the Indeed website for a company called "Merril Pharma Private Limited"

And about 3 days later i got a response E-mail that goes as follows:

---------
Kristina Chadwell [email protected]

1:53 pm (2 days ago)

to me
Dear Applicant.


Thank you for replying to our job posting ,Our recruiting team has reviewed your resume for the Data Entry Clerk / Front Desk position that you are yet to occupy and we believe you would be capable of handling this position. Your detail has been forwarded to the Human Resources Department and the Head of Operations Mr Thomas Holford would be conducting an interview with you to discuss the job detail, pay scale, benefit and briefing about the opening in our company. This is an immediate hire position therefore the interview is ASAP. Set up a Screen name with yahoo Instant Messenger online at http://www.messenger.yahoo.com/ and add up the Head Of Operation's screen name: [email protected] to your buddy list.


Email Address: [email protected]
He will be waiting to talk to you on yahoo messenger right away. Endeavor to get online ASAP. I wish you the best of Luck with the Interview. If you have any questions, Please feel free to email me back for more details.

Regards,
Human Resource Department



Already this has got me suspicious, so i decide to do the interview just to see what he says, Ill put the Interview in the next post i make right now.

Welcome to ScamWarners Senkai, this is absolutely a scam. Real employers do not do job interviews by a chat system. The employer would have no way of knowing who they really were talking to, just as you have no real way of knowing who you are talking to.

Scammers use this method because their accent would give away that they are not from where they claim to be from. We have several examples of this exact scam.

If this were a real company, they would use an email address which has their name as the domain name, NOT Yahoo.com.

Just stop communicating with them.

Thank you so much Bubbles. This news is comforting and also disconcerting at the same time : (

It really had my hopes up, but at least now i saved myself from a lot of heartache down the road.
Thank you for replying so fast!

I am supposed to have a training meeting with them monday at 8:00. Should i just stop talking to them completely?

Also if anyone is interested, this is the "Interview" I had with the would be employer-----

The Interview:



Show Recent Messages (F3)

mrthomasholford: Hello
Me: Hello how are you doing?
mrthomasholford: Am good and you?
Me: Pretty good myself, was about to go to the gym when i got your Email.
Me: So i figured i should do this first and foremost.
mrthomasholford: OK
mrthomasholford: I believe you are ready for the interview and briefing on the job position ?

Me: Sure, i'm all ears
mrthomasholford: I am Mr Thomas Holford, One of the hiring manager of (Merril Pharma Private Limited) I would be the one to brief you about the position and the company.

mrthomasholford: What are your full name age and sex and where are you located?

Me: Sure my info is:
Me: Name, age, sex, state
mrthomasholford: The name of the company is Merril Pharma Private Limited

mrthomasholford: Merril Pharma Private Limited, are a professionally managed and a dynamic organization with decades of experience in pharmaceutical industry. Since our inception, we have been manufacturing good quality pharmaceutical products.With a desire of providing opportunities for better life, we work very hard to bring quality drugs to our customers. We have instilled a level of trust and confidence amongst our clients by supplying the best quality products.

mrthomasholford: Merril Pharma Private Limited commenced its business operations in the pharmaceutical sector in the year 1997, and Merril Pharma Group have more than two decades experience in production, marketing, management and distribution with national and multinationals pharma companies.Now going into Data entry/ Medical biller and accounting work from home job to create employment opportunity for the less privilege, disables and manily to decrease the rate of unemployment in the economy,
mrthomasholford: Our temporary office is located at 111 2nd Avenue N.E.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701,Our head office is located at Plot no.-212, B/H P.G.International,Raipur, Bhagvanpur,Dist.- Roorkee-247667 Uttarakhand, INDIA,we working on new locations all over the usa and currently working on setting up some branch in Savannah, GA. thats why we are employing online,but when the new office near you is ready you can be assign to one of them that is if you qualify after the interview...

mrthomasholford: This is strictly an online and work from home job the working hours are flexible and you can chose to work from anywhere of your choice,the pay is $20 per hour during full working hours and the training is $16 per hour and will be getting your payment weekly via check or direct deposite working 30 to 40 hours weekly,if you are employed you are going to be working as a full employee and not an independent contractor.Benefits: Health, Dental, Life and AD&D Insurance, Employee Wellness and 401k plans.Paid Time Off and Holidays with Generous Company Discounts.

Me: I see, so it is a work from home position until the Savannah offices are established.
Me: May i ask, where in Savannah do you plan to place your offices?
mrthomasholford: In wilmington island
Me: I see, thats a very nice area for a buisness.
Me: I am not sure what to expect from a work from home job, but I am willing and eager to learn more about it.
mrthomasholford: DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:Collects, organizes, and verifies accuracy of data before it is entered.• Extracts alphabetic, numeric, or symbolic data from original paper documents and enters data into a computer following a specified format. • Compares data entered into computer with data listed on the original document; Conducts spot checks to verify that data is correctly entered• Provides backup to related positions..Assignments will be sent to you via e-mail or IM.can you handle that?
Me: Sure, if I can see a few examples of the format your company prefers, I am confident that i can handle this with relative ease.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: Have you ever worked from home or online before ?Are you currently employed ?How many hours do you intend to dedicate to this job position daily?

Me: This is my first time with a work from home job, I recently just finished a Internship with a company called ----------. As for dedicated hours, the only schedueled things I have on a day to day basis include going to the gym, and basic day to day activities (ie cooking, sleeping, etc) So i could work anywhere from 8+ Hours daily, whatever the company requires.
mrthomasholford: Great
mrthomasholford: How many years experience do you have in Data entry/Book keeping and Customer Service?How many years experience do you have in auditing reports?How many years experience do you have in sorting and filing documentation?

Me: For Data Entry, nothing on a professional level, but I do often help with my Mothers Buisness, doing her taxes for her, and I found personally from doing that, I enjoy that kind of work. As for customer service, I have experience from my time working in retail as a sales Associate, where the customers satisfaction was always the number one priority. I have never Audited reports before but I am certain that I can learn how. As for sorting and filing documentation, i have experience from my time at ------ doing things such as inventory, and more recently, my time as an intern entering data into an excel spread sheet for all the motors being used on the site and their respective Motor control centers they are attached to.
mrthomasholford: Great
mrthomasholford: Whats your clerical speed? Do you have an idea of how to use MS excel ?What is your highest educational diploma?When did you receive it?

Me: Once i get going my clerical speed is steady and quick, However, the more I am accuainted with my work and the job, the faster I can perform and efficiently accomplish my tasks with haste. I have Intermediate knowledge with MS Excel from my time spent in school, as I would routinely have to use that program to accomplish tasks. And thanks to the internet, given enough time, i could reach an advanced level with Excel with no incidents. My highest Education is a BS in Electrical Engineering from --------- received on xx/xx/20xx.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: What interests you about this job/Why do you want this job?

Me: I am very interested in accounting type of work and any other repetitive data entry kind of tasks. I actually enjoy the routine of it and like it when i get efficient at it where i can do it quickly and accurately.
Me: It harkens back to my school days drilling math problems I suppose.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: What are your strengths/What are your weaknesses?

Me: My strengths are that I can become very efficient in my work provided that I get to work at it more and more, I also take pride in my work as I enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor. One of my weaknesses is that if something dramatic changes it may take a day or two for me to get re acclomated with how things are to be done, but it would never stop or hindr my work, just merely be temporarily unsettling to me.

-He disconnected here at this point and came back on (was gone for about 10 min)

Me: Welcome back.
mrthomasholford: Thank you
mrthomasholford: What are your strengths/What are your weaknesses?
Me: My strengths are that I can become very efficient in my work provided that I get to work at it more and more, I also take pride in my work as I enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor. One of my weaknesses is that if something dramatic changes it may take a day or two for me to get re acclomated with how things are to be done, but it would never stop or hindr my work, just merely be temporarily unsettling to me.
mrthomasholford: What applicable attributes / experience do you have?

Me: My applicable experiences include many times from school we had to document results from experiments involving electrical components and working circuits from voltage levels varying from 10 to 800 volts. We had to use equations time to time to get the right input result and then had to use that result for another result. As for real world applications, once again my time spent at ------------- having to input data from motors, thier respective HP, amps, voltage, etc. into a Excel spread sheet to be used for future references. I was also in charge of a safety procedure that was added to their safety manual.
mrthomasholford: Great
mrthomasholford: How long do you expect to remain employed with this company if hired?

Me: At least a year + to see if this career path is truly for me.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: Why Should we Hire You?

Me: I have the knowledge background and the ability to grow and expand with the company as needed. And I would be able to get better at my work the more I apply myself. And I am confident that I can accomplish the tasks you will set forth. And currently I am cursed with an overabundance of free time, so I would be able to dedicate much of my time in the interests of the company.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: Tell me about yourself and your last current job?

Me: I am the kind of person that likes to strive to get better at the things I enjoy. And it just so happens this kind of work is something that I do enjoy. I tend to frown upon things that are just given to people that do not want to work for something, and yet reap all the benefits from it. They want to with the world series, but dont want swing a bat. I like to look back at my accomplishments with pride and feel good that i was apart of something bigger. As for my previous job, it was my first job experience with a new degree that i have not used before. I wasn't sure what to expect, i went in there thinking that i would have a inside job where i would predominatley be working with a computer for design. However, I quickly found out that wasn't the case at all; i had to spend a lot of time-
Me: out in the field working. Learning first hand how everything operates. And i learned how this place was truly dangerous, as many htings there could change your life in a matter of seconds. I did also learn how a internal structure of a company works, how its almost like a family that you have
mrthomasholford: Well you have done well so far and you seem like a perfect fit for this position.

Me: Thats good to know. Thank you!
mrthomasholford: Hold on online while i send your answers to my superiors for review and consideration okay.

Me: Sure thing I will be right here.
mrthomasholford: Hello
mrthomasholford: I am back now..the result for the interview is on my desk......

Me: Allright.
Me: Hows it looking?
mrthomasholford: For your consideration stand,You have a good news The good news is.You've just been confirmed qualified for this position.You are welcome to Merril Pharma Private Limited You are now given a chance to show your commitment,charisma,diligence and be a productive employee.
mrthomasholford: My superior's will reach you via e-mail or phone for your Position offer-documents and your working paper's. Also they will put you through our company guidelines under US Human Resources Laws and Regulations okay?

Me: Sounds Great!
mrthomasholford: Your salary will be $20 per hour and you will be receiving your payment via Check weekly which will be mailed to you,what bank do you operate with ?

Me: I use BB&T
mrthomasholford: You will be recieving your duties online everyday and i will always be online to assist you with any difficulties okay.

mrthomasholford: Your Primary duties include: Preparation of Balance sheets (Mini), account balancing, invoicing recording,proper data analysis of sales records and recording pay slips into accounting database.

mrthomasholford: Secondary duties:Now, your secondary daily duties would be to report to your Supervisor, who would be attached to you online, He/She would assign logs of duty daily and you would be required to work according to instructions, using the Microsoft Office tools and the Accounting software. Now the function of the Accounting software is to arrange, formalize and manage the data you have processed, sent to your supervisor via E-mail.

mrthomasholford: Can you handle the Job duties if you are being trained towards it ?
Me: Absolutely
Me: This sounds fine.
mrthomasholford: Good
mrthomasholford: You would be eligible to Benefits after 1months of working with the company, Benefits offered are Health Insurance / Vacations / Bonuses

Me: I see.
mrthomasholford: I need you to email me with the following: Your full name,current Home address , Phone numbers and e-mail address via email to Christiana Peterson on this e-mail([email protected]) to enable my secretery enlist them into the Company's Register for proper documentation. Email that and get back to me now okay

Me: Allright, im on it.
mrthomasholford: Notify me when done ok
Me: I just sent it
mrthomasholford: Okay
mrthomasholford: You will be undergoing a 3 day training and orientation which will commence as soon as you have all working materials and you are rest assured that you will be paid for it okay

mrthomasholford: You will be faxed or emailed a paper work and a HR document during your orientation and training,you are to fill,sign and send back to us.

Me: Sure no problem.
mrthomasholford: You will need some Data entry/Accounting software and also a time tarcker to commence your training and orientation and also you need the software to get started with work...the work of the time tracker is to calculate your hours worked since this is an online work from home.

mrthomasholford: Here are the names of the software's you will need to start working with BS 1 Accounting software ,myob business essentials software 2010,For Peach Tree premium 2010 US Patent Single Users Pack, simply accounting 2010 and a Time Tracker
mrthomasholford: The funds for the software will be provided for you by the company via check ..... make sure you use them as instructed for the software and i will refer you to the vendor you are to purchase them from okay

Me: Interesting, sounds fine
mrthomasholford: As soon as the check its been issued out to you i will notify you and provide you with the tracking number so you can keep track and know when it will get to you okay

Me: sounds good.
mrthomasholford: This Job offers Flexible hours but you are to report online by 8am-4pm daily for duties,task,and assignment...Ok

Me: That should be fine.
mrthomasholford: Thats all for the interview, You are to report to me on Monday 8am your time for update on the cheque and how to get started with your first duties,task,and assignment...Ok
mrthomasholford: Make sure you are here on Monday by 8am your time.Bye and have a wonderful weekend
Me: You mean yahoo IM correct?
mrthomasholford: Yes
Me: Sounds fine
Me: Thank you very much and you hav a good weekend too ^^
mrthomasholford: Goodbye
mrthomasholford has signed out. (10/13/2012 10:20 PM)

Last message received on 10/12 at 5:57 PM


I dont like the fact that they just cant give me the software, they want to bring banks into the equation. And this has got me suspicious.

http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=124696#p124696

Scroll down to the chat starting at 8:24 a.m. Look familiar?

The good news is....you have just been confirmed qualified for this position You are now offered the job position...you are HIRED! You are welcome to Primary HealthCare Limited You are now given a chance to show your commitment,charisma,diligence and be a productive employee.

Notice how this line is IDENTICAL to the line you were given, even down to the inaccurate spacing. But notice that the "company" has a completely different name. Note how the rest of the chat is identical or nearly identical to our chat. This is because it is a script used by the scammers, and simply copied and pasted into the chat. The scammers simply change company names and keep reusing it. In fact, the same script appears at scamwarners under at least 4 other company names!

The funds for the software will be provided for you by the company via check

This here is the whole point of the scam. You will receive a check. You will be instructed to cash it and forward the money to the "software vendor." In reality, there is no software vendor, only the scammers or a mule who will forward the money to the scammers. The check itself will seem ok--but it will be fraudulent. If they don't identify the fraud immediately, the bank will give you the cash after a few days, as required by law. BUT, and here's the catch...later when they discover the fraud, they will come back after you for the whole amount of the check, plus fees for the bad deposit, and they can even call the police and press charges for fraud since you are the one who deposited it. The scammers, who have used all fake names and information, will be long gone with the cash and untraceable.

I see, it saddens me to think of ppl doing this. Im supposed to chat with him again and discuss training, i would just cease communications but i am concerned that they will try to send things to my address or if they do send me a check, should i just return it to sender? or toss it.

And who can i report this too?

The check will be sent by a third party who thinks he has a job printing checks or is a victim of another scam. Don't try to cash or deposit it. You could take it to the police, along with the other evidence, but don't expect them to catch the scammers in Africa or Malaysia or wherever they are.

If the scammer sent you any URLs for the fake company, please post them here. Also report the scam to the Indeed site where you found the ad.

Thank you all for the help! I knew noting good ever came from using yahoo! j.k

You will need some Data entry/Accounting software and also a time tarcker to commence your training and orientation and also you need the software to get started with work...The work of the time tracker is to calculate your hours worked since this is an online work from home for now...Understood.

Just had the same bullshit happen by the name of tyler anderson the interviewer , the initial text mssg came from (908)798-6002 Ryan gavin, Softpro systems Ltd. heres some of the interview

tyleranderson765:
You will be emailed your Employment Offer Letter and a HR document Tomorrow Morning before 8am Your Time,you are required to read, fill, sign and send back to us our copy Employment Offer Letter the next day as soon as you are done...UNDERSTOOD??? Can i have the Email Address you want your Offer Letter to be sent.
newcreation87: Removed (BW)
tyleranderson765: Okay.
tyleranderson765:
You will be undergoing a 3 days training and orientation which will commence as soon as you have all your working materials/Software's ready.
tyleranderson765:
You will need some Data entry/Accounting software and also a time tarcker to commence your training and orientation and also you need the software to get started with work...The work of the time tracker is to calculate your hours worked since this is an online work from home for now...Understood.
newcreation87: where will i get that suff?
tyleranderson765: Here are the name's of the software's you will need to start working with are: Intuit QuickBooks Accounting Software,Sage Simply Accounting Accounting Software,Peachtree Complete Accounting Software,AccountEdge Accounting Software for Windows,AccountEdge Accounting Software for Mac,Sage 50 Premium Accounting 2013 (formerly Simply Accounting),Business2Go software,Bookkeeper software,QuickBooks Pro 2012 software,The General Ledger,software,9.5,Bottom Line Accounting software, Balance Sheet Basics software...Are you familiar with this softwares?
newcreation87: Yes some
tyleranderson765: Okay.
newcreation87: whos providing the software?
tyleranderson765:
Here are the names of your working materials : A new HP laptop with the Company's Logo to show that you are working for (Softpro) ,with a fast internet connection e.t.c.
tyleranderson765:
The funds for the software's & working materials will be provided for you by the company Via check, make sure you use them as instructed,for the software's & working materials i will refer you to the vendor you are to purchase them from okay?
newcreation87: Okay..
tyleranderson765: As soon as the check has been issued out to you i will notify you and provide you with the tracking number so you can keep track of it and know when it gets to you okay?
newcreation87: Paper check ?
tyleranderson765: Yes
tyleranderson765: Any problem with that?
newcreation87: But i dont get paid in paper check ?
tyleranderson765: Then how do you get paid?
tyleranderson765: If i may ask...
newcreation87: So why you ask about a bank??
newcreation87: if i may ask...
tyleranderson765: Because once you get the package (check) you will have it deposited through your bank ATM
newcreation87: Imconfused
tyleranderson765: You will be depositing the check through your bank ATM which is an accounting task. this is just to test your ability in the accounting field as part of your training Okay.
tyleranderson765: UNDERSTOOD?
newcreation87: Is this some type of scam?
tyleranderson765: For easy and fast access , You can have it deposited through your bank's ATM nearest to you and print out a deposit slip instantly

tyleranderson765: This is not scam we are 100% legit,this is the same pay check i get paid every week
tyleranderson765: And i don't have any problem with it...So you have nothing to worry about okay
tyleranderson765: Okay?
newcreation87: No i mean this whole process your profile has no information this is not a company email, then you say deposita check in my bank for an accounting training ? Im very skeptical right now!
tyleranderson765: Listen to me, i don't like the word scam, let alone get my self involved in it. I prefer to spend the little time I've on earth with my family, kids, wife and grand kids than scamming.
tyleranderson765: I am a GrandFather also a God fearing man and i have 2 kids and I'm 55years old. I prefer to spend the time i have left on earth with my kids than scamming okay..
newcreation87: Continue and cant be upset for me inquiringabout this process!
tyleranderson765: It okay......
tyleranderson765: Can we proceed?
newcreation87: yes
tyleranderson765: As soon as the check has been issued out to you i will notify you and provide you with the tracking number so you can keep track of it and know when it gets to you okay?
newcreation87: ok
tyleranderson765: All we need from you is good work and trust, you will enjoy every moment working with us.
newcreation87: ok
tyleranderson765: This Job offers Flexible hours but you are to report online by Monday- Friday 8am-3pm daily for duties,task,and assignment...Can you handle that?
newcreation87: yes
tyleranderson765: Can you tell me what you will be doing with the check when you receieve it?
newcreation87: deposit it in the bank?
tyleranderson765: Good.
tyleranderson765: How will you want your names to appear on the company's check?
newcreation87: Removed (BW)
tyleranderson765: Okay.
tyleranderson765: Alright..That's all for the interview, You are to report to me here online Tomorrow morning 8am your time for update on the check,duties,task,assignment and how to get started with your training.
newcreation87: Will do..
tyleranderson765: Make sure you are here online on time Tomorrow morning by 8am your time...Bye and have a nice day ahead
newcreation87: Thanks You To
tyleranderson765: Once again!! Congratulations on your new job Position. we are looking forward to your great commitment, Dedication and Trust.
newcreation87: Thanks
newcreation87: can you please forward me a copy of this interview?
newcreation87: To my email
tyleranderson765: Why please?
newcreation87: Because id like to have it
newcreation87: and look over the description and software
tyleranderson765: I'm sorry we don't do that......
newcreation87: and my personal info is included!
tyleranderson765: I can provide you with the informations okay
newcreation87: I would like the interview like you said you forwarded to the head dept!
tyleranderson765: Yes ...not any of our employees
tyleranderson765: Please why all this questions...You are very free to decline this position...We don't force employees to work with us rather we help them and make them trust us
newcreation87: Im interested my yahoo didnt save any of the info
newcreation87: Looking forward to tomorrow havea nice day
tyleranderson765: Okay..Thank you and bye
Hide Recent Messages (F3)

newcreation87: thanx for trying your scams lmaoooooooooo
tyleranderson765: What do you mean please?
newcreation87: fuck you!!!!
newcreation87: Go to hell ur not god fearing !!!!!!!!
tyleranderson765: Are you okay
newcreation87: your scam and interview is all over the internet
newcreation87: need to try a better scam, dont ask people about bank info when they never heard your voice
tyleranderson765: your papa
tyleranderson765: u don dey mad abiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
tyleranderson765: Apara popo for your head okay
tyleranderson765 has signed out. (1/22/2014 2:29 PM)

Last message received on 1/22 at 2:29 PM

If you don't realise it jberetta87 you wound him up so much that when you cursed at him he gave himself away with these comments.

tyleranderson765: your papa
tyleranderson765: u don dey mad abiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
tyleranderson765: Apara popo for your head okay

It's Nigerian/West African Pidgin English and he's cursing you back.

He couldn't have made it any clearer that he's a 419 scammer.

There must have been steam coming out of his ears.

Welcome to Scamwarners jberetta87,

I am happy that you knew it was a scam attempt. Thanks for posting the information.

Also we ask that you do not inform the scammer that his information is on Anti Scam sites. The scammer will only change his fake name, voip phone/text, email address, company name and script. This may take him an hour or less and he is back in business. Possible victims will not find any information on google because of the changes and have the fortune of being warned.