Do I feel like an idiot? Yes.
And there were red flags that a more experienced shopper may have seen, that I didn’t.
These a**holes have gone to a lot of work to appear legit.
I got a text from a “scheduler” asking if I wanted the assignment.
I got an assignment confirmation text from “Bestmark”
I got an email from the scheduler with Bestmark logo, address and tagline confirming the assignment, a shopper id number and a link to the report.
I submitted everything.
I text messaged the “scheduler” that I could not login to BestMark with my shopper number. She said it may not have gone through yet, but not to worry – I would get an email confirming my survey was submitted. And asking would I like to do more shops?
I felt something was wrong and jumped on ebay - the card had already been linked to another account.
Ebay can’t do anything.
I submitted everything I had – text messages, numbers, emails to the Federal Internet Fraud website. But am 99% sure I won’t receive any follow-up.
I sent a text graphically describing the horrible things I hope happen to their future and current children, their parents and them.
Later that afternoon I got an email that my survey was accepted.
The next day I got an email scoring my survey 10/10.
All communication looked legit, same format and fonts.
Any other time of year I would not have had the money to front this, but I’d saved for my kid’s Christmas and now they will “pay” for my stupidity. I feel worse than you could possibly know so please don’t comment “you should have known” – I tell myself every second.