Gift, LLC at 7buks.com VIP Virtual Assistant Job Scam
Jobseekers beware of a fake job website at www.7buks.com that claims to be a Virtual Assistant company called Gift, LLC, 575 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022 (a virtual office address) Phone #347-871-3900 and they just recently added: 347-408-1100!
2 of our readers has contacted us about this company after they both had accepted positions as a “VIP Virtual Assistant” and then shortly after starting the job was asked to perform tasks that would require them to put their own personal finances and bank accounts at risk! In other words, Gift, LLC is actually operating a money mule job scam pretending to be a legitimate business providing services for “Busy Professionals”!
Below is a screenshot of Gift, LLC’s website currently at www.7buks.com:
Back in February when we first became aware of of Gift, LLC, their website was at 7bucks.com however that website was already taken offline. Then we were just made aware by our 2nd reader that they were now operating at 7buks.com! We researched the company in the New York State Corporations website and found no Gift LLC registered in the state of New York!
Update 5/1/17 GIFT LLC Recruiting Emails
It seems since we posted this alert on March 10th that GIFT LLC is still sending unsolicited recruiting emails as recently as the last few days so we have updated this article. We have every reason to believe these emails are coming from the same group of scammers that is also operating the WX LLC Virtual Assistant Scam!
Below is a copy of the emails along with the “Employment Agreement” attachment:
from: Sheku Sesay <sheku.sesay@7buks.com>
Subject: re (Name) more info/next steps
Thanks for your reply to my email. I would like to confirm that our company is a licensed, bonded and insured lifestyle management agency specializing in the management of personal & business affairs and concierge services for VIPs, celebrities, athletes, entertainers and corporate executives. We serve over few thousand corporate clients and individuals in the US and internationally with over 1,000 people working part time mostly.
Your next steps for this job:
1) You have to sign up on the website. Visit our JOBS page and use APPLY NOW feature http://7buks.com/reg
2) Once you sign up, you will get access to our client area (in a limited mode).
3) Once you complete this step, follow instructions on the screen. We receive a lot of application forms and must arrange everything before you start. Usually it takes a day or two. So expect an email within the next few days with instructions on how to proceed.Will you like to get more information on the company, services etc – please refer our corporate website
http://7buks.com
(about us and services sections).These tasks are simple. No training is needed. Trial period is also to see how you act, how independent you area, how you understand tasks etc. This position is available for immediate employment! You must be ready to start within couple next days. It may take us one or several days to review your information after you register online.
PS Please add my corporate email sheku.sesay@7buks.com to your contacts/address so my mail won’t go your spam folder occasionally. Please also send me an email after you finish with online registration.
—
Sheku Sesay
HR Manager
Gift LLCemployment_agreement
Here’s the follow up email they send a few days later when they don’t receive a response to the first email:
from: Sheku Sesay <sheku.sesay@7buks.com>
Subject: Re: (Name) — posiTion for you
Hi attn! (Recipients Name)
I know you were looking for a job. One of our HR recruiters sent me your resume. We have a position for you. However, I keep emailing and emailing and I am not getting any response from you. Please accept my apologies if there is a mistake or something. Perhaps my previous emails went into your spam folder. I don’t see any other options. Please let me know if you are interested or you are not looking for a job anymore. I will send you instructions on how to proceed in that case, or remove you from my database.—
Sheku Sesay
HR Manager
Gift LLC
Below is bold red letters is the red flag that’s a indication of a possible money mule scam! Jobseekers should NEVER agree to use their own bank account or credit card for “customer” transactions or purchases EVER! This was taken from the GIFT LLC “FAQ” page:
If I need to order certain service(s) or pay for something on behalf of the customer – how does it work? I mean, do I have to pay out of my pocket in advance?
No, You do not have to pay for anything in advance.
– Any spending during your probation period (list of items, travelling expenses, shipping, additional expenses, total cost, etc.) must be confirmed with our customer first. Once confirmed, the required amount is transferred to your credit card or bank account so you can take care of everything.
– Upon successful completion of your probation period, you are provided with a credit card to cover all required expenses. Make sure to provide all receipts before the 25th of every month.
And Here are all the too good to be true “Benefits” taken from their “Jobs” Page
– $24,000 Annual Salary + Bonuses from customers
– Automatic pay increases at six-month intervals
– Five-day workweek, no Sundays required
– Medical, dental, disability, and life insurance with dependent option after 60 days
– Employee Purchase Plan
– 401(k) with company match
– One month test period (You get paid $2,000.00 + bonuses from clients, regular tasks, mostly from home)
How to start
Click here to Apply Online
How The Scam Unfolds
Our first reader became concerned when her supervisor who called himself “David” told her they needed her to accept money/checks from the company and clients to “purchase gifts” stating that the company would provide her a company credit card after a month once her probation period ended (which is a common tactic scammers use). When she asked David for the company’s license and bonding number, he kept making excuses and putting her off. That is when she became suspicious and asked us to look into this company.
Our 2nd reader stated she had already invested quite a bit of time on some tasks she was asked to perform but nothing that raised any red flags until they contacted her “about a client who was trying to get a hold of an artist to rebuild a sculpture. The sculptor lives in Russia and only accepts payment through western union. Supposedly the client wanted to send her the money and have her send it to the sculptor through western union because the client only had a corporate card and western union won’t accept it with such a high ticket and they want cash.”
She then decided to look up the location for Gift, LLC and did a google maps street view and saw nowhere on the building a business sign for gift llc because it is just a virtual office mailing address (commonly used by scammers).
It all seemed very legit to her since she actually emailed the sculptor. But in reality this same scam has been making it’s rounds on Craigslist and other job sites over the last couple of years. Ads were placed for a “Personal Assistant” to run errands etc for a busy professional or art dealer who was out of town and then once the assistant accepted the job they were asked to make arrangements with an artist or sculptor in a foreign country (usually Russia or Vienna Austria) to rebuild or repair a painting or sculpture and they would send a check or direct deposit to the assistant to cash and wire the money to the artist!
Of course the check would bounce or the deposit would get reversed and the assistant was held responsible for the full amount and the “employer” or “client” disappeared!
What To Do If You Are A Victim
If you have fell victim to an employment scam like this, you need to contact your bank immediately and close your account IF you have provided your account information to the scammers. Next file a police report with your local authorities and then file a complaint with the FBI’s internet crime center at http://www.ic3.gov/
If you provided your personal information like ss # birthdate etc , you need to contact the 3 credit bureaus- TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, and place a fraud alert on your report. These criminals can steal your identity and may try and obtain credit in your name. Doing this will alert you for at least 90 days about any suspicious activity.
In the hands of a thief, just your name, address, Social Security number or date of birth, can be used over and over months- even years down the road to:
Open new lines of credit
Seek medical attention
Drain savings and retirement accounts
Provide an alias when arrested
Get a job or file false tax returns
Get Payday Loans in your name
Obtain service agreements for cellular service or utilities
Obtain Government Documents such as a drivers license or passport
And MORE!
That’s why I highly recommend you get some sort of ongoing identity theft protection such as the services offered through companies like LifeLock-Visit Their Website Here or Identity Force-visit their website here! LifeLock and Identity Force are both reputable companies that monitors your accounts and alerts and protects you from identity theft.
Have you received a Job offer from GIFT, LLC or other work at home “Virtual or Personal Assistant” job that seems suspicious? Feel free to copy and paste the info in the comments so we can help alert and prevent others from becoming victims.
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Man, these guys got me good.
Fortunately, I found this page in time to cancel all payments to them, and the bank should confiscate the thousands of dollars they sent to me. Looks like I was a bad investment on their part.
Yes, that is the person I’ve been contacted by. I figured it sounded funny so I did a google search and then a building search of businesses in that building. and of course nothing. The website showed a picture of a white guy and as you move your cursor over the picture it said “Nobody”, also looked up the name and its a name common in Sierra Leone Africa…
I am also involved in the early stages of this scam. Only a week into the regular “tasks” and I get this email from the company regarding the alleged sculpture from Russia.
Hi (NAME)
I just got off the phone with the client in regards to the art gallery project. Your additional assistance is required.
As you are aware, they want to pay with their corporate account and MG/WU want it with cash. This is how the artist wants it. This customer is not willing to spend his own money, wants to pay with company money and MG/WU reject business type of payments when you try to send it.
He asked me today, who was working on his project. I told them we’ve got an assistant, (NAME) was working on a task.
So told me OK, why don’t we send the money to an assistant, (NAME) and this person will take care. And they will be more than happy to cover all transportation costs, transfer fees and money to set up a new account if you prefer setting up a new account.
They suggested sending you the money. You will use it once you get into your account to pay the artist, once you have the money, once it has been processed and placed into your account.
The only thing they need is a REGULAR account. Not a pre-pay card. There are some many restrictions how much you can receive or how much you can spend with a pre-pay card you are not aware so they asked for any regular account.
Any savings or checking will do. Personal or business. New or existing. If you don’t want to mess with your existing finances – fee free to set up a new account at the same or any other bank.
Please let me know today. On top of that, our client will pay you $200 extra bonus for your time. It may take a couple hours or less. And this is your job – to help our clients. the bonus is on top.
First of all, I want you to understand that part-time assistant is not only virtual work from home. You have to work on assignment locally. Assisting with corporate gifting in one of your responsibilities. Our client trusts us because this is our existing client, they have already purchased a lot of stuff using our services.
Normally, you would pay western union with the company card. However, as per the agreement, you will get the card only once you qualify your trial period. This is our company policy and we simply cannot provide company cards 1st week and then spend time on checking every expense.
You will find your direct deposit attached to this email. This is a similar form that we use for payroll. We expect our client will place deposit of approx.:
– $7,200 (Sculpture)
– $700 (shipping)
– $200 (approx. money gram union fees – might need to re-confirm with them)
– $200 (Your Bonus)
=======================
Total: $8,300
Here are your next steps I see at the moment:
1) Fill out this form with your bank account (existing or set up a new). Our client will send you the money. Direct deposit form is attached – this is a formal reason/background for the client to send you this money. This is a common form when people send money for something.
2) Our client may also send money with PayPal (perhaps, have to ask, if you have PayPal) and then you can send money to your bank account or card, and get the cash. This process may take more time. I would rather go with option 1.
Let me know if you have any questions and let me know what you prefer. There are also other tasks already available, but I want to make sure this one is taken care 1st since this client is important to us.
attn (NAME)
—
Sheku Sesay
HR Manager
Gift LLC
Thank you for sharing this information. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths these scammers will go to try and steal our money!