Latest iteration in an old scam
Thread poster: Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
Jul 7, 2020

Here is the latest iteration in a scam that has been around for years:

Dear Translator/Interpreter,

After a quick review of your profile on The Supreme Court Of Ohio, I write to present Custom Pharma Services Job Offer. Custom Pharma Services is always looking for outstanding individuals willing to participate and actively support the company's positive business development. If you enjoy working in a highly motivated team and possess skills as well as experience to enh
... See more
Here is the latest iteration in a scam that has been around for years:

Dear Translator/Interpreter,

After a quick review of your profile on The Supreme Court Of Ohio, I write to present Custom Pharma Services Job Offer. Custom Pharma Services is always looking for outstanding individuals willing to participate and actively support the company's positive business development. If you enjoy working in a highly motivated team and possess skills as well as experience to enhance Custom Pharma Services technology and business, this position is for you. Our flexible working environment had helped us build a dynamic and inclusive workplace that operates on trust and respect and allows you to live the life you want to live. We’re in search of individuals, companies irrespective of the current business type for an Interpreting job position.

As a responsible company, we act where the needs are greatest and where we can have maximum impact. Together, with our employees and partners, we help provide better health for all.

COMPANY: Custom Pharma Services.
Job Name: Interpreter/Translator
Job Type: Part-Time, Full-Time (Freelancer).
Hourly Rate: $80/Hour
Training Rate: $75/Hour.
Location: Work from Home.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

* Provide correct, clear and concise translations.

* Provide translations that are formatted in a way that they can be matched up to the original documentation that was submitted.

* Provide legible word counts for all translated documents.

If interested, follow the steps below to schedule your interview session:

You've been assigned to Robert Paul (Hiring Coordinator) of Custom Pharma Services, he would be conducting an online interview with you.

To contact him, set up a screen name with Gmail hangout https://hangouts.google.com/ and add up the Company Hiring Manager's hangouts screen name ([email protected]) and instant message him to proceed with the job interview

Interview Scheduled: Mondays - Fridays
Venue: Online Via Google Hangout
Time : 9:00 AM-6:00 PM EST
Training is available.

Your verification code is (CPS/TRN_11_12). This would serve as your identification number throughout the online hiring process. This is an online work from home and working hours are flexible.

Your swift and timely response matters a lot as this is an immediate hire position... We look forward to having you on the team.

Yours Sincerely,
Patricia Larkin,
Director Human Resources,
Custom Pharma Services
www.custompharma.co.uk
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Maria Vicentini
 
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Mervyn Henderson (X)  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 06:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
Training available Jul 7, 2020

Robert, it's good to know that all those interpreters or translators applying who've already trained in some way as interpreters or translators will be able to train again on the job as interpreters or translators. And get paid for it into the bargain!

Not that I'm so familiar with this scam, but I assume the sting comes further down the line after Google-hanging with Mr Paul. Could it be a PC or special software you have to buy with their dud cheque, or send money for corporate pro
... See more
Robert, it's good to know that all those interpreters or translators applying who've already trained in some way as interpreters or translators will be able to train again on the job as interpreters or translators. And get paid for it into the bargain!

Not that I'm so familiar with this scam, but I assume the sting comes further down the line after Google-hanging with Mr Paul. Could it be a PC or special software you have to buy with their dud cheque, or send money for corporate profile registration, or what?

Oh ... I now see Sheila mentions something of the kind on the "Data mining ..." thread, but doesn't know the details either.

[Edited at 2020-07-07 11:45 GMT]
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Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
It could ensnare the unwary Jul 7, 2020

Hi Merv,

The reason I make a point of posting alerts about this particular kind of scam whenever I see a new version of it is that it could ensnare the unwary because of its professional appearance.

However, the selecting of candidates for high-paying positions based on review of a website profile should in itself be a red flag.

I forget how the endgame works here, but at some point money is asked for before the "position" is actually offered. There have be
... See more
Hi Merv,

The reason I make a point of posting alerts about this particular kind of scam whenever I see a new version of it is that it could ensnare the unwary because of its professional appearance.

However, the selecting of candidates for high-paying positions based on review of a website profile should in itself be a red flag.

I forget how the endgame works here, but at some point money is asked for before the "position" is actually offered. There have been discussions in the forums by people who have actually gone through the interviews on Google Hangout.

The pharm company in question is likely unaware that this scam is being perpetrated in their name.
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Yolanda Broad
Morano El-Kholy
Walter Landesman
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
James Armel Smith
María Paula Plazas
Maria Vicentini
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 13:12
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
Just saying Jul 7, 2020

It was a better scam when they were offering a lower rate.

Sheila Wilson
 
Mark Nettesheim
Mark Nettesheim  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:12
Spanish to English
Yeah, I've gotten this one a COUPLE of times. . . . Jul 7, 2020

Hi Robert –

I've been posting the details from the scams I've been getting here. It hasn't seemed to stop them, mind you, but at least it gets the word out.

Mark


 
Robert Forstag
Robert Forstag  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
@Mark Jul 7, 2020

The sort of scam I've referred to doesn't have as many of the dead giveaways as the sort you linked to on Payment Practices. This is why - as I pointed out initially - it could be taken as legitimate by the unwary.

[Edited at 2020-07-07 13:36 GMT]


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Vicentini
 
writeaway
writeaway  Identity Verified
French to English
+ ...
Scam bait Jul 7, 2020

Imo Proz should print a clear and simply worded warning about the fact that presence on the site may lead to unwanted scam offers. There isn't a week that goes by without some sort of question or report about a (potential) scam.

[Edited at 2020-07-08 12:32 GMT]


Kevin Fulton
Michele Fauble
 
James Armel Smith
James Armel Smith  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:12
Dutch to English
+ ...
Scam Board Aug 5, 2020

Thanks for posting, Robert! It is nice when one receives one of these suspicious scam emails to go into Google and search Proz.com + name of company scam is being run under and see immediate confirmation of one's suspicions that this indeed is a scam. I have received several scam emails since the start of the pandemic and immediately searched Proz.com to confirm they were scams (the other two were the "Sandra Hendrix" overpayment scam), though there were certainly enough red flags in each to beg... See more
Thanks for posting, Robert! It is nice when one receives one of these suspicious scam emails to go into Google and search Proz.com + name of company scam is being run under and see immediate confirmation of one's suspicions that this indeed is a scam. I have received several scam emails since the start of the pandemic and immediately searched Proz.com to confirm they were scams (the other two were the "Sandra Hendrix" overpayment scam), though there were certainly enough red flags in each to begin with. Perhaps the most glaring red flag in this particular scam is that they have made the email appear to come from "[email protected]", but it is set to reply to "[email protected]" and "[email protected]", NOT to a company email!

As you mention, it is especially important to try to warn new translators eager to find paying work who may fall victim to these scams, as several seemed to have done on the postings regarding the overpayment scams. But even more seasoned translators seem to sometimes fall prey to these scams, as discussed here: https://www.proz.com/forum/scams/344362-overpayment_scam.html

In the aforementioned thread, Sheila Wilson helpfully mentioned the Proz.com Scam Alert Center, which I was unaware of and have now signed up for as well, here: https://www.proz.com/about/translator-scam-alerts. I do agree that Proz.com could do more to highlight this information to help protect its members. I only found this by searching Proz.com + "Scam Centre" based on Sheila's description of it. I do not see it in any of the menu dropdowns for the site, though I may have overlooked it there. Perhaps "Scam Center" should be listed alongside the "Blue Board", as they are both resources to help ensure we are only working with reputable companies.
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Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 13:12
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
Scam alert center Aug 5, 2020

Clipboard02

 
James Armel Smith
James Armel Smith  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 00:12
Dutch to English
+ ...
Education>Knowledgebase>Scam Alert Center Aug 5, 2020

Thanks Lincoln Hui for highlighting where to find the Scam Alert Center in the dropdown menu! That is very helpful.

Honestly, this is about the last place I would have thought to look for it, sandwiched in between courses and trainings. Not sure what others think about its location, but this does not seem to me to be the most intuitive place to find it. Is there perhaps another location that would make this information more readily visible and accessible to members to help prevent
... See more
Thanks Lincoln Hui for highlighting where to find the Scam Alert Center in the dropdown menu! That is very helpful.

Honestly, this is about the last place I would have thought to look for it, sandwiched in between courses and trainings. Not sure what others think about its location, but this does not seem to me to be the most intuitive place to find it. Is there perhaps another location that would make this information more readily visible and accessible to members to help prevent them from being victimized by these scams? Thoughts?
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fujitakg
fujitakg
Local time: 19:12
English to Japanese
+ ...
New Scam: Self-claiming Biogen Aug 18, 2020

Hi Friends,
I recently received a scam similar to the one that was received by Robert.

I am copying the e-mail:
BIOGEN JOB OFFER - INTERPRETER/TRANSLATOR!!!
[email protected] [email protected] via g001.emailsrvr.com
6:01 AM (4 hours ago)
to Gabriel.hrcoordinator
Dear Interpreter/Translator,



After a quick review
... See more
Hi Friends,
I recently received a scam similar to the one that was received by Robert.

I am copying the e-mail:
BIOGEN JOB OFFER - INTERPRETER/TRANSLATOR!!!
[email protected] [email protected] via g001.emailsrvr.com
6:01 AM (4 hours ago)
to Gabriel.hrcoordinator
Dear Interpreter/Translator,



After a quick review of your profile on The American Association Of Language Specialists(TAALS) , I write to present Biogen Job Offer. Biogen is always looking for outstanding individuals willing to participate and actively support the company's positive business development. If you enjoy working in a highly motivated team and possess skills as well as experience to enhance Biogen technology and business, this position is for you. Our flexible working environment had helped us build a dynamic and inclusive workplace that operates on trust and respect and allows you to live the life you want to live. We’re in search of individuals, companies irrespective of the current business type for an Interpreting job position.


As a responsible company, we act where the needs are greatest and where we can have maximum impact. Together, with our employees and partners, we help provide better health for all.


COMPANY: Biogen
Job Name: Interpreter/Translator
Job Type: Part-Time, Full-Time (Freelancer).
Hourly Rate: $80/Hour
Training Rate: $75/Hour.
Location: Work from Home.



Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

* Mentors and teaches peers in order to improve the overall interpreting skills of the department.

* Interpreters communication between the staff or faculty and the non-English speaking population.

* Provide legible word counts for all translated documents.

If interested, follow the steps below to schedule your interview session:

You've been assigned to Mr. Edmond Louis (Hiring Coordinator) of Biogen, he would be conducting an online interview with you.

If interested, follow the steps below to schedule your interview session:

To contact him, set up a screen name with Gmail hangout (www.hangouts.google.com) and add up the Company Hiring Coordinator's hangouts on his Google ([email protected]) and instant message him for more you need to know and job details.


Interview Scheduled: Mondays - Fridays
Venue: Online Via Google Hangout
Time : 9:00 AM-6:00 PM EST
Training is available.

Your verification code is (BIO/INT_07_475). This would serve as your identification number throughout the online hiring process. This is an online work from home and working hours are flexible.

Your swift and timely response matters a lot as this is an immediate hire position... We look forward to having you on the team.

Yours Sincerely,
Patricia Larkin,
Director Human Resources,

Biogen.
www.Biogen.com

######################################
This scam is pretty similar to the one sent under the name of "Carl Zeiss" last year.
Please be careful for this scam.

Kagari Fujita
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Latest iteration in an old scam







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