If you are a current member of Pinecone Research, please read this. Even if you are not, I highly recommend reading this to protect yourself and be aware of this scam.
There is currently a scam involving a company who is trying to fraudulently pose as Pinecone Research Company, when they are NOT. If you go on the legitimate Pinecone Research Company’s website, you will see this important security notice:
We have been made aware that third parties may be attempting to use the names and logos of Pinecone Research for different “scams.” One example of such a scam is a “mystery shopping” assignment. Essentially, the victim is provided a fake check and advised to cash it, and then use some of the proceeds to test a service (for example, testing a Western Union wire transfer). The victim is advised that he or she may retain the balance from the cashed check as payment, however, the check later bounces. Other examples include recruiting for “business evaluation surveys” or “hiring” employees.
Please be aware that Pinecone Research has no involvement in these fraudulent transactions. Participating in our surveys is always free of charge, and we never ask our panelists to cash a check for a large amount and then use the proceeds to “test” a service. Furthermore, all communications with us will always be with the email address “scott@pineconeresearch.com” — be wary of any email that asks you to respond to a different address, or asks you to respond by clicking on a link within the email. (Please be aware that email sending addresses can be faked, and so it’s possible for a fake email to appear to have come from this address.)
If you are targeted by any of these scams, please report any information regarding these activities to local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) “econsumer.gov” reporting system (https://econsumer.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/) in the United States or the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (http://www.phonebusters.com/) in Canada.
If you receive anything suspicious in the mail resembling this scam, please do NOT participate or cash the money. Immediately report it to the FTC.
It’s such a shame that this is happening to Pinecone Research Company. They are my absolute favorite legitimate survey site, and I hate to see that they’re getting pulled into this whole thing.
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On Wednesday, 11/27/13, I received a shopping assignment Email as described above. I have been aware of this type of scam for many months now and I instantly knew this was bogus. I contacted PineCone Research about it but I contacted the wrong department, which was Neilson, who advised me to contact PineCone on their website.
Pinecone3 is my favorite survey site and they have always been exemplary in their dealings with me.