Description

I was targeted by a fraudulent job offer from a company impersonating Appen USA, operating under the domain appenusatalent.com and communicating via Microsoft Teams and Facebook Messenger. They claimed to be hiring for a Fitness Program Coordinator position and used the names Carla Gutierrez (HR) and Gregory Blake (IT Specialist). All communication appeared legitimate at first and was delivered in a structured, professional tone. They had me complete what they called a secure “HR Interview Assistant” via Messenger and an online chat portal. I was then instructed to upload sensitive personal information including my driver’s license and Social Security card, as part of “onboarding” documentation. I also filled out a W-9 tax form using the official IRS site as they requested, believing this was part of a real employment process. After completing a so-called interview, I was told I needed to pay $60 for a “certification” to become a Certified Fitness Program Coordinator. The test was only 12 questions and provided no meaningful feedback or validation. Once I completed it, they tried to upsell me on additional software purchases via their fake portal. I was directed to log in and “purchase” the “FitManage Suite” or individual software items, supposedly for use on an iMac they promised to ship to me after the installation process. All of this was a scam. They used emotionally manipulative language to pressure me, fabricated training and shipping policies, and promised free equipment (including an iMac and headset) to add legitimacy. I have not received any job offer paperwork from the real Appen, and this was a scam designed to collect money and personally identifiable information (PII) from unsuspecting applicants. I now realize this operation is stealing sensitive information and funds from job seekers under the guise of a remote wellness position with a fake company. I am requesting a full investigation, and I would like to recover the $60 I paid under false pretenses. The websites and emails used include: appenusatalent.com bot.appenusatalent.com [email protected] [email protected] messenger.com/t/AppenHire This scam is extremely sophisticated and dangerous. It must be stopped before more people are exploited or have their identities stolen.