Description

I am reporting that I was a victim of a fraudulent job scam. On May 1, 2025, I was contacted via text from the number [301-500-0734] regarding a job opportunity with MRC Global for the position of Remote Data Entry Clerk. The communication took place via Microsoft Teams chat with a person identifying themselves as “Lori Kohn,” and the job was presented as legitimate. I was briefed on the position and interviewed. After the interview, I was told I was a great candidate and was “hired.” I was instructed to wait for an offer letter, which was sent via email, and to sign and return it to accept the position. The following day, I was told to check in for the next steps. I was asked to send a photo of my ID (front and back) and a picture of myself. They informed me I would receive a “startup check” for purchasing work materials, which I was to cash and then use to buy equipment from their preferred vendor. The next day, I received a check via email for $2,900, allegedly from a Wells Fargo account. I became suspicious because I had not completed any onboarding paperwork. When I asked about it, I was told it would be done after I received my materials and completed training. I began to research the company and found that while MRC Global is a well-known and reputable company, the position I was offered did not exist. I called the company to confirm and was told they do not offer remote positions, and that no one named Lori Kohn works there. I also examined the email I received, which was labeled “MRC GLOBAL,” but upon inspection, I saw it was a Gmail address and not associated with the company’s domain. When I asked “Lori Kohn” for a contact number, she avoided the question multiple times. Eventually, she provided a phone number [617-206-9649], which I looked up and found to be unlisted and untraceable. As a result, I have stopped all contact with this person and believe I have been deceived and financially exploited as part of a fraudulent job scheme.