UPDATE – 6/6/19
These scammers seem to be creating a new website and scam about every three months – all pulling the same scam that is described below.
Sometime in May 2019 the Mind Organ Studio appeared out of nowhere – similar website using stock photos too good to be true, different address and phone numbers, but advertising essentially the same job offer, looking for “Associate Photographers” across the country and the same method of operation “Your hired – we are sending you to (Fill in here) and we will send you a check that you need to use to pay the travel agent.”
MindOrgan
3899 Jackson St, Denver, CO 80205
info@mindorgan.com
720-770-4133
other contact info according to ICANN WHOIS:
Patrick Cole
790 W Rando St, Chicago, III 60661
609-543-4115
patcole086@gmail.com
UPDATE – 3/19/19
These scammers are now going under a number of different names and websites – all pulling the same scam that is described below.
About a month after this PexelPerfect.com scam came the MastrStudios.com scam – almost identical website, different address and phone numbers, but the same job offers and the same method of operation “Your hired – we are sending you to (Fill in here) and we will send you a check that you need to use to pay the travel agent.”
MastrStudios
1300 Hercules Ave, Houston, TX 77058
info@mastrstudios.com
(972) 427-3255
Also in 2019 they started with another website: PhotoGridStudios.com
PhotoGridStudios
190 W 8th Ave Eugene, OR 97401
1405 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
730 W Randolf St Chicago IL 60661
(765) 231-5137
other contact info according to ICANN WHOIS:
Ryan Johnson
190 W 8th Ave Eugene, OR 97401
704-809-2179
protravelpal@outlook.com
– again total scam as you can read from Brian Krecik in his comments below the post.
In short – if it sounds too good to be true – it is :-).
It seems that the scammers are getting smarter and more elaborate. Stay far away from this one and don’t get sucked in.
I responded to an ad from LinkedIn for an Assistant Photographer in Columbus, Ohio by Pexelperfect Images (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/793016074).
It also appeared in my daily ZipRecruiter photographers list (https://recruit.zohopublic.com/recruit/ViewJob.na?digest=pvv1IOXZCdmL49btbn10dwbQitN8VskgiSAfsGAcUc0-&embedsource=ZipRecruiter).
I did a “1-click Apply” thru ZipRecruiter and got the following email from info@pexelperfectimage.com about 5 days later:
Hello James, Best of Mornings to you, upon reviewing your resume, which was sent to us via Zoho Recruit and painstakingly taken our time to crucially cross-examine your resume, whether or not you possess/acquire the distinct characteristics and qualities, skill set, abilities and technical know-how to execute this job effectively with perfection/precision which we strive to attain per each production , gladly bring to your notice that you have been chosen as an ideal candidate that is sound,skilled, motivated, energetic passionate, talented and ideal to work with Pexelperfect Images production team. We have been recently engaged/contracted for a photo shoot this September by/for our client Aviator Nation. You will be participating and working directly with our production crew throughout the production. This is a highly professional, creative, and collaborative project and should be executed flawlessly effortlessly without commas, this position could lead to long-term opportunity which would be good for development and based on your productivity, performance and skillset you shall we guaranteed and also be staffed permanently with this organization. Company Profile: We here at Pexelperfect Images offer photography services, both still photos and motion pictures. we believe in quality service serviced to you at the time you need it. We cover all areas of life, nature, wild life, family, Fashion, abstract and any other functions we grace with our outmost focus. You live the present, we capture them all you have left are the memories that are graphic form. That’s why it’s important to have a professional studio with an established reputation you trust to capture those once in a lifetime moments in photos & video. Job Duties: As an Assistant Photographer, you will help in keeping the set clean, run errands for the Lead Photographer and the crew during production, also helping the cinematography department with carrying of equipment’s and other tools required to make this production is executed without flaw. You will also assist with image manipulation and enhancement. You will be required to attend a skillset training with the team on the first day of your duty. Pay: You will be paid $300/day which will amount to $900 for the 3 days. Project Details: The photo shoot will be Held in San Francisco during the weekend of 9-28-2018 to 9-30-2018 at The Kimpton Buchanan, 1800 Sutter St. San Francisco CA 94115. Both your traveling, hotel bills ,per diem expenses will be covered by our clientele. We have been engaged for the date above and hope you’ll be chanced and are not booked for those dates in which we are required for the production, so i will be needing you to reassure me of your availability and commitment, time and energy. Dress code will be stipulated later on. Thank you. I believe you are not booked for those dates so i will be needing you to reassure me of your availability and commitment for those dates. Please reconfirm this information below: Full name: Mailing address: State, City, Zip Code: Mobile Phone Number: Work or Personal References: NOTE: You will also receive a check next week via USPS and this check will cover your personal expenses which includes travel/lodging and will be handled via our sponsors designated travel agent. You are to deduct the amount of $300 out of the check, this is allocated as your upfront payment while the remaining balance will be transferred to our Sponsors travel agent who will make all the necessary hotel and travel arrangement on your behalf. You get daily update via email Feel free to email your concerns and we will get back to you ASAP.
WOW – that was VERY verbose, but I have dealt with some shops that love to do that, so I accepted it – aside from the part that Pexel Perfect Images would pay ME the travel fees and I could then pay the travel agency of THEIR client.
Beyond that simple fact – first, this was listed as a job in Columbus, Ohio, but they want to fly me (without talking to me) to San Francisco.
I dug into the website and Whois info and things got really elaborate and screwy.
At first glance the website looks good – a typical production firms website. A number of nice images, a story about their founding, etc. They even have an instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/pexelperfect_image/) and a logo.
Their contact page says that they are located at 72 Union Ave Memphis, TN 38103 and lists a phone number +1 (704) 809-2179.
First, I called the number (which is a actually a central Virginia area code) and it was out of service.
Then I looked up the address and found a “A Great Massage” massage therapist at the listed address and called them. The man who answered barely spoke English and could only say “Can I make you an appointment”. “A Great Massage” has several reviews listed in yelp and shows photos of what seems to be a legitimate place and lines up with the Google street view of the building despite their receptionists lack of English skills. The Google street view from April 2017 shows the location occupied by “Jazzy Boutique” which may have gone under.
Looking at their contact page again – a little clue is the verbiage used:
Hi there, you can call us on +1 (704) 809-2179 and you can reach us at info@pexelperfectimage.com or just send us a message through the form below and we would get back to you as soon as possible.
“Call us on”? Thats a European term. Okay, I’ll give them that. Maybe their trying to sound haughty.
I tried calling the number – disconnected (look down further for the update from 9/11 – it seems they have a typo (intentional??) on their webpage as I did get a call from 740-809-2179).
Okay, I can’t get ahold of anyone thru the info on their website. Lets dig into the Whois info:
I went over to ICANN.org and looked them up:
https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=pexelperfectimage.com
Domain Name: PEXELPERFECTIMAGE.COM Registry Domain ID: 2257011978_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.hostinger.com Registrar URL: https://www.hostinger.com Updated Date: 2018-06-26T02:34:17Z Creation Date: 2018-04-26T10:26:14Z Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2019-04-26T10:26:14Z Registrar: Hostinger, UAB Registrar IANA ID: 1636 Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited Registry Registrant ID: Not Available From Registry Registrant Name: Ronald Markowicz Registrant Organization: Pexelperfect Images Registrant Street: pinehurst avenue 700 curtiss asbell Registrant City: chesterton Registrant State/Province: indiana Registrant Postal Code: 46304 Registrant Country: US Registrant Phone: +1.3160987865 Registrant Phone Ext: Registrant Fax: Registrant Fax Ext: Registrant Email: ronaldmarko.photography@gmail.com Registry Admin ID: Not Available From Registry Admin Name: Ronald Markowicz Admin Organization: Pexelperfect Images Admin Street: pinehurst avenue 700 curtiss asbell Admin City: chesterton Admin State/Province: indiana Admin Postal Code: 46304 Admin Country: US Admin Phone: +1.3160987865 Admin Phone Ext: Admin Fax: Admin Fax Ext: Admin Email: ronaldmarko.photography@gmail.com Registry Tech ID: Not Available From Registry Tech Name: Ronald Markowicz Tech Organization: Pexelperfect Images Tech Street: pinehurst avenue 700 curtiss asbell Tech City: chesterton Tech State/Province: indiana Tech Postal Code: 46304 Tech Country: US Tech Phone: +1.3160987865 Tech Phone Ext: Tech Fax: Tech Fax Ext: Tech Email: ronaldmarko.photography@gmail.com Name Server: ns1.hostinger.com Name Server: ns2.hostinger.com Name Server: ns3.hostinger.com Name Server: ns4.hostinger.com DNSSEC: Unsigned Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@hostinger.com Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +37064503378 URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/ >>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-09-07T18:44:37Z <<<
Looks good on the surface, but the slightest scratch and it all falls apart.
First the registrant – Ronald Markowicz – his email address is ronaldmarko.photography@gmail.com. You would think that with an email address like that, he would actually have a website for photography – nope couldn’t find one.
Next the phone number – (316) 098-7865 – it comes back to a central Kansas area code, but the address listed is in Chesterton, Indiana?? And yes, its not valid when called. The first three numbers of the exchange after the area code is 098. Any ‘0’ exchange is invalid – it would go straight to an operator in any area code.
Next is the mailing address: “pinehurst avenue 700 curtiss asbell, chesterton indiana 46304 US”
Chesterton, Indiana has no such address. It DOES have a Pinhurst Avenue, but all of their addresses are in the thousands, not the hundreds.
Not sure who or what the “curtiss asbell” is. Couldn’t find any connection to anything when googling that. Let me know if you do.
Another search, this time with WebAnalyzer:
https://wa-com.com/pexelperfectimage.com
shows that the pexelperfectimage.com website is being hosted from IP 156.67.222.110 which is located in CYPRUS GREECE. Very odd for an American company.
Going back to the LinkedIn job posting – it has a link to the Pexelperfect Images LinkedIn listing:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pexelperfectimages/
The LinkedIn listing shows an address of 29 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Umm Yeah – its a Phoenix, Arizona company, not a Memphis, Tennessee company.
Looking the address up in Google, again, a nail salon and other businesses listed, but no Pexel Perfect Images. The Street view image from August 2017 showed a realtors sign posted – I called the number and talked with Bob. SURPRISE, he had never heard of Pexel Perfect Images and said he had no such tenant in the building.
The LinkedIn link to its two employees also draws a blank.
I reported it as a scam to LinkedIn with minimal results from them.
UPDATE 9/11/18:
I responded to their first email on September 7, 2018 to see where this would go:
Hello: Thank you for the email. I am free the weekend of September 28-30, 2018 and would love to help assisting you on the photo shoot in San Fransisco. The daily pay rate is more than acceptable, provided that ALL travel expenses and per diem are covered in full in advance. You can contact me via the address and phone number in the footer of this email. Professional Reference: (redacted) Please let me know further details of the travel arrangements, dress code, and any gear that I am expected to supply for the shoot. Also, please let me have full contact information for you, the manager on site and the travel agency this will be booked thru. I have specific needs when traveling with camera equipment and need to make sure those needs are met in advance. :-) THANKS!! Jim
On September 11, 2018 I received a phone call from 740-809-2179 and chatted with a man who identified himself as “David Marchand”. He spoke fluent english and was quite convincing. He apologized for the delay in getting back to me and assured me that this was legitimate (I hadn’t asked if it was :-). He said that Pexel Perfect Images had offices in Memphis, New York, San Francisco and was starting an office in Columbus. He said that he would send details about the travel arrangements and information about the job in an email that would go out on 9/12/18 to me.
I told him I was looking forward to the email and would be in touch if I had any questions after that.
A bit a sleuthing and found that the 740-809-2179 phone number is just a Google Phone number and could be forwarded from anyplace.
UPDATE 9/14/18:
On 9/14/18 I had yet to receive an email from info@PexelPerfectImages.com and sent an email to pressure them a bit:
Hello: Thanks for your call on Tuesday about this job. To recap, during the call you said that I would receive a detailed email about the job and travel arrangements on Wednesday, September 12. I did not receive any email. Can you please send me an update on the status of this job. I have another client looking to use me on the same weekend, and if I don’t hear from you soon, I will have to take the other job. THANKS!! Jim
Hi James, Thanks for your timely response; I am pleased that you have depicted your availability for the production/shoot. This e-mail outlines and encompasses of an/the entire process before and during the production and also etiquettes to be observed at the site of production. How to proceed, including the Production/Itinerary Schedule,the DO’s and DON’TS TO BE APPLIED AND MANDATED ON THE FIELD OF WORK. Please note that during the production,PRECISION is what we want to thrive at. You will required to conduct yourself with outmost professionalism, putting in your skillsets and/or abilities to perfect PRECISION in order to assist the production/cinematography crew to produce a flawless, memorable show for our Clients. You will also receive a check for $3565 in the following days via FedEx and this check will cover your personal expenses and travel/lodging expenses which will be handled via a designated travel agent. The amount of $300 out of the check is allocated as down payment to show our keen interest in your services while the remaining balance will be transferred to the travel agent who will make all the necessary feeding, hotel and travel arrangements on your behalf to San Francisco CA (more information on the travel agent will be provided to you ASAP). The balance ($600) of your pay will be given to you after the production. Itinerary/production schedule is: September 27th 2018 - Arrive in California and check in Kimpton Buchanan, 1800 Sutter St. San Francisco CA 9411 Orientation and trial production 9am-11pm - There will be a 2 hours seminar prior to your arrival , the seminar is to provide more information on duties/tasks that will be required from all crew members in attendance and a hard copy of the production call sheet will be provided to all and all crew members will be grouped to their area of expertise as in their resumes. N.B: This seminar will be held at the hotel’s auditorium September 28th 2018 (Opening day)- Red carpet and Production 9am-3pm September 29th 2018- Production and Gala night. 6pm-11pm September 30th 2018- Production Closing paperwork and departure 9am-12pm Upon the arrival of the check, you are to have it deposited into your account immediately so that the funds will be made available within 24 hours which is the next day. Once the funds has been made available, i will be providing you the sponsors travel agent details in which you will be making payments, after deducting your upfront payment of $300. He will handle your travel/lodging arrangements and will place a call to you, provide you your flight itinerary once he is done with your arrangements, this may take a day or 2 days. Attached to the email is the agreement form .You are to fill the blank spaces, have it signed and emailed back to me. The check is processed immediately once your signed form has been received and documented DO’S AND DON’T TO BE OBSERVED ONSET; · Precision and paying attention to details on set. · Effectiveness and speed. · Late-coming to set would not be entertained. · Tidiness. Make to our notice any questions you got the update for the day. Note: kindly find time to reach out to us before the contract agreement form is sent. Best, David Marchand, HR Department Pexelperfect Images.
UPDATE 9/26/18:
Again there was a lag in communications from David Marchand.
I know their game – this is purposeful to push things to the shoot date and make the writing of my check to them an emergency so on 9/22/18 I had yet to receive an email from info@PexelPerfectImages.com and sent an email to pressure them a bit:
Hi David: Is there an update on this? Tracking number for the check? Travel arrangement details? We are less than a week out and you have given me no information about my flight or travel arrangements. Why am I the one driving this? THANKS!! Jim
Again there was nothing but crickets from Mr. Marchand, so on 9/24/18 I sent another email :
Bueller, Bueller? Is there an update on this? Tracking number for the check? Travel arrangement details? We are less than a week out and you have given me no information about my flight or travel arrangements. THANKS!! Jim
Then on 9/25/18 I sent them just a link to this video: https://vimeo.com/292135062
I was intentionally being obstinate to see what response I would get.
If someone who wanted to work for me did that, I would say goodbye.
Instead I get:
Good Morning James, We sincerely apologize for the delay of the check to be sent to you, This is as a result of the first failed attempt to deliver to the first submitted address. FedEx will be delivering the check tomorrow morning to your address, tracking address (redacted). Please be reminded the event is fast approaching and we are behind schedule, Due to this, Your orientation program is going to delayed and the funds are to be deposited and paid to the Travel Agent ASAP to hasten the logistics of your trip. You can reach out to me personally via call or text on this number ((740) 809-2179) for more inquiries Thank you. David Marchand, HR Department Pexelperfectimages.
The check arrived via FedEx Priority Overnight first thing in the morning on 9/26/18 as promised.
It came from:
Origin ID: MIFA
Chad Bringle
Pro Cargo
15619 Morales Road
Houston, Texas 77032
with a senders phone number of 313-635-8144.
Cashiers check #201898325
In the amount of $3665.00
Remitted by David Rouls
Drawn on the Simmons Bank, Branch 1053
Dated 9/25/2018
Routing number 082900432
Account #12555024
And while the check says “Warning: This document has security features in the paper” there is no watermark in the check as there should be.
I called Simmons Bank and they confirmed that the check was a fraud. Their advice when I explained the scenario was “Just shred it, we can’t do anything with it.”
The check came with a note, typed and printed on an ink jet printer that seemed to run out ink towards the end of the half page of type.
It was a Mrs. Angela Banks from the Pexel Perfect Payment Department. It said:
Good Day.., I hope this Package reaches you doing great? This is Mrs Angela banks from The Payment department and you are required to manage these funds as instructed by your Online Hiring Manager/Online Training supervisor You are to get back to us via email with the following information :: 1. How the funds were used. 2. Exact amount used. 3. Whom you ordered or got the materials from. 4. The Deposit Slip/Receipt is also required. 5. As soon as the check is receive Here is the email to reply to : Angelabanks018@gmail.com The deposit slip should be emailed to us ASAP for immediate clearance. NOTE : lf you are being told to discard this letter.DO NOT SO SUCH . You must keep us informed on the check and it’s funds from your email (By yourself) and not from your employers email. Failure to do this is against the company’s protocol. Also, don't forget to email us one you receive the check to
The note seems to stop in mid sentence with the next line only partly there.
INTERESTING – they want a copy of the deposit receipt. I haven’t run into that before with dealing with a number of these scams. A little research revealed the obvious – by getting a copy of the deposit receipt they would have my banking info and could possibly use it to clear out my account with a fake ACH agreement since they have my fake signature on the contract.
I emailed both info@PexelPerfect.com and the Angelabanks018@gmail.com address:
Hi David & Angela: Thanks for all the info. The check came earlier and I will cash it later today. FYI: The bottom of the letter was cut off (didn’t seem to print properly, so I don’t know what “the company protocol” is. What are the travel arrangements? THANKS! Jim
About 5 minutes later my phone exploded – it was ‘David’ calling me from their google phone number: 740-809-2179. He called 4 times, each time I let it go to voicemail. On the fourth call he left a message – You can listen HERE. He wanted the check deposited right away and for me to call him back ASAP.
I waited a couple of hours and emailed both of them back with all the info they requested in the letter:
Hi Angela & David: I have deposited the cashiers check #201898325 in the amount of $3665.00 remitted by David Rouls, drawn on the Simmons Bank, Branch 1053, dated 9/25/2018, Routing number 082900432, Account #12555024, that arrived today via FedEx parcel as per your orders. There is no deposit slip/receipt since I did it electronically. The funds will be used for travel tomorrow to San Fransisco for a job with PexelPerfect Images. THANKS!! Jim
Again about 5 minutes later ‘David’ was calling me from their google phone number: 740-809-2179. Again he called 4 times in rapid succession, but didn’t leave a message, instead he emailed me:
Ok, we’ll be needing a proof of deposit for documentation.
I sent back:
Sorry - I just did it electronically thru my phone - no receipt. What are the travel plans?
He quickly replied:
Ok I understand, But If we can receive a screenshot of the deposit that will do just fine. It is highly required for documentation.
I waited until I went to bed (keeping in mind I should be on a plane to them in less than 24 hours, but I haven’t heard one word of travel arrangements) and sent this:
Hi David & Angela: Since you didn’t get me the check until today, I made my own travel arrangements and found a savings for you of more than $2000. Since the orientation seminar is so early in the morning on Friday, and I would have missed it with the flight your travel agent had booked me on, I booked a flight the day before to get into town before the seminar so I won’t miss it. Besides, the Spirit Air flight is less than half the cost ($259 Total) of what your agent had me booked on. A high school buddy of mine runs the Artists Inn (http://artistsinn.com) a little more than a block away from the Kimpton and has offered me a room for only $50/night ($200 Total), so thats a huge savings for you over the $450+ per night rate the Kimpton was charging. I got a car thru Enterprise ($297 Total) for the weekend with my special corporate rate dirt cheap too. My buddy also runs Roam Artisan Burgers (https://www.roamburgers.com) on Fillmore Street only two blocks from the Kimpton and has offered to shut the place down to the public to throw a wrap party for us on Sunday evening once the shoot is complete. No cost to you - he would just charge individuals half price to collect the tab. If you want to reach out to him directly, his name is John Hancock. I will give you a check for the difference ($2009) tomorrow at the orientation meeting when I arrive. See you on the tomorrow!
UPDATE 9/27/18:
I was surprised there hadn’t been any response to my email overnight.
At 11 AM I got an email from Angela Banks (angelabanks018@gmail.com) simply saying:
Sounds good.
I guess they figured the game was up, but about 20 minutes later David (info@pexelperfectimage.com) responded:
Good morning Jim, We at Pexelperfect implemented strict protocols for traveling procedures to avoid scams and delays. We work with a specific agency which handles all traveling logistics and hotel reservations pertaining to the organization. You directly disobeyed instructions and protocol demands you first inform the organization before you carry out payments pertaining to the organization on your own. This is totally unacceptable and must not happen again. Unfortunately we run a cashless organization so the remaining fund will have to be transferred to one of our finicial institutions before the end of the day. David Marchand
I figured I would keep them on the line and responded later in the afternoon:
I’m about to board the plane. I will try and meet up with you tonight once I get to the hotel. If not I will see you in the morning at the orientation meeting and will give you the check for the difference. What room are you staying in? THANKS! Jim Sent from my iPhone
They responded pretty quickly (keeping in mind, I’m supposedly on a plane right now and couldn’t answer them if I wanted to):
I’m sorry James we cannot move forward with you You keep making decisions without the go ahead of the organization. Your contract will be therefore terminated and the check is to be mailed back to an address that will be communicated to you later on. Have a great day. David Marchand HR Department Pexelperfect Images
Following on the myth that I was traveling, I emailed them back late that night:
Hi David & Angela: Im at the Kimpton in San Francisco, the location of the shoot tomorrow and they don’t know anything about it. They have never heard of you or PexelPerfect Images, they don’t have reservations for you or any of the crew, and don’t have any rooms reserved for the shoot. Can you please let me know whats going on? I have your check for you. THANKS!! Jim Sent from my iPhone
I doubt I will hear from them again, but if I do, will keep you updated.
Have you run into any similar scams? Let me know below.
