Global Test Market Scam

I fear I was just scammed and am trying to find out any information I can about a company called

Global Test Market
1351 Washington Blvd. Suite 5000
Stamford CT 06902
Tel 1-888-528-1114
Fax 1-866791-2284

The scamer went by John or Daniel.  Is there any way to look up the number and find out where it is and who pays the bill?  All help would be greatly appreciated.  Who do I report this stuff to?  

HELP PLEASE...  It may be embarassing that I got scammed but I really want their hide in jail or worse if at all possible.  But I don;t know where to turn or what to do next...

Global test market is a market research firm.  They usually deal in online market research, but I have been called before.  The shouldn't ask for any personal information, and the only time I was asked about who pays the bills, they were referencing, who makes decisions on you phone service provider, or who chooses your power company, things like that.

You are helping others avoid the same mistake, and you have nothing to be embarrassed about.  You're doing the right thing by pursuing this.

Of course, just because they said they were Global Test Market, or because the caller id showed their number, does not make any of that true.  Without disclosing anything you shouldn't can you give us some idea of how you were scammed?  We can give more meaningful advice if we know what happened.

Here is the result of a little quick research on Global Test Market.  I did not find them listed in Hoover's or the BBB (not good in my mind).  

I tried to look them up in the records of the Secretary of State for CT, and found the SOS web site unusable.  Doing a search there got me an "under construction" page, and the whole site is a bit of a mess.  Shame on you CT, this kind of thing makes you a haven for slime.  No wonder the Jerry Springer Show relocated there.  FIX YOUR SITE!

What I did find was what looks like a "shilled" Internet presence for a company of this name.  If they are one and the same, this is one of those scams where they pay you to take surveys?  Is that what you were dealing with ?

In general, I would offer the following advice.  First, file a police report.  Secondly, if you paid by credit card, contact the card issuer and dispute the charges.  Tell them that you have filed a police report (you did that first, right?) and that you believe you are the victim of a fraudulent scheme.  I would also write the CT Attorney General and include a copy of the police report, along with copies of any other supporting documentation..  Finally, I would file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.  Again, a copy of the police report will add weight to your complaint.  And while you can file on their web site, a well written letter with supporting documentation may be a better choice.

While I have no direct knowledge of this company and their ethics, and I don't know how you were victimized, there are many companies that operate at the fringes of the law.  They can be difficult to prosecute, and it generally requires a demonstration of a pattern of conduct.  So, to that end, I think it is important that victims report these things.

For the benefit of our gentle readers, please know that finding a company on the Internet does not make it real or legitimate.  

I did an experiment a few tears ago in which I created a web site for a non-existent company.  We had products, people, pictures.  We had "locations" in multiple cities.  We had a working toll free number, a working toll free fax number, and working local number in each city where we supposedly had a location.  There was no business, and we did no promotion.  Not even the "shilling" that the scammers like to do.  All of the phone numbers were VOIP numbers forwarded to a VOIP line in my home.  An old PC running asterisk provided a very corporate seeming telephone presence.  There are no business licenses or official records anywhere.  Five minutes of checking will show you that there is no "there", there.  But in a few weeks we began to get calls.  Even now, after the site has been taken down, I still get the occasional call for the "business" on those numbers.

The total cost to implement this was less than $100, with very small ongoing costs.  (Cheap web hosting, domain name purchase, Internet based fax service, and VOIP lines with a major bulk provider at a few dollars each every month).  

Bottom line:  If they don't show up on Hoover, the BBB, and the Secretary of States records, they don't exist.  If they do, then you have to keep going.  Check the address - is there a building at that location ? Do an address look-up, is someone else in the building? I have found corporation records with registered agent addresses that were empty lots.  Do they have a business license with the city ?  Using the Internet and a telephone, it should take you less than an hour to validate any company.  Make it a habit to do that any time you are sending money to strangers, and do not trust the fact that their name shows up on an Internet search, or that they have a web site.  If you are still uncomfortable, ask them for references.  Vet the references, then contact them.  It isn't hard.  It is only slightly time consuming.  And it will save your posterior and your money.

Good Luck

I recieved a check today for the amount of $3,420.00. Great I thought free money and all I have to do is evulate a few people at wal-mart and western union NOT. Called mu hubby to tell him about it and thank GOD for his spidey senses he told me to call the BBB and in about 10mins. I found out it was a SCAM. Global test market u should ashame of urself and u too Daniel if that's your real name. Thank GOD for him in my life or I would have been SCAMED and PISSED!!!!! You will be caught people. Everybody is not dumb dummies.

Dont be ashamed I almost got scammed by the same people just call the BBB Better Business Burea. Call the one in your area. God bless u. They need to hide in JAIL not u.

I am so glad I read this. I got a check in the mail from this phony Global Test Market yesterday in the amount of $3,990.00. I called the BBB in Connecticut and they had no address listed for them. I figured it was a scam and then I read these replies. I hope they are caught SOON!

Yeah we were scammed and desperate for money and hopeful and it did sound good.  Almost evicted from our home thankful for a loan because it was taken out of my husbands acct and yah were embarrased for falling to the scam.  but thanks for the insult.  We didnt want to believe that it was a scam yet people should have more compassion.  Ive had to beg and borrow to feed our kids but hey thanks for the insult!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received the same check scam in the mail but thank goodness I briefly heard of this scam a few weeks earlier. They will have you deposited the check and when it clears they want you to spend the money, 200. on yourself, 100. @ Walmart then send the 2980. money gram to them via Western Union. The check will then be declined and you will be responsible for the reimbursement to your bank. What a bunch of lowlifes. Sorry to anyone who was scammed. Sounds like what the government does to us every year at tax time.

Thanks for the warning. My guy was Daniel too.. They won't get me this time. Too bad they have my name and address.

i got scammed by global test market and i went to the bbb and i reported them and i told the bbb that i wanted the money i was promised on there website and how they kept harrassing me after i told them to stop emailing me so they sent them the complaint and i am waiting there response. and i am also going to report them to teh attorney generals office.

i think we should all get together and do a class action lawsuit against this company and i bet you they will never lie again!

Well, I'm glad I found this website...my husband just received a check for $3990.00, and since I don't work I thought it would be great to earn a little side money as a secret shopper!  Guess i thought wrong.

I received a GTM letter yesterday, and the red flag was when they required you to have a checking account. You deposit their "check" and pay bills from your account through Moneygram or Western Union (to them no doubt) under the guise of a test. By the time you realize the check was bad, you've already sent them your money! My friend almost got caught up in this scam on Craig's list, so that's how I know about it.

globaltestmarket is a perfectly legit survey broker.  the email you surveys, you take them, you earn points, and eventually you cash out said points and they cut and mail you a check for your time.

I received one too...today for 2990.00...wow they just won't stop..!....So glad I found this before I did something stupid....although when I saw the part where you send it by Moneygram or Western Union...I knew that sounded kinda off and I better research it......anyways hope something is done about this before they scam someone else!