Scam Alerts: Avoid Impersonation Scams That Seem Like Brick Media

Hi everyone, this is Jake Kurtz on the Brick Media team writing this post.

I am the CEO and I founded the company in 2018 from my kitchen table in Tampa, Florida. Over the years we’ve grown and evolved and now have a team of 15+ people.

Recently, we’ve been made aware of an alarming trend where individuals are impersonating Brick Media, a reputable, award-winning social media agency based in Tampa, Florida.

Our core services revolve around social media management and paid media services, primarily catering to legitimate businesses within the Tampa Bay area and select regions of the United States.

However, scammers are exploiting our brand, misleading people through various deceptive practices. This blog serves as a critical resource for identifying these scams and protecting yourself.

Examples of Recent Scams:

1. Impersonation on WhatsApp: Individuals posing as representatives of Brick Media are contacting users on WhatsApp. We want to clarify that we do not have a WhatsApp account, and any communication claiming to be from us on this platform is fraudulent.
2. Misleading Service Offers: Some scams involve offers for eBay marketing or inquiries about interest in Amazon/eCommerce services. Remember, our services are strictly limited to social media management and paid media services.
3. Unsolicited Employment Offers: We’ve noticed instances where scammers reach out via text messages or various apps, offering employment or project work. Our hiring process is strictly confined to official channels.
4. Scammers Offering to Pay You: There are also some scams we’ve seen that involve a scammer offering to send you money in exchange for completing a task, but sometimes for nothing at all. Do not be tempted by this. It is a scam and you never know what their intentions are.
5. People Pretending to Be Me (Jake Kurtz): There have been a few scams via email or text message, where a scammer will pretend to be me. If you ever get random communication from me that is not on my official Brick Media email address, or an official social media channel, it is likely not me. Another red flag is somebody urgently trying to have a meeting, get you to reply, referencing payments or finances, or asking you for personal information.

How to Verify Authentic Communication from Brick Media:

• Official Communication Channels: All legitimate openings for employment or freelance opportunities are announced solely on our official company social media pages. Applications are accepted only through the Jobs link on our official website.
• Direct Verification: If in doubt, email us at brickteam@brickmediagroup.com for verification. However, never share any financial information, personal details, or contact information over email.
• Reporting Scams: If you encounter a scam, please report it to us via email and notify the platform or app where the scam occurred.

Beware of Name Confusion

Be aware that the person could be pretending they are somebody on the actual Brick Media team (using one of our real names) which can make it even more confusing and misleading.

Sometimes the names are fake, but sometimes they use our real ones. We have gotten reports of both situations happening. The overall point here is that if the message seems odd, too good to be true, or you were contacted completely out of the blue, it probably is a scam.

A Note on Our Actual Hiring Process:

At Brick Media, our hiring process involves a series of official steps including phone calls, Zoom meetings, and in-person meetings in Tampa, Florida. All these interactions occur only after a candidate has applied for an open position.

Positions are made known through our official social media channels or through the email newsletter that I directly send out myself. People apply and hear back from us through the Jobs link on our website. We NEVER engage in unsolicited hiring or job offers through social media, email, WhatsApp, or text messages.

Tips to Identify and Avoid Digital and Social Media-Related Scams:

1. Verify Official Channels: Always confirm that the communication is through official and verified channels.
2. Cross-Check Information: Compare the information received with the details available on our official website and social media pages. Also read all of the information available in this blog post and be very cautious.
3. Guard Personal Information: NEVER share personal, contact, or financial details with unverified sources.
4. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers: Be wary of unexpected job offers, project collaborations, or service inquiries that do not align with our stated business services. Even if they do align with our services, be skeptical if the communication came out of the blue.
5. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Always err on the side of caution.
6. Report Suspicious Activity: Alert us and the respective platform immediately upon encountering a potential scam.

One of the very best things you can do is to REPORT the scammers on the app(s) or social media platforms where you received the communication. This will help notify the platform that there is a pattern of scams happening, and they will be more likely to look into it if more people report it.

Let’s all help reduce spam together.

Conclusion:

In the digital age, vigilance is key. Scammers are constantly devising new ways to deceive individuals and exploit companies.

At Brick Media, we are committed to maintaining transparency and security in all our interactions.

If you ever find yourself questioning the legitimacy of a communication purportedly from us, do not hesitate to reach out for confirmation. Remember, if something seems sketchy, it probably is. Let’s work together to create a safer online community.

Share this blog post with your network to spread awareness about these fraudulent practices. Together, we can minimize the efforts of scammers and protect our community.

Thank you all for reading this!

Sincerely,

Jake Kurtz