SCAM or Real Deal

[pouncerchew]

I got a phone call last week from an unlisted number and I answered it anyway. It was a "representative" of the Murray Hill Center in Dallas. They asked me a couple of questions like what is your email, do you use paypal - how often and why, do you shop online, etc. After answering them, he said I qualified to be a part of a focus group at their center set up by paypal. Paypal apparently is interested in why I have used my account a lot less this year than the prior years. Anway, I say maybe I will attend but what is the catch? He said nothing and continued explaining that I will be paid $150.00 for this session that will last one hour. I said that is a lot of money for my opinion especially when I don't have that much to say let alone fill an hour's worth of time productively. He then said it's for real and I should receive a follow-up call in the next couple of days from a supervisor and I should receive and introductory email with directions. He closed with this - which led to more suspicion - "if you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?" I said there wasn't anywhere I would care to go. He then said to just pick something and I was like ok, Tennessee. I did get that call follow-up call and she assured me that it was legit (of course) and then gave me directions to their bldg. I never received the follow-up email. I then received another follow up call yesterday going over the same info, and verifying my name for my nametag. I said to the lady that this seemed crazy because who would pay that much for an opinion of someone who really doesn't have one? Tomorrow is the focus group day and supposedly there are 6 other people in my group. There is a murray hill center - dallas website, but when I type their name into google, nothing else about them comes up - even from other random people - just there website only.

Is this a scam? am I going to my death? lol - sorta...

thanks for your help.

Also, I forgot to add that I called Paypal to try to verfify this focus group thing and they gave me a human resource number to call in the morning. She didn't sound hopeful that they would know if this was true or not.

 

[jagec]

Email Paypal and see if they're doing anything of the sort. I bet it's a scam, though.

 

[pouncerchew]

i called them directly and they didn't know either way.

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: pouncerchew
s. He closed with this - which led to more suspicion - "if you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?" I said there wasn't anywhere I would care to go. He then said to just pick something and I was like ok, Tennessee. .

Sounds like a timeshare trying to rope you in...

 

[Spikesoldier]

im surprised you released that information to just anyone.

 

[divinemartyr]

If Paypal can't verify it then I wouldn't go.

 

[Captante]

Hard to say for sure based on the info you've given, but unless you think they are going to abduct you I can't see the harm in going provided you are very careful about giving them any further personal information. (like SS or drivers license #)

 

[ktehmok]

Originally posted by: pouncerchew
I got a phone call last week from an unlisted number and I answered it anyway. It was a "representative" of the Murray Hill Center in Dallas. They asked me a couple of questions like 1. what is your email, do you use paypal - how often and why, do you shop online, etc. After answering them, he said I qualified to be a part of a focus group at their center set up by paypal. 2. Paypal apparently is interested in why I have used my account a lot less this year than the prior years. Anway, I say maybe I will attend but what is the catch? He said nothing and continued explaining that 3. I will be paid $150.00 for this session that will last one hour. I said that is a lot of money for my opinion especially when I don't have that much to say let alone fill an hour's worth of time productively. He then said it's for real and I should receive a follow-up call in the next couple of days from a supervisor and I should receive and introductory email with directions. He closed with this - which led to more suspicion - "if you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?" I said there wasn't anywhere I would care to go. He then said to just pick something and I was like ok, Tennessee. I did get that call follow-up call and she assured me that it was legit (of course) and then gave me directions to their bldg. I never received the follow-up email. I then received another follow up call yesterday going over the same info, and verifying my name for my nametag. I said to the lady that this seemed crazy because who would pay that much for an opinion of someone who really doesn't have one? Tomorrow is the focus group day and supposedly there are 6 other people in my group. There is a murray hill center - dallas website, but when I type their name into google, nothing else about them comes up - even from other random people - just there website only.

Is this a scam? am I going to my death? lol - sorta...

thanks for your help.

Also, I forgot to add that I called Paypal to try to verfify this focus group thing and they gave me a human resource number to call in the morning. She didn't sound hopeful that they would know if this was true or not.

1. Paypal already knows the answer to these questions.

2. In 8 years, paypal has never contacted me about my account usage. Except for a claim I made against a non-shipper. Which was self-initiated.

3. Paypal wouldn't give $150 to anyone, especially for information they already have.

It is a scam or a timeshare. Post the address & website here, that way we (well not me, but someone) will know where to start looking just in case you come up missing.

This could also be one of those sting operations that law enforcement does to catch people with warrants, non-payment of child support, traffic tickets, etc....Got any warrants?

Take a pass on this one.

 

[kranky]

It's legit. We have a couple of market research places in town and I've been called a number of times, and twice I was asked to come down for a focus group. I got paid in cash right on the spot.

Murray Hill Center is indeed a market research company. If they directed you to Centura Tower, 14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75254, then go and get your $150.

It means nothing that you can't reach anyone at Paypal who can confirm this. Heck, you can't reach anyone there for anything! And the way it works is that Paypal has a marketing firm. The marketing firm hires market research companies like Murray Hill. So it's very unlikely anyone at Paypal even knows about it. It would be like calling Microsoft to ask if it is true that XYZ company makes the cardboard for the boxes used to package Vista. It could very well be true, but XYZ company is so far down the food chain it's invisible to anyone at Microsoft.

Just make sure the address matches the one above from their web page, and you're all clear.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: kranky
It's legit. We have a couple of market research places in town and I've been called a number of times, and twice I was asked to come down for a focus group. I got paid in cash right on the spot.

Murray Hill Center is indeed a market research company. If they directed you to Centura Tower, 14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75254, then go and get your $150.

It means nothing that you can't reach anyone at Paypal who can confirm this. Heck, you can't reach anyone there for anything! And the way it works is that Paypal has a marketing firm. The marketing firm hires market research companies like Murray Hill. So it's very unlikely anyone at Paypal even knows about it. It would be like calling Microsoft to ask if it is true that XYZ company makes the cardboard for the boxes used to package Vista. It could very well be true, but XYZ company is so far down the food chain it's invisible to anyone at Microsoft.

Just make sure the address matches the one above from their web page, and you're all clear.

I think this makes sense. OP is my sister so I'd have to say take someone with you (dad probably), but I'd go check it out if you have time. Kranky's post makes it seem legit enough to investigate.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: kranky
It's legit. We have a couple of market research places in town and I've been called a number of times, and twice I was asked to come down for a focus group. I got paid in cash right on the spot.

Market research focus groups are indeed legit. I've done a bunch and you do make so fairly good money for short stints. Last one I did was an online chat about a new product in the golf industry. It paid $75 for about 40 minutes and that's fairly typical. $150 for an hour is high, but not impossible. The fact that a lot of focus groups are legit doesn't necessarily prove that THIS one is legit though. Go for it, but make sure you protect yourself. They're going to collect both information and opinions. Opinions are free, but stop and think for a minute before providing any information. If they want your name, age occupation that's okay. If they wany your SS number or account names that should raise some red flags and you should get out.