The Job Offer That Isn't
You’ve probably seen the name pop up on your phone screen. "Hi! This is Angela Lopez from Burtch Works." It looks like a lifeline. Maybe you’re hunting for a side hustle, or perhaps you're just tired of the 9-to-5 grind and that promise of $500 a day for "updating listings" sounds like a dream.
Honestly, it’s a nightmare.
If you are looking for the real Burtch Works Angela Lopez, you won’t find her in the company’s employee directory. You won't find her on their leadership page. That’s because she doesn't actually exist—at least not in the way the text messages claim.
What you're seeing is a sophisticated "task scam" using the name of a highly reputable data science recruitment firm to steal your money. It’s a classic case of identity theft at the corporate level, and it’s hitting phones across the country right now.
Who is the Real Burtch Works?
To understand why this is happening, you have to look at the real company. Burtch Works is a heavy hitter in the world of data science and analytics recruitment. They’ve been around for over a decade, founded by Linda Burtch, and they are the people who publish those massive annual salary reports that every data scientist in the country obsessively reads.
They are a niche, high-end executive search firm. They don't hire "remote assistants" to click on buttons for 90 minutes a day. They place PhDs into $200,000-a-year roles at Fortune 500 companies.
The scammers chose this name because it sounds professional. It sounds established. If you Google the company, you see a legitimate website with a Chicago or Evanston address, real staff, and a polished LinkedIn presence. The scammers are banking on you doing exactly that: seeing the real company and assuming the text message is legitimate.
Breaking Down the "Angela Lopez" Scam
The script is almost always the same. You get a text—often from an international number or a spoofed local one—claiming to be Angela Lopez.
The pitch is enticingly simple:
- The Role: Remote assistant or "optimization" specialist.
- The Pay: $250 to $500 per day.
- The Catch: A "guaranteed" $1,000 base every four days.
- The Work: 60 to 90 minutes of "updating listings" to help merchants.
Here is how the trap actually snaps shut. Once you reply, they move you to a different platform, usually Telegram or WhatsApp. They give you a "training" account. You click some buttons, and magically, the screen shows you earning money. It looks easy. It looks real.
But then, you hit a "premium task" or a "bundle." To complete the task and withdraw your "earnings," you have to deposit your own money first. It starts small—maybe $50. Then $200. Then $1,000.
You’re never getting that money back. The "Angela Lopez" you’re talking to is likely a bot or a person in a call center halfway across the globe, and once your bank account is drained, they vanish.
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Why This Specific Name?
Why Angela Lopez? Why now? Scammers love generic, professional-sounding names. In the world of recruitment, names like "Angela" or "Sarah" or "Michael" appear frequently. By attaching a common name to a real company like Burtch Works, the scammers create a sense of false security.
It's also a volume game. Thousands of these texts are sent out daily. If even 0.1% of people believe that Burtch Works Angela Lopez is a real recruiter, the scammers make a fortune.
How to Tell a Real Recruiter from a Scammer
Real executive recruiters, especially from firms like Burtch Works, do not reach out via unsolicited SMS with "guaranteed" daily pay for 90 minutes of work. That’s just not how the business world functions.
- Check the Domain: A real recruiter will email you from a company domain (e.g., @burtchworks.com). Scammers use Gmail, Outlook, or text messages.
- The Pay Structure: If the pay is quoted in "daily rates" for "tasks," it is a scam. Professional roles are quoted in annual salaries or hourly contract rates.
- The "Pay to Play" Rule: You should NEVER have to pay money to get a job. If they ask for a "startup fee" or a "deposit," run.
- Platform Shifting: Legitimate companies don't conduct their entire hiring process on Telegram.
What to Do If You've Been Contacted
If you’ve already received the Burtch Works Angela Lopez text, don't feel bad. These guys are pros. They know exactly which buttons to push—especially when the economy is tight and everyone is looking for extra cash.
First, block the number. Don't reply. Don't tell them you know it's a scam. Replying just confirms that your phone number is active, which makes it more valuable to other scammers.
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Second, if you've already given them money, contact your bank immediately. While it's hard to claw back crypto or wire transfers, sometimes you can stop a pending transaction if you act fast enough.
Finally, report it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a "Scam Tracker" specifically for this. Mentioning Burtch Works Angela Lopez in your report helps warn others who are Googling the name just like you are.
The real Burtch Works is a great company for data professionals, but they aren't texting you about easy money. Stay skeptical, keep your wallet closed, and remember that if a job sounds too good to be true, it’s usually because it is.
Your Immediate Checklist
- Block the sender on your phone and reporting the message as junk.
- Avoid clicking any links in the message; these can lead to malware or phishing sites.
- Cross-reference the staff on the official Burtch Works LinkedIn page if you’re ever in doubt.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Warn your network, especially those who might be actively looking for remote work.
The digital landscape is messy, and "Angela Lopez" is just one of many aliases being used to exploit the reputation of real businesses. Protecting yourself starts with knowing that no legitimate recruiter will ever ask you to pay them to work.