So, your phone buzzed. You looked down and saw a message from a "recruiter" at Lucas Group USA. Maybe they called themselves Nora, or Mary, or Sophia. The offer sounds incredible—remote work, flexible hours, and a daily salary that makes your current paycheck look like pocket change.
Wait.
Before you reply "YES" or click that link, we need to talk. Honestly, your gut is probably already telling you something is off. You didn’t apply for this job. You’ve never heard of this person. And yet, here they are, offering you a "career opportunity" via a random SMS.
What’s actually going on here?
Here is the reality: Lucas Group was a very real, high-end executive search firm. Notice the past tense. In late 2021, they were acquired by Korn Ferry, one of the largest organizational consulting firms in the world. While the Lucas Group name still carries weight and prestige in the industry, the "Lucas Group USA" texting you is almost certainly a ghost.
Scammers love using the names of defunct or acquired brands. It’s the perfect cover. If you Google the name, you find a history of legitimate business success. This builds instant, unearned trust. But a legitimate executive recruiter from a firm like Korn Ferry isn't going to cold-text you to offer a "data entry" or "product optimization" role that pays $500 a day.
The anatomy of the Lucas Group USA text message
These messages usually follow a specific script. They are designed to trigger curiosity and a sense of urgency. You might see something like:
"Hello, I'm [Name] from Lucas Group. We saw your resume on a government database and have a great remote online job. Can I send the details?"
💡 You might also like: Jaguar Car Share Price: Why You Can't Actually Buy It (Yet)
If you engage, it gets weird fast. They often push you toward WhatsApp or Telegram. Why? Because those platforms use end-to-end encryption, making it much harder for law enforcement to track the "recruiter" once the scam is complete.
The "Task Scam" trap
Most of these Lucas Group USA text messages lead to what security experts call a Task Scam. It’s a modern, digital version of a pyramid scheme mixed with a shell game.
Once you’re on WhatsApp, they’ll give you a "training" account on a flashy-looking website. They’ll ask you to click buttons to "optimize products" or "increase app relevancy." It looks like you’re making money. Your dashboard shows a growing balance of $80, $150, even $300.
But then, the "combination task" hits. Suddenly, your balance goes negative. The "recruiter" tells you that to finish the set and withdraw your earnings, you need to deposit $50 of your own money (usually in crypto like ETH or USDT) to reset the balance.
You pay it. You finish the task. You might even be allowed to withdraw a small amount once to prove it's "real." This is the hook. Eventually, the negative balances get bigger—$500, $2,000, $10,000. People have lost their entire life savings chasing these "earnings" that never actually existed.
How to spot the fakes immediately
Real recruiters at a high level—the kind Lucas Group was known for—don't operate like this. If you’re questioning a message, look for these dead giveaways:
👉 See also: Why Your Attempt to Convert RON to USD Might Cost More Than You Think
- The Salary is Absurd: If the job offers $3,000 to $6,000 a month for "flexible, part-time" work that requires no specific skills, it's a scam. Always.
- The Communication Channel: Legitimate firms use corporate email addresses (e.g., @kornferry.com). They don't use @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or random WhatsApp accounts.
- Grammar and Syntax: Professional recruiters are literally paid to communicate. If the text has weird spacing, odd capitalization, or says things like "You will definitely be interested. okay?", delete it.
- The "Government Database": They often claim they found your number on a "national employment database" or a "government site." This is a lie used to explain why they have your private cell number.
What should you do?
If you’ve already received one of these messages, do not reply. Replying—even to say "Stop"—confirms to the scammers that your phone number is active and monitored. This makes your number more valuable, and they will sell it to other scam networks. You'll go from getting one text a week to five a day.
Block the number immediately. Most modern smartphones have a "Report Junk" or "Report Spam" option when you delete the message. Use it.
If you’ve already sent money, contact your bank and report the fraud, though recovering cryptocurrency is notoriously difficult. You should also file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the FTC.
Actionable next steps
- Check the official source: If you actually want to work for the firm, go directly to the Korn Ferry Careers page. Any real job at what used to be Lucas Group will be listed there.
- Secure your data: If you gave the "recruiter" your Social Security number or bank details, freeze your credit immediately with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
- Use 7726: Forward the scam message to 7726 (which spells SPAM on most keypads). This alerts your carrier to the fraudulent traffic.
- Trust your instincts: No one is handing out $500-a-day jobs via text message to strangers. If it feels like a dream, it's probably a nightmare in disguise.
Protect your wallet and your data. The real Lucas Group isn't texting you; a scammer in a call center halfway across the world is.