Comments on: Do Not Engage Mystery Shopper Scammers

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:11:03 +0000

Charlie, your bank can not tell that a check is good just by looking at it. I can tell you, though, that this situation is ALWAYS a scam. No exceptions.

You were wise to be cautious. Do not withdraw any of the money and don’t wire any money to the scammer. Let the bank know that you are certain that the check is a forgery. You shouldn’t be in any trouble. You brought it to their attention and clearly were not trying to pass a bad check.

By: Charlie Richards

Charlie Richards — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:50:39 +0000

Today I received a check that my bank thinks is legit for a job exactly like all of these stories. The check is $3900 and I’m supposed to western union all but $300 of it to some woman in California. I think this is a scam. I told my bank the situation about thinking the check was a fake and being afraid if the job was legit or not and the check would clear. They let me do a form on a special delay so that they would know if the check cleared or not in 7-10 days. Is this what I should do or should I still do something else because after reading this I’m almost sure its a scam. Can I get into any trouble since I notified my bank on the situation and took precautions on getting the check cleared?

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:35:30 +0000

Do not withdraw any money, and if you already have, make arrangements to return it to the bank.

Go to the bank right away (or call them). Let them know that you were the intended victim of a scam and you have discovered that the check you deposited was a forgery.

The worst thing that is likely to happen is that if you withdrew any money you will have to find a way to pay it back. The bank may charge you a few dollars for the returned check, but if removing the money from your account does not cause any checks to bounce it should be just a few dollars.

Go to them and it is unlikely there would be any legal problem for you.

By: NequiaM

NequiaM — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:26:52 +0000

I just went throught this this week, I needed extra money because my husband lost his job but I work full time and go to school full time so I looked into this mystery shopping because I heard some is real. So long story short I got a cashiers check I goggled the bank on the check and the compnay which is Onion Insights and I couldnt find nothing bad about them so I deposited the check and a day later it cleared. I just started to get worried because it was a check for 4,735 and they are not returning phone calls and who sends someone that kind of money and do not give real instructions. They havent told me to wire any money yet so I just though it was true but after reading all of this I will be at the bank first thing money and let them know that I think it is fake and what can I do so they dont think I was trying to cash a bad check. I am so scared. Should I go to the police first or the bank?

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:09:49 +0000

I wouldn’t waste the money sending the money orders back. It is unlikely he is giving you a real address anyway–he is a crook.

It is unlikely that he would do anything else. After all, there are people lining up to get scammed, so why should he waste time with someone who is on to him?

By: mary ann cubi

mary ann cubi — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:30:38 +0000

I received two us postal money orders for $995.00 each.
When the scammer told me I need to wire $1770.00 to the philippines, I told him I don’t want to be a part of this and I just want to send the checks back. He gave me another address and I’m supposed to fed ex the checks on Monday. Is that the right thing to do for me. I don’t want to anger this person and I don’t want to endanger my family since he knows my full address?

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:19:06 +0000

Contact customer service and tell them that the check you deposited was forged and that you were the victim of a scam. It is better to go to them than to wait for them to come to you.

By: DERRICK TURNER

DERRICK TURNER — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:39:04 +0000

I RECEIVED A CHECK ON YESTERDAY FOR $1798.59 AND DEPOSITED STRAIGHT TO MY WAL MART PREPAID CARD. IT WAS ON THERE LIKE 5 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK $50 FOR POCKET CHANGE AND FILLED MY TRUCK WITH $70. I DIDNT SEND NO ONE MONEY AND ITS STILL ON MY CARD. WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO ME SINCE I ALREADY SPENT SOME OF THE MONEY. I HAVE NOT EVEN CONTACTED AUTHORITIES NOR MY PRE PAID ACCOUNT CUSTOMER SERVICE YET. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:05:43 +0000

Go to the bank and tell them you were scammed. Make arrangements to pay them back. Do not refer to the scammer as your “employer.” They did not employ you, they scammed you.

If the bank thought you knew that the money orders were fake, they probably would have called the police today, while you were at the bank. Go to them now, tell them you will repay the first money order (which apparently has not yet been returned) and there should not be any legal problems.

By: Clbaze

Clbaze — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:25:01 +0000

i have all the emails and letters the employer sent me.