Mystery Shopper Check-Cashing Scam
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The popularity of mystery shopping has again brought the scammers out of the woodwork to prey on the unsuspecting. People around the U.S. are being offered “easy money” to cash a cashier’s check for a large sum of money, evaluate the service they receive, then wire most of the money to the phony “mystery shopping company.” The scam? The check bounces a few days later, and the person who cashed the check is held liable for the amount of money they wired to the scammer, often thousands of dollars.
There are reports of this scam in many locations around the country, with more people being solicited every day. In some cases, the materials sent by the scammers use the names of legitimate mystery shopping companies. However, these companies are not involved in the scheme.
If you receive such an offer, contact your local police department. Never cash a check, even a cashier’s check, and send any of the funds to someone. This scam has been run a long time, but now the scammers are seeking legitimacy by making it appear that it is a mystery shopping assignment. Don’t fall for it.
Cathy Stucker is the author of The Mystery Shopper’s Manual. Get free mystery shopper resources here.
One Response to 'Mystery Shopper Check-Cashing Scam'
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on November 2nd, 2006 at 8:56 am
I’ve also had reports of Paypal scams being specifically targeted to mystery shoppers. Use your head out there - why would a transaction need to be thousands of dollars to test a wire company, but yet you’re purchasing $1 of gas?