Comments on: How to Handle a Mystery Shopping Scam Check

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:19:35 +0000

Ghenisz, you would not create any liability for yourself by throwing away a check, even if the check was good. In this case, the check is a forgery with no value to anyone. Your choices are to turn it over to law enforcement (or maybe the company named on the check) or throw it away.

By: Ghenisz

Ghenisz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:03:01 +0000

Hi Cathy, I just received a check this afternoon for a Mystery shopper job.. I’m kinda curious about this that’s why I searched in yahoo about this job and found so many scams.. now, I don’t know what should I do in the check. As you’ve said above I should throw it in the trash can.. I just have one question, am I not be liable in that check if I throw it??

By: cindy

cindy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:46:29 +0000

i have recently been scammed out of 945.00 ,my story is like others in these posting. i cashed the money order at my bank , i evaluated walmart , and western union, and then i wrote a report and sent it to the culprit. 2 weeks later i went to pay my mortgage and the 945.00 check had bounced, I went and talked to the bank manager, and she told me that the money order had bounced. i myself thought that a money order could not bounce. and was told by the teller when cashing the check that it was a good check. I since have received a check for 3000 dollars and two checks for 945 dollars in one fed ex envelope, also a girl from maryland called to ask me if i got the imformation about doing the job. to end the story i have taking all of this imformation to the police department, and have filed a complaint .about this scam. I have created a monster, every day from the time that i fell for the first scam i have recieved imformation , to be fooled again, research, research before getting involved in any of these dishonest schemes. good luck to everyone cindy

By: Miss Johnson

Miss Johnson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:04:07 +0000

I talk to the bank manager today and she gave me a number to call to tell them what happened. Because she told me the same thing that the bank was closing my account and I had to pay the overdraft fee. When called the number the man told me the same thing and said if I wanted to file a police when I get all my paper work mail to me. Said I wasnt in trouble becuase the money was still in my account. Just not going to open up another account with them.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:02:12 +0000

You need to talk to someone at the bank to straighten this out. Go in and talk to someone in person. They may not reopen your account, but you need to figure out how to repay any money that you took out of the account from the bad checks.

I would mention to them that after the checks appeared to be bad, the teller told you to deposit them. Seems as though they have some responsibility here, too.

By: Miss Johnson

Miss Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:38:19 +0000

I really need advice. I called again this morning and I talked to a secound woman which she comformed that they are infact closing my account. Said I would just be infault for the money I spent and the returned check fee. She also said it would be hard for me to open up another banking account with them. Should I still worry?

By: Miss Johnson

Miss Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:19:51 +0000

I was victim of it. I recieved an email saying that they looked over my resume on careerbuilder. Which I know I posted it on there. But the job wanted me to cash the checks and send them money and I keep 10% . So I was like sure easy money being that I gave birth and need the money. So two weeks later I recieved two check one for 1925 &1870. I went to my bank and tried to cash one but it wouldnt go through. So the teller told me to deposit the checks so I did. It made $200 avaible so I used it to pay bill. But didnt use the whole 200. I called my card to see if the rest of the money was on my card. But wad told they were closing my account. Because I deposited two fake checks. I talk to a call rep she said I wasnt in trouble. Because most of the money wad still there. What should I do. I didnt know the checks were fake. They looked so real. I dont want to go to jail. I know I made a stupid decision. Should checked it out more.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:06:23 +0000

It is a scam, the same as you see here. No mystery shopping company will ever ask you to wire money to anyone.

Also, the MSPA never hires shoppers. They are an industry association. Mystery shopping companies belong to MSPA, but MSPA is not a mystery shopping company and you will NEVER get hired by them or receive checks from them.

The checks are fakes. They will be returned and the money will be taken from your account. Do not assume that if the bank allows you to withdraw the money that the checks have cleared. They have to release funds within a few days, but the checks will be returned later.

Call your bank and tell them that you are the victim of a scam attempt. Let them know that the checks are fake before they let you know.

There is no question that this is a scam. Do not wire money to anyone you do not know. Ever.

By: josh

josh — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:27:49 +0000

Hey Cathy, I received two emails from Mystery Shopper Provider Association and they gave me an assignment to complete involving going to a western union and transferring money to another mystery shopper. My first question is, is this standard practice?

I was given two checks that totaled up to $1950.72 and I was told to withdrawl $200 for myself; I already cashed the check and spent the first $100 of it and waiting for the rest of the check to clear… I started feeling a weird sensation and wondered if this was all normal and then I started reading all of your responses..

so my question to this previous statement is Should I be concerned? What should I do? I am calling my bank tomorrow to see if the check cleared, is there anything I should mention?

thanks.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:35:30 +0000

So glad I looked this up before I did anything without thinking. So my story is that I have been looking for a job. I would respond to customer service add on cragslist.com and on monster.com. I recieved a responds back from a guy for a secret shopper.. I responded and I didn’t hear anything until today. I just received a checked for 2950 dollars. Didn’t contact anyone yet but I will be! Thank you so much for the tips.. Saved me thousands!