Comments on: How to Handle a Mystery Shopping Scam Check

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:13:38 +0000

It is amazing that you were able to get the transfer stopped before they picked up the cash. That almost never happens. Congratulations.

Notify your bank immediately you just learned that the check you deposited was a forgery and will not clear. Of course, you should not spend any of the money. (When the check bounces, the bank will debit your account. You do not want to be overdrawn.) They may put you in contact with law enforcement.

As for what they can do with the information you gave them, if they do not have all of your account information it is not likely the scammers can access your accounts. Ask your bank, and tell them exactly what information you gave the scammers.

The scammers may harass you. The next time they call, tell them you can’t wire the money. Say that the bank has informed you that the check they gave you was forged, and they are threatening to have you arrested. Act scared. Cry if you want to. Do not call them, do not tell them that you know they are scammers. Do not threaten them or say that you have called the police.

Good luck.

By: Gloria Dominguez

Gloria Dominguez — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:47:42 +0000

Oh I forgot to add that they have a paper that I faxed over to them with the last four digits of my account and a form that has my address on it can they do anything to me with this information?

By: Gloria Dominguez

Gloria Dominguez — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:44:38 +0000

I was stupid enough to actually receive a check in the mail and deposit it to my account and then wire money through western union, I gave them the tracking number to pick up the money but I caught onto this in time and called western union and got my $3,100.00 BACK. The only thing is that check is still in my account and that company keeps calling me and I am not sure who to report this too or what else to do about this matter please help.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:11:57 +0000

Amy, I sent you an email about this just now. This is a scam. Notify your bank immediately that you were the victim of a scam and that you just learned that the checks you deposited are not valid. Do not wait until the checks bounce and the bank contacts you.

You will have to repay the money to the bank. Make arrangements with the bank to do so.

By: Amy Reilly

Amy Reilly — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:02:26 +0000

I just cashed 2 checks sent to me from a mystery shopping company. I called the bank that the money orders came from and all they could tell me was that the money was in the bank. So I went to my bank and cashed them. I didn’t know what to do with it since there were no instructions on what to do or even why I got the money. I just thought wow, I must have won something or the surveys I have been filling out for months worked. Now I am in a dilemma. I have spent some of it catching up on bills. I got a phone call from the person who sent it and he told me to check my e-mail. I did and now I think I am in one of these scams. What do I do now? I need some help. I don’t want to go to jail. I had no idea. The guy who is doing this is named Paul Benson. These money orders were from Chicago. Is there anyway to go back to my bank and put in what I took out and have them cancel those money orders so I don’t get in trouble?

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:25:20 +0000

Do not wire money to anyone you do not know personally, for any reason. It is always a scam. Always. The money orders you received are forgeries and you will be responsible for repaying the money to your bank if you cash them.

There is no way this is legitimate.

By: JULES

JULES — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:54:05 +0000

I RECEIVED TWO MONEY ORDERS FOR 890 EACH I CALLED VERIFIED THEY ARE GOOD, THEY HAVE NO HOLDS …NOW I AM QUESTIONABLE BECUASE THEY WANT ME TO SEND A WESTERN UNION, FOR ITS A JOB FOR WESTERN UNION, BUT THEY SENT ME OTHER MONEY ORDERS NOT ENDORSED BY WESTERN UNION… AND I AM AFRAID TO PUT THEM IN MY ACCOUNT AND HAVE EVERYTHING BOUNCED… CAN THEY BE LIGITIMATE..???

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:01:47 +0000

Your co-worker may not be telling you the whole story. In any case, he should not cash the check.

By: George

George — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:50:24 +0000

My co-worker actually recieved the 200$ check from walmart Secret shopper deal last week. He took the check, got the check and is now hesitant to do anything with it. They didn’t ask him to Send anything anywhere, they told him to go to walmart, spend 1 hour there and buy 150$ worth of items. He keeps the “Extra” 50$. My question is how could this be a scam, and if it is who does it benefit other then walmart?
Please investigate this because I know it sounds too good to be true, but I can’t seem to see the scam.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:00:39 +0000

I edited the previous comment to remove the email address the scammer claimed to be sending from. Be aware that scammers can put any address in the “From” field. The real address is usually shown in the email header. And if they ask you to reply to a free email address, such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail, assume it is a scam.