Secret Shopper Scam Arrests in Canada
Two operators of an alleged counterfeit cashier’s check scam have been arrested in Canada. This secret shopper scam has cheated potential mystery shoppers out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars each. Variations of the scam have involved lotteries, eBay and CraigsList purchases and other scenarios, but the mystery shopper angle has gotten a lot of attention lately.
These scams involve sending checks to potential mystery shoppers, often people who have posted their resumes on online job sites. The scammers try to look legitimate by using the logos of respected companies, such as Western Union, WalMart, Starbucks, and many others in the letter that accompanies the bogus check. Many times, the scammers use the name of a real mystery shopping company although, obviously, they are not connected to a legitimate company at all.
Christopher Nduka and Alicia Obermuller of Brampton, Ontario, operated an alleged counterfeit check scam out of their home by mailing letters to U.S. residents stating they had won a lottery or were selected to be a secret shopper. The recipients were instructed to deposit enclosed checks and wire a portion of the funds back to the operators of the alleged scam. However, after the victims deposited the counterfeit checks and sent the funds, the checks bounced and victims lost their money. It is estimated that hundreds of U.S. residents have fallen victim to this alleged scam, and have been bilked at least $150,000 in total to date.
Nduka and Obermuller were arrested this week after officers found shredded copies of the “Secret Shopper” solicitation letters in their home. A check printer and blank check stock were also found. The two accused have been allegedly operating fraudulent schemes such as “The Advance Fee Lottery” and “The Secret Shoppers” since January 2005.
Variations of the scam involve overpaying for an item purchased on eBay or CraigsList, then asking the victim to wire the amount of the overpayment as a refund, or claiming that the person has won a lottery and has to pay taxes or other fees before their winnings can be released.
Although these arrests are good news, this scam is not likely to go away any time soon. Be alert. If you have any doubts about what you are asked to do, do not call the phone numbers on the letter or the check. Those numbers will generally connect you to the scammer. Do an internet search for the bank on which the check is drawn and call them. Better yet, if you receive an offer involving cashing a check and wiring money, do not do it. Destroy the check or notify local law enforcement.
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on March 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
That is great news. One of the scammers used our company name in their mailings. Hopefully that is the one who got caught.
Also, if you run across a company that is an internet scam the FBI has set up a website to report it. It is http://www.ic3.gov.
on March 30th, 2008 at 9:02 am
i recieved a letter in the mail on 3-29-08 from consolidated market response with a check from franklin industries for 3,970.00. they wanted me to cash the check at my bank and spend 130.00 at walmart home depot kmart or sears. then they wanted me to keep 200.00 and send the rest to them thru western union or money gram 3,530.00 the letter is from canada. just wanted to let everyone know about this scam.
on March 30th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Although it is good to see that some arrests are being made, the scam is still in operation. There are lots of people out there running this scam.
What your mother said is still true: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
on November 5th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I just received one such scam in the mail. The check is drawn on Industrial Bank of Washington in Washington, D.C. 20011, account number (deleted), and is identified with the company name “TITO CONTRACTORS, INC, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20012″ The check is in the amount of $3,895.25. The check looks legit.
The accompanying letter instructs me to call “John Givens” at 1-514-578-4794. I’m to spend $25 at Burger King, $70 at Wal-Mart, and do a Money Gram transfer of $3,285.25, probably to Canada. The phone number is Canadian. Oh, the letter is “signed” by one Laura Beckley (Director, Operations).
Watch out for these guys.
on November 5th, 2008 at 11:10 am
There are lots of people running this scam. They may use the names of real banks and even real mystery shopping companies, but the checks are stolen or forged and they will not be made good.
Never cash a check you receive in the mail, seemingly out of nowhere. Why would a company send you a valid check for thousands of dollars, with no prior contact? Answer: They wouldn’t. Scam, every time.
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I received a letter with a Canada stamp on it with a check inclosed for $4720.00. I was to call Anita Jackson at a phone number in New York. She told me she was releasing the check and I could go to my bank and cash it. As soon as I did I was to call her and she would tell me what to do next. $400 would be mine for training, $50 to spend at walmart, $30 at Sears, and $20 at McDonalds. I was told I can keep all that I purchase. the other $4220 was to be sent to two different Western Union Money Grams and she would tell me where to send after I cashed the check. I questioned if I should keep it all in cash or put it in my account and she said either would be fine. The letter is from Valley National Bank in New Jersey. There is no phone number to call the bank. Just Anitas number and a fax number to send copies of the survery’s. the letter attached was signed by Yvonne Multer, Director of HR. I had applied online and through Career Builders they received my information. The check looks legitimate but I could not get it verified at the bank. At the bottom of the letter is a bar code and and address from Ontario, Canada. Sounds like a scam to me!!!!
on July 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
It is definitely a scam. No doubt about it. Do not cash the check–you could get in legal trouble for cashing a bad check.
on July 11th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Got one of the scams, return address P.O.Box 70997 Lachine H8S 1E5. Very detailed and professional appearing. Firm, Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, and Bank, American Bank and Trust Co. are both real in Tulsa OK. However, noted that bank routing code, while correct, was not in the MIC code line which probably throws the check into manual processing which probably significantly delays discovery the it is fraudulent.
on July 12th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I received one of these scams in the mail. It was from Canada. This didn’t add up to begin with, claiming I won such and such, $55,000. They didn’t send the entire check. Fishy, right? Well, first off, we called the lady, (905) area code, I researched and found out it was an Ontario, Canada area code. Fishy, again. Why was there an Ontario area code when this business was supposedly based out of Palm Beach, FL? The check was from Houston, TX. We called the bank, they ran the numbers on the cashier’s check, they said it was a fake. When you recieve a cashier’s check, or any type of sweepstakes check, always call that bank that it was drawn out of, that way you don’t get scammed! Oh, and by the way, they said we had to pay the taxes on it. Fishy there, too, cuz when you win money, no matter if it was the lottery or a sweepstakes, the government automatically takes that money for taxes out.
on July 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Well the Canadian Scam is going strong. Just received a check for $2190.00 to make purchases to Wal-Mart, Lowes and wire two large sums to two different guys via Money-Gram. They hit the wrong family. Already contacted Oklahoma State Attorney General and looking for the Canadian high court. Not to mention the poor “legite” company the check is being drawn on. They picked the wrong folks this time. We are not going sit idly by to let them take advantage of some poor unsuspecting person who needs that money. I am hope to see this ring of thieves rot in jail.
on August 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I received a mail message from SEA CONSULTANTS over the interned telling me that I would be paid as a mystery shopper and that they would send me money by mail including a full package which I have never received. i believe they wanted my personal identification for other purposes.
on August 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
They may have been phishing for personal information, but it is typical that the scammers first get your info by email before sending the bogus check. (Sometimes they get the info from elsewhere, such as a resume posted at a job site.)
If you are concerned they might be attempting identity theft, keep a close eye on your accounts, and file fraud alerts with the credit bureaus.
on August 13th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
harry here, i got 3 checks & 5 uspo money orders, a total of $27.171.34, i would like to have all that money, and theywould like for me to send back to them, a total of $26.546.34, that would leave me with $625.00, now if someone is going to send me all that money, and even if the checks are good, DO YOU THINK IAM SENDING THE MONEY BACK, ( NO IAM MOVING ) THANK YOU HARRY
on August 13th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
LOL! That is exactly what I have always said: Why would a company send valid checks for thousands of dollars to someone with whom they have no contractual relationship and know nothing (or almost nothing) about? Answer: They wouldn’t! You can shred the checks, turn them over to law enforcement, or frame them and think how nice it would be if they were real. Whatever you do, just don’t try to cash them. You will end up with a pile of bank fees, and you might even get thrown in jail. (It has happened.)
on August 15th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I got a check from Job Solutions and was selected to be a Customer Service Evaluator along with a $4,475.00 check drawn at a AMERICA FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION with a PO Box address and no phone number to contact them.
One thing that made realize this was a scam was the letter with the company logo and the logos of Pizza Hut, Gap, Walmart, Starbucks and Wendy’s among others. They looked really fake, like a counterfeit bill (kind of blurry around the edges).
This one almost got me.
on August 24th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Got one of these today from a Van-Senus Holdings, Inc. saying that a survey that I took from Consumer Survey Specialists indicated that I was selected to be a secret shopper.The telephone area code was in Canada and the fax is in Washington, while the company is supposed to be in Hammond, IN with just a P.O. box. Who trusts a company with just a P.O. box? Plus, they have am “area manager” in Brooklyn, NY.
This was a “training” job.
on August 24th, 2009 at 7:39 am
It’s important to remember that the specifics of the company name and location do not matter. If someone sends you a check and tells you to wire money somewhere, it is a scam. Period. That said, a lot of these scammers do have telephone numbers with Canadian area codes. The fax could be an online service or other virtual fax, so the area code doesn’t really mean much–it’s just where the service is. And many legitimate companies of all kinds use a P.O. box as their mailing address.
on August 28th, 2009 at 11:52 am
first time scammed here…. $2920.00 sent in mail I did not think so i cashed it… luckily I went online when I got home and figured I would check it out seemed funny they wanted me to send 2 $1100 transfers of course
on September 1st, 2009 at 7:09 am
I got one from the canada companty called trend evaluation group along with a check for $2850.00. Since I am retired law enforcement I was really on red alert. I called the guy ,a Kent Rikens who spoke very poor english and so fast it make me frown. To make a long story short I went on line found your report and now I’m.in touch with the A.T. of Ohio to have this mess shut down. If it sounds to good to be true….you know the rest. Senior citizens please beware….dee perkins ohio
on September 2nd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Back on March 24,2009 I received a business looking letter with other business forms to file my work with a company called Career Edge Ltd.. Included was a check for $4,945.00. I was to keep $400 of it and spend $25.00 @ Burger King,send a Money Gram Transfer for $2100.00, send a Western Union Transfer for $1990.00 and pay the service charges to these two companies and finally spend $130.00 at Walmart all of which I did.after depositing this check into my personal bank account for two days before withdrawing it. I spoke with these people on the phone five or six times. I had a ligitimate FAX number to send my paper work to Niagra Falls, Canada through. A week later my bank notified me of the scam and admitted that they were aware of it but no one advised me. I am totally disabled and needed a part time job. This looked very professional and as I worked in the retail foods business with Meijer, Inc. for ten years I was very aware of “Mystery Shoppers”. The outcome of this whole thing was that my bank took my social Security check for the month of April and the $250 stimulus check that the government gave us. I still owed them around $3,000 and after doing business with this bank for over thirty years they offered me no assstanse at all in attempting to recover the losses. All they did was ruin my credit with the three major credit companies and they also made sure that I could not do business with any other bank for the next five years. I made a dozen phone calls to every agency I could find, wrote many letters. sent a few emails and never recieved a response from anyone. My local Police department said they could do nothing and blamed me for not being smarter than I was. Everything I recieved was very professionally put together. These people are pro’s at this and I still have not been able to recover from this set back. I was kicked out of my apartment because I could not pay the rent. The phone company, the electric company, and a few other others are threatening me as I moved into another apartment as soon as I recieved my next Social Security check and had these services turned on. I spent a month sleeping in my car with no food for a month , just me and my dog. What an experience. Believe me, when you guys contacted me I checked you out very well. Now because of my experience in the cold month of April I have to go into the hospital and have an operation due to an infection I contracted in my back. I am disabled due to Degenerative Disk Disease throughout my back which has now spread through my entire body. I didn’t mean this to become a book but I wanted to show anyone who would listen as to what can happen when you think you have a good thing going. Thanks for your time to read this. Paul Wiekierak -Detroit, Michigan
on September 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I figured it out right away and we all had a good laugh about it til I read some of the comments on this sight. I can see how easy it would be to fall for this scam…It has a legit web site, names several top companies in their letter. So many people are getting hurt. So we will be contacting the Michigan State AG . Anyone who is reading this and wondering if it could be true…IT’S NOT. THROW IT OUT.
on September 15th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
paul my heart goes out to you ,
i’m going though the same thing no one ever advised me either 4980.00 now my bank put a freeze on my account and they said there going to proscute me so i did call the fbi and i got attoney
so i just pray these people get caught and i think the bank should be at fault also noing this about the fraud checks were getting ……. i’m completety disablae my self and scared to death so people just dont care so we have to get our name cleared because its not like we get a check everyday knowing and the bank should be in trouble to i think. just keep your head up high and i’ll be praying for all that is going though this god bless
there a bank they should no these things i pray these people get caught
on September 18th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Just got a check for $4970 from Dynamic Vision Inc.; a Secret Customer employment firm??? Broke down as $300 training pay + expenses, $50 Walmart, $40 JC Penny, $2800 + $150 Travelex, $1570 + $60 Moneygram. Very real looking cashiers check from Westfield Bank, OH.. Gives This website adress at the top of the letter??? I might just call the phone # they gave me!!
Anyone??
on September 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
i was sent a check for three thousand dollars from a company in ontario, canada. That claims that theu are a legitimate company, but now im starting to wonder if im not being scammed as well. The lady from the company told me to call before i deposit the check and then once i call and talk to her, then go and deposit the check into my account. I thought something was fishy about the whole deal because on the paper it says to take $2,143 and send it to a lady through money gram at walmart. Then it goes on to say take $560 for myself for being the secret shopper, then $100 for gas, and then $200 to buy anything i wanted but they want me to send the receipts in for the products that i buy. So the whole reason for me to do this secret shopper job was to get an income for me and my family. Because my husbands job laid all the workers off for 3 months so i was trying to find a job in the mean time. So when i finally did this company sent me the check for the $3,000 it doesn’t seem right but we needed the money. So i deposited the check this month and said it would be a 5 day hold to clear the check. So todat i checked my account and the check didn’t clear the bank said it was insufficient funds and now im trying ti get a hold of the company to talk to them and it goes straight to their machine.
on September 25th, 2009 at 10:57 am
This is definitely a scam. NEVER cash a check and wire money to someone. In fact, never wire money to anyone you do not know personally. You are fortunate that the check bounced before you wired money. You would have had to pay the bank all of the funds.
on September 30th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Well the scam is back again using shadow shoppers name I just received 2 us postal money orders for 955.00 each from David Armstrong using Shadow Shopper site wanting me to shop either Wal-mart or Western Union in my area. My bank call and found out that the money order were fake and now have possion of them. This guy David even had the balls to call my home to see if I had received them to do the shops this morning. By posting this comment I hope some one from the real shadow shopper site reads this because I have been a shopper for the real one and have never had any problems before.
on September 30th, 2009 at 10:33 am
The scammers use all kinds of names–one even used the URL for this site! The funny thing about that is that anyone who comes to the home page of this site is immediately greeted with a warning from me about these scams.
Just one note about Shadow Shopper–you can not be a shopper for them as they are not a mystery shopping company. They pass along leads for assignments, but they do not make assignments or hire shoppers.
on October 5th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
OMG CHRIS!!! I just received a check from a company called Responsive Feedback Inc. The breakdown of businesses and spending amounts are identical to yours. Check has Cranford, NJ, Letter enclosed with check has Westfield NJ address. This is a scam for sure. Post mark is also from Canada, and the envelope has my information hand written. I guess trying to make it look a little more personal. Work to hard to just give my money away how bout you!!!!
on October 15th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
yes been reading all the scams an i should of follow my first mind and torn the check up but i am unemployed rite now because of the economy an thout it was a legit blessin but still felt fishy so i tryed to cash it at a currency exchange instead of my bank an they kept the letter an cashier check an said it was no good an i stay in a little town so the scam get around
on October 20th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I just got a letter and a check for $1698.31 to spend at K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Western Union. They want me to send $1200 to some guy in Spain. I work at a Police Dept and this was an immediate red flag they sent it to my mom’s house with my maried name.. Please be aware this scam is still operational.
on November 4th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Well I just got my check today for $3499.00. The company that was used was Stewart Title North and the bank was Texas Capital Bank. Both the company and the bank are legit, but I just know better so I did some additional internet research and found this site. The real reason I knew it was a scam is because with the economy the way it is right now there is no way a company can give me a legit $3500 and expect me to send most of it back.
on November 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
i just got scammed what do i do , i got a secret shopper deal in the mail i opened up a seperate checking account so it would not be tied to my main account ,i called the number to check in with this mr goldman ,he told me to follow the instructions on the paper and call after i did the work or surveys , i told him i would not with draw anymoney til the bank cleared the check , the check was cleared after 5days grace period,i withdrew the money did the jobs called checked in and was told to fax the info over , two days later ,i got notice from the bank that said the check was clear that it had bounced ,i called this mr goldman and the nmber was disconeccted what do i do ,please please help i can not afford to be out this money that the bank is now demanding in pay them ,please where do i turn what do i do help……..thank you and godbless
on November 9th, 2009 at 1:59 am
I have to say this: WHY in the world would ANY of you consider any career opportunity that tells you that you have to Western Union your employer money?! I have a hard time feeling sorry for anyone who falls for this garbage. If you’re smart enough to come to this website once you’ve been bilked, did you NOT consider Googling the information beforehand? Seniors-I’m saying it ESPECIALLY to you. You live on a fixed income, and need to protect it more than anything else, and you’ll fall for a scam that is so obvious? If you’re so apt to fall for a gimmick such as this, you probably should not have a bank account to begin with. I’m sorry, but that’s my honest opinion.
on November 9th, 2009 at 9:03 am
These scams have been around since well before the Internet. There have always been victims and there will always be victims. These scammers are smart, and they know how to press people’s buttons and get them to act. Take a look at this article about why people fall for scams to get a better understanding of how this works. Most people have some idea that they may be dealing with a scam, but they want or need the money and want desperately to believe that it is real.
Ultimately, it is up to us to protect ourselves. Law enforcement can take a report after the fact, but they can not keep us from getting scammed and it is unlikely they will recover any of the money lost to scammers.
on November 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
hi! i recieved that fraud check on nov 11, 2009! thank god i didnt cash that check because i barely have money! I’m 19 i pay my own college ect…… Im so blessed for websites like this that tell you the DANGER of SCAMS! GOD BLESS!
on November 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Help us spread the word about these scams so we can keep others from falling for them. Educating people about how the scams work will save them from losing money to the thieves trying to scam them.
on November 17th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
They’re back! A scam using checks bearing the name of JD Byrider Sales has returned. These checks are not issued by anyone from JD Byrider or anyone affiliated with JD Byrider. If you get a check from JD Byrider for any parttime work assigned as Marketing, Secret Shopper, or Survey’s do not deposit these checks or follow any of the instructions!! These checks are generally in the amounts between $2000 – $5000
on November 23rd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I got one of those nice letters today from JOHNSON WORK FORCE,INC., ATLANTA GA p.o.box. The amount was $1985.00, with $1310.00 to be wired to DOROTHY LANGHORN-BROOKLYN, N.Y., with a phone and fax # in CANADA. It would be nice if it were the real thing, but I didn’t fall off the turnip wagon. BEWARE of this scam as well as the others.
on November 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
The names may change, but the scam remains the same…beware, everyone.
on November 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Received a check from Affliated Foods, Inc. 3,998.00 for Mystery Shopper. I was instructed to spend 100. at a Walmart, Sears, etc. and then wire through western union or moneygram a significant amount to Eric Roy in Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5R7 CANADA. Leaving us with $500.00. (Which we could really use to help me repair our broken transmission in our 2001 Dodge Truck) Was provided a contact number and name if we had any questions: Deanna Edwards, 514-559-4378. When conversing with her she was rude, had a strong foreign accent and would not provide an email address. That is when we decided to search on google. We typed in the name of the company that the check was issued in. In flashing text it read SECRET SHOPPER SCAM: Affiliated Foods, Inc. does not have a program to pay secret shoppers. Any offer or payment to be a secret shopper is a SCAM. After reading this we called the company and then found this site. We are thankful that the Lord didn’t let us fall for this. I believe we need to trust in Him who feeds the birds of the air, and has redeemed us with His precious and priceless blood; even in times of financial difficulties.
Thank you Lord Jesus You are all we need
Ken and Laura Samela
on December 11th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
On Dec 1 2009 I received a check for the amount of 1,970.00 from City Research Centre P.O. Box 2011 Rutherford, NJ o7071…The post mark and stamp is from Canada…The Bank is Citibank, N.A. New Castle, DE. The letter is form Shoppers World and Tel 905-782-2468 with the E-mail cashextra @live.com The break down of 300.00 for me for probation Training pay and 1,500.00 for Western Union Funds Transfer and 170.00 for Service charges/Shopping. I am to wire the 1,500 to a Keri Mullen in Manchester UK…I am to be a secret shopper checking out the customer service of Western Union. Before I am to cash the check I am to call the customer service dept and speak to a Randy Simms…The fax # and Customer Service are one in the same…I did a reverse phone search and it is a cell # in Brampton ON,…I goggled the bank address and called Citibank,…they said the account was a legitimate account but they could not give no more information on the owner of the account due to a 3rd party block on the account. They gave me another name which was something like ITSEXPENSE…I’m not too sure of that name because the 2 reps I spoke to had extremely thick Indian accents. I am sure it was not the name of City Research Centre which is on the check. The letter is signed by Rhonda Newton Human Resource Manager and the check is signed by John M. Lawson. Everything looks legitimate and I can really use the 300.00 but you cannot find any information on these people…They do not know me and why would they send me a check out of the blue with the instructions to put it in my bank with a 5 day limit on which I am to complete the assignment…I believe I saw this on a documentary where these people set up a p.o. box business and they are gone soon after the transaction is done. Needles to say I have trashed the check. Too good to be true.
on December 26th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Be forewarned, this is quite long:
I just finished reading all of the comments that were on the page when I loaded it, ending with the one from Rene on December 11th, 2009 at 6:05 pm.
I agree with what Susan McLeod said in her posting dated November 9th, 2009 at 1:59 am.
No matter how desperate you are for money, how can you believe that a company that you have never heard of, or have never done business with, would send you a check for thousands of dollars, right out of the blue, and then trust you to do what they ask you to do with the money? Would they not be worried that you would simply keep the money and never get in touch with them? If the contact you, you simply say “What check?”
What legitimate business people would put themselves in such a spot?
You see, its that phrase “legitimate business” which is the key to this entire discussion. No legitimate business would conduct their “business” is such a way – period.
We, ourselves, are desperate for money right now – very desperate. Creditors are calling daily and we are paying them what we can and still keep food the table, gas in the furnace, and electricity in the lights.
But – if a letter, like those so oft described on this web site, were to arrive in our mailbox, as soon as I realized what it was – which would happen about 1 1/2 seconds after I started reading it – I would put on a part of latex gloves (my wife is a cosmetologist and she usually leaves a few pairs at home when she buys a new box) so as to hopefully preserve some of the fingerprints of the criminals who sent it, and I would then carefully make several photo copies of everything and then hand carry the original to the local FBI offices. I would then mail the copies to the police and prosecutors for our local, county, and state governments. I would keep one copy and frame it as a memento of the ridiculous things people can fall for.
Perhaps you think me too harsh – I simply cannot understand how people fall for these and all of the other scams.
I was taught that if something seems too good to be true, it is very likely quite false.
I was also taught to take people at their word but to check that “word” very carefully before doing business with them.
The only reason these scams continue to be used is that someone, somewhere, believes the garbage pitched by these people and does as they request. If only one person in a thousand falls for it, the criminals still make a lot of money.
The problem is, as P. T. Barnum said, “There is a sucker born every minute.”
The crooks of the world know that that is true and they benefit from it every day.
You might wonder how I happened upon this web site – I checked my email and found 2 Nigerian scam emails in the Screened Mailbox and one, which got through the scanning programs, and wound up in my email Inbox. I had not seen any of the three before, they being slightly different takes on the same old scam, and I wondered what the community knew about them. As I read through various web pages, following this and that link, I happened upon this page.
But, now, if you will excuse me, I have to reply to another email I just got from this gentlemen at the Royal Bank of Scotland who says that he has $3,545,128 in an account payable to me. We need the money and I want to get it just as soon as possible.
It is strange, however, that his use of the English language seems quite strange coming from someone in Scotland – it almost seems as though English is not his first language, that perhaps his first language is one more related to those of Africa than of the UK … hmmm??
But, hey, he’s got a pile of money for me. I can forgive him his grammar, strange ways of saying things, and such – I want the money. I don’t know where it came from but he says it’s mine and I want it. One other funny thing about it though, he says that the money is in my name but he wants me to send a lot of personal information about myself, including my name??????
Oh well, maybe it is a test to be sure he as contacted the right person.
However, before I reply to him, I guess I should remove my tongue from where it is firmly jammed into my cheek….
People! The world is a dangerous place and there are all sorts of people out there who want to do you harm and steal everything you have – ALWAYS LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH — ALWAYS!
Better to MISTRUST someone, and be proven wrong, than to TRUST someone, and be proven wrong.
By the way, there is this bridge in New York City, to which I hold a clear and valid deed, that I need to sell in the next few days. What am I offered for it? Also, there is an Arch in St. Louis, Missouri which I will putting on the market next week ………..
People, please check the horse’s teeth and then check them again.
Good luck
Bob
on December 26th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Bob, having talked with a lot of people who have fallen for these scams (or came close) I have found that there are two big reasons people succumb: (1) They want to believe it is true and (2) They are not sure how to check it out to determine if it is a scam. People want desperately to believe that someone will give them a lot of money for, well, nothing. Especially these days, but it has always been true.
Most of the time I am able to stop people from getting scammed, and I am glad for that. I get questions all the time, and my answer is always the same: If someone wants you to cash a check and wire money somewhere (the most common mystery shopper scam), it is always a scam. No exceptions, always a scam. It doesn’t matter what company they say they are with, the amount of the check or money order, or what businesses they claim you are mystery shopping. Scam.
However, recently I have had a couple of people ask if what they got was a scam and, after I told them it was, they still went ahead and wired the money. That I can’t understand at all.
Folks, you are not the magical exception. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.
on December 28th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I received a check in the mail for a little over 5,000$ I was told I was chosen to be a mystery shopper for the company Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, and Bank, American Bank and Trust Co. I was told that $ 500 dollars was mines for training, 100 for shopping and I was to send 4100 to another rep via westren union are these people frauds?
on December 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Of course this is fraud. Again: Anytime someone sends you a check and tells you to wire some of the money to someone, it is a scam. No exceptions. Always a scam. No matter the amount, where it comes from, the name on the check or anything else. Scam.
on December 29th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I have known for a long time that most of the mystery shopper jobs are scams. I put in about eight requests to be mystery shopper within the past two weeks, just to check them out. I have received eight money orders some usps and some money gram for about $8,000 total. I gave the postal money orders to the post office and tore up the money gram money orders. Needless to say they were all fake.. Dont fall for these scams.
on December 29th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
It is definitely not true that “most of the mystery shopper jobs are scams.” I do mystery shopper jobs, and have for years. I have never been scammed.
To avoid scams, only register with legitimate mystery shopping companies. Never pay to apply. Never cash a check or money order and wire money to anyone.
on February 9th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I just received a so called Cashiers Check in the amount of $3,650.00. The so called regional manager of this secret shopper service is a David Cole. He is the contact and told me to shop Walmart and Western Union. First cash the cashiers check, take out $250 for salary/wages, $100 to spend at Walmart and $50 for gas. Then send the balance(while you are secret shopping Western Union) via Western Union to a dude in the UK. I emailed this David back and told him it was a scam in which he said it absolutley was not. I mentioned some FTC rules and asked to whom I should return the check. That was over a week ago and have not heard back.
on February 17th, 2010 at 9:37 am
I fell for a mystery shopper scam, they say they want you to accept a 5000 check and it looking pretty real to me and then I was to take 200 and the rest wire ti to some where else meanwhile the bank finds out and tell the check was altered and that it was not 5000 but maybe 50 now you are in debt of 5000 the guy name is Richard Hamilton from UGA Inc phone number is 1-800-901-6260 ext 211 and Dan Parker Reed I wish I would have read all this before
on March 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I got a letter in the mail with no return address stating they wanted me to be a [Consumer Service Evaluator]. It would consist of two assignments. The first assignment would be a money transfer to Western Union. The second would be to go out to a retail store of your choice (Wal-Mart Sears Costco Best Buy Home Depot) and spend a sum of 100. I tried calling the number several times because the extra money would come in handy, but it was some automated voice talking really fast then they would hang up. Okay so I got a 2nd letter yesterday in the mail with no return address and I think to myself its a chance for me to make some extra money. So I call up this so called person name “FRANK YOUNG” aka my “account manager” to accept the offer and activate the “CHECK”. The check is worth $1,995.00. $350.00 would be my salary. 100.00 would be to go to a retail store. and 1,545.00 would be the Western Union Transfer. The name of the so called company once again is called Crown Career Management, Inc. out in Minnetonka, MN WTF?? Does that even exist??? I have no idea how they got my address but it states in the letter that I indicated an interest in extra income. Yes that part would be true because I did. It again would consist of the same 2 assignments. So today I went to the bank to cash it but the banks said that the funds have to be on hold for 7 business days from todays date. I think that I am in really big trouble and that I have to do something fast before I have to pay all that money back. So if anyone else recieves these letters with no return address please do not even attempt to OPEN THEN. SHRED THEM UP AND TRASH THEM ASAP!!!!
on March 30th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
You are not really in any trouble–yet. Do not wire money to anyone. Notify your bank that the check you deposited was part of an attempted scam, and that it will bounce. Do not contact the scammers, just ignore them. You (or your bank) may also wish to notify law enforcement, although it is doubtful that they would/could take any action.
on April 5th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Thank you, Cathy for all your information. I received a “check” today from mystery shoppers usa which screamed of a sham just like so many other people have posted on your site. So I called St Anne’s Credit Union(which was the company on the check) and SURE ENOUGH… they said it was just as I thought…A Scam!!!! Now I am just mad.. because I wasn’t that stupid (or Naive) but many other people just might be. And I really don’t want these crooks to get by with simply stealing money from uneducated or monetarily desperate people. What do you think I should do? Would contacting the authorities REALLY do any good??
on April 5th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
You can report it to the police or other law enforcement, but there is not much they can or will do.
on April 27th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I got a letter in the mail on 04/26/2010 with a check in the amount of $3880.00 to be a mystery shopper. the letter like all the rest telling me to keep $300.00 for my first weeks pay and wire transfer $3285.00 and spend the rest on a shopping assignment. this letter post marked from Canada, return address from Welland ON. L3B-5S3. The letter was addressed as AMERICAN CONSUMER SURVEY AND THEIR ADDRESS IS 111 CROSLEY STREET WEST MONROE LA 71291. IT ALL LOOKED VERY GOOD, BUT I KNEW IT WAS A SCAM.
BEWARE TO ALL, DON’T FALL FOR THIS CRAP…
IT HITTING ARKANSAS
on May 12th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Folks what is wrong with many of you. When she notes ALWAYS A SCAM ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO SEND MONEY WHY DONT YOU GET IT PLEASE DONT FALL FOR THESE FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE CHECK SCAMS ALWAYS AND FOREVER FAKE.
on May 19th, 2010 at 10:22 am
I received a check yesterday stating pretty much the same thing – Check for $3,375.00 – for two assignments, Western Union and Best Buy, JC Penny, K-Mart, Macy’s, Sears, or Walmart. They advised me to call my “Assigned Training Coordinator” at a number listed to receive the receiver name and destination of the $2,150 wire. They included $190 to cover the Western Union Fee. They then advise me that I am to take $150 to one of the above retail shops and purchase whatever I’d like, as I get to keep what is bought, I just need to forward my observations. The remaining $200 is my “fee” to keep.
on May 20th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
ALSO GOT SCAMED, FOR 1900.00,I DONT KNOW WHY THE FBI DOES NOT GO AFTER THESE GUYS ANF LOCK THEM UP
on June 3rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I received this letter too. Just to let you know there’s a new company name. It is Waterloo Market Research 325 Sycamore St. P.O. Box 27 NY, NY. Yet the letter had a stamp from Canada? Come on supposed market research companies, this doesn’t make sense!
on August 30th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
LOL so funny i got one today. At first i though i just got a check and was excited. But after i read i was though it was real. I had signed up for a bunch of stuff a while ago. I almost believed it until I saw i had to send money to Western Union. So i decided to get on the web and research this. And i wound up here. I figured it was to good to be true! I also look at the check even more it was written for 2,985.00. I saw in the water mark the letters VOID. Its very hard to see but if you look close you will see it… I hope this helps others i plan on taking this to my back tomorrow so they can warn others and perhaps contact the bank and get these people! If your here reading this, its probably a fake. the only time you will ever get a check from anyone is when you have done the work or already entered into an agreement!
on August 30th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
You are absolutely right. People do not send you money before you do work. This is always a scam. Glad you trusted your instincts and checked it out.