I checked my mail today, and one of the letters I recieved was post marked from Canada. I have a friend in Canada, so this is the first thing I opened. Inside was a check for 3,950.00 and a letter stating that I am now a Mystery Shopper. But the check is drawn on a North Carolina credit union.
The letter instructs me to spend $150.00 at a retail store they've suggested, either K-Mart, Home Depot, Gap, JC Penney, Walmart, or a few others. Then I must wire $3,400 to someone, those instructions are included as well. After the fees associated with the wire transfer, I get to keep $200, plus whatever I purchased with the $150 at the retail store.
There is also a phone number to call, but it asks for a pass code, and my letter does not include a pass code.
This check looks legit, it's a cashier's check. I just am too skeptical to believe it! I'd love it to be true, and am hoping that it is true. But I just can't believe that it is.
What do you think? What should I do? Should I try to cash this check? What would you do?
[question posted by katsmeow1213]
responses and comments:
I have heard of such scams of this, they hope you will wire the money before the cheque clears. No doubt the cheque will bounce. I could be wrong but be carefull and get some more information before you proceed. Hopefully someone here can verify if this is real or not. [thezone]
Now that I'm thinking about it, I am probably not going to do anything with it, for fear of it being a scam. Right now I'm waiting until my husband gets home and has a look at it. But I will most likely shred the check. I am just too skeptical to believe this is legit. [katsmeow1213]
Yes this is a scam! The check is a fraud. [tentwo67]
If you DO cash it, we might see you on the 6 oclock news, so be careful! [xbrendax]
I would definitely not do it. I get stuff like that all the time from all over the world. I automatically label them a spam that way I don't get them again from that web address. I have seen too many things on shows like 48 hours or Dateline were people get completely ripped off. [4ofmyown]
I would only end up getting $200 out of it, plus whatever I spend the $150 on. I just don't know. It seems so odd. If it wanted to be do a wire transfer, why not a lower amount, like just $100? I'm beginning to think the others are right, they want me to deposit the check, wire the money, then the check won't cash. Just too risky if you ask me. I'm over the initial excitement of having a $4,000 check in my hand, and am now thinking of just shredding it! [katsmeow1213]
Hang on to the cheque and take it with you next time you go to the bank. Just ask them if they have seen them before and what the deal is. If it's a scam then chances are banks would have a notice or would have seen the same thing before. Plus I'm pretty sure they can do a check to see if it's going to clear or not. I would guess it's a scam just because of the wire transfer. Why would they send you money and then you have to wire it to someone else? I would agree with the above poster that said the cheque will most likely bounce once the money had been wired. Then someone ends up with $3400 in their account and you end up with $3400 less in yours. [jesssp]
I wonder if you can buy a debit card with it? Those places that will lend instant cash, such as payday loans, all sell debit cards. The cost of the card is around $10 and then put the rest of the money on the card. That would be one way to rip of the scammers, but don't go by me, what do I know? NOTHING! [xbrendax]
If you didn't sign up for anything then it is a scam. There are legit mystery shopper programs out there but not like that. You could probably take the check to your bank and have them check it out. My mom works at a drug store and more than one of their elderly customers have been scammed by stuff like that. [ravinskye]
About a year ago I was signing up for a lot of things, anything promising to make free money, I was signing up. I even somehow accidentally signed up for a magazine subscription, which I don't remember doing, but now I'm getting the magazines, and some bills. I don't plan on paying it because I don't remember actually signing up for it (I'm sure I did somehow, probably through one of those stupid sign up for offers websites which I hate for this exact reason!). But it's possible that I did sign up for a mystery shopper thing, although if I did it was a very long time ago, and I don't remember for certain. [katsmeow1213]
I have received the exact same thing. You are right; the check is drawn on a legit bank however, if you call this bank (I did) and tell them you have a check from one of their customers and would like to verify the availability of the funds you will find out that either there is no money in this account or the account is closed. These scammers ask you to deposit this check in YOUR checking account! In the end you have spent all YOUR money on all those things they want you to do and you get NOTHING but an empty or overdrawn bank account! [BethsMom24]
Please be very careful-- if it is a cashiers check then it is even easier to find out if it is good. All you have to do is make a call to the credit union it is drawn on-- they have to give you the information. [BethsMom24]
There should be a helpdesk number of some kind with that letter. Do you remember applying as a mystery shopper online? If it's a legit mystery shopper offer, they should have a website. I have doubts though about transferring the money again because mystery shopping does give you money to spend, but to wire it back, that makes me think twice also if that is a legit business or another scam. There should also be like a list of things to buy and instructions for you to rate the store that you visited. I suggest that you do check it out first before cashing the check. ^-^ [anne25penn]
And why do you think all that is?? Because they dont want you to verify it first because then you will not wire the money. They rely on people thinking, "Oh, it must be genuine. Theres a phone number and Ive heard of the bank" So.....you put it in your bank and wire off the money. Hey presto, as if by Scammy Magic the check bounces. Or....you decide to wait until it clears and then wire the money.....that way, you wont lose out. Guarantee you it WILL NOT clear. And you might get bank charges for a bad check. Use your head and bin this! [littletinker]
No, no, no, please do not fall for this scam. The scammers want you to deposit the cheque, wire the $3400 as per their instructions. Since the clearing of the cheque has to go through the international banking system it will take a while, a couple of weeks then the cheque turns out to be fraudulent and your bank will charge it back to you. You are now out the money and you may face criminal charges as well, depending on where you live. Please don't fall for it. You can also do a google search on this cheque cashing scam. [Lindalinda]
Yes, I did end up doing a search on it last night and I did find plenty of articles on how they scam you. So I'm pretty convinced this is a scam now. Thanks. [katsmeow1213]
You shouldn't do a thing until you call the BBB as soon as possible and see what they have to say about it! That sounds to me like a scam, sort of like one of those pyrimid schemes, or a chain letter, in this case a chain (check)! I would be very cautious! [xbrendax]
Take that directly to the post office. The post master general will look into scams like that. [rocketj1]
There's no return address, just a post mark. There's no company name, just a credit union, and the credit union is legit, but I'm guessing this check is a fake. [katsmeow1213]
I think its a scam, it sounds like something similar my friend went through she got this fake check in the mail from some fake organization, then she took the check to the bank and found out from the bank teller that the whole thing was a scam the company that she got the check from didnt even exist, so I dont think you should try to cash it because it could be a big scam and the company could be illegal or something, my friend went through some rough stuff do to a similar scam but its just my opinion. But I cant say for sure but just be careful because if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.blinkhappy [apples99]
HI Kats: Oh lordy me!! I have enough fake checks here I could Wallpaper a room with them; But I must say yours is a different set up than what I've had before, first thing I'd do is take it to your local bank, they can verify if the cashier's check is fake and I'm guessing its a fake one, they are good at what they do these scan artists, I've had fake cashier's checks, Fake traveler's checks, those were really really well done except the little code thing a ma jig ( brain fart here) was not done on the backside of the traveler's check, anyway have your bank do a verification on it, but anytime these jerks send you a check like that and they want a big portion of it sent back to them, RUN! IT'S A SCAM!!! I've turned in I don't know how many to the police here, to the sheriff's office to my state's attorney General, this is yet one of the biggest reasons I want to get out of the selling on auction sites and earn more money via writing and so on; toooooo many crazy con Artists out there in the world...Run Kats Run !!! Ask Jerzgirl, she knows the messes I've had over the last three years ++ crazy people out there just crazy!!! [dreamweaverjan]
Whoa, slow down there, lol! Live and learn they say. Like I said, I'm just glad I took the time to think. I'm rather impulsive and was ready to go deposit it into my account. It's a great thing that I've seen online scams before that make me leary and make me think twice before acting on anything that seems at all fishy. [katsmeow1213]
Hey kats! Rip the check up and throw it away asap! It's a definite SCAM! I've gotten that one too! It looks legit, BUT anytime they ask you to wire money it is a SCAM! Never fall for that stuff! It is done that way to try to trick you! Just get rid of the check and forget it! It is one of the many major SCAMS that have been going around for a long time! [Opal26]
Yeah, this one is new to me, but I am convinced now that it is a scam. Thankfully I spent time thinking about it before acting on my greedy impulses. [katsmeow1213]
SCAM with big letters... i get one of those from gautamala and el salvadore . goes along with the international lottery winners , remember if it sounds to good to be true , usually is [mrgeebee]
Yep, that about sums it up. That's why I'm glad I took time to think about it before acting on it. [katsmeow1213]
From the research I've done so far, this is a known scam that is currently resurfacing. Here is an article about it and, at the bottom, there's a Crime Stoppers tip line to call. I'd encourage you to do that or to call your local authorities. It would probably ease your mind. It's really disconcerting to be hit with these things, especially right to your home mailbox. http://news.therecord.com/article/328675 Here's one from a company who is being made to look like they are responsible for some of these letters, which they say they aren't: http://www.consumercontact.com/article-1185393345.html This is an interesting, useful clip from the bottom of their statement: "For more information on current scams in the mystery shopping industry, go to http://www.mysteryshop.org/news/article_pr.php?art_ID=75] and link to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) and a press release on the scam." [thinkingoutloud]
There is no company name listed anywhere, which was my first worry, and the fact that the credit union is in SC but the letter was post marked from Canada, and of course the large money transfer was weird too. So I'm certainly not cashing this check now. Glad I took the time to think on it before acting. [katsmeow1213]
This is certainly not real. Fake programs such as this and many others have been circulating for years. PLEASE do not wire them any money -- you will lose it all! They operate in different countries so the laws and jurisdictions are different and your money will likely never be recovered and returned to you! [Bethany1202]
This is very likely to be a scam. Very very likely. Because of this I would simply cash the check and leave it at that, therefore you do not risk losing anything. Just cash it and walk away. If you think about it it seems more and more like a scam though so do not get to excited but good luck with the check clearing. :) [tinytankster]
No I don't plan on cashing it now. I'm pretty sure the check is a fake. [katsmeow1213]
I am sure this is a scam. Be careful. I have the same experience I got an email that said that I was a beneficiary of a sum totaling US $200.000. I guess it's just a similar thing. The email senders have cunning methods of deceiving us. [yanzalong]
This is a scam. The cashier chech is fake. I suggest you call the bank to verify. It's the same sacme that've been going for a while. [maria_k]
Did you apply to be a Mystery Shopper? If not, I'd say this is yet another SCAM. Go read about it here. http://www.snopes.com/fraud/employment/shopper.asp [Barb42]
Yes, I did some research last night and did find information about scams like this, so now I'm pretty sure it is a scam. The transfer seems odd, so I will not be doing anything with this check. [katsmeow1213]
I received something like that by e-mail. there is no check, just instructions to send money that will be paid back by some mystery shopping company. DON'T spend any money, it's a SCAM. I know someone who is a mystery shopper. To be a mystery shopper she will have to register and passed some tests. Then she will have a contact person from the company to give her assignments and respond to any problem she encounters during performing the assignment to reporting the result. If you have never registered or passed any tets to be one, don't do anything about it. If you have, then the company you are registered to, should be contacted. [LittleMel]
I don't remember signing up for anything, and I certainly didn't take any tests. I'm pretty sure this one is a scam. [katsmeow1213]
it's a scam. if you can remember that you never joined any mystery shopper program then just dump the e-mail. maybe you were just one of the victim where you e-mail adress had been sold to anyone by other programs you have joined. [leomilson]
well? if you incash the check & use the encash check to be sent to somebody, then? why not give it a try. but if you are going send you own money, then i would conclude that it's a scam. As far as i know from mystery shopper sites, they do not use cash to buy from shops. Instead they send cards to mystery shoppers and then that's the one the mystery shoppers will use to shop. [leomilson]
you should go to a bank and find out if it is legit, before you do anything else. i am 100% sure that this is a scam cause no one does this sort of a thing. it should say where the cashiers check was made so, also check over there and i can again guarantee you that this is a scam. [killhawaii]
NO no no Noooo! Don't mess with it! Just throw it away right away! I got something similar to that and I forget what tipped me off that it was a scam, but it was plain and clear! Most of those mystery shopping things are scams anyway. It's not easy to sift through the 99% scams and find the 1% that are, but you can bet that's in the majority! [zhuuraan]
Yes, I'm pretty sure it is a scam now that I've done some thinking on it. It was just very exciting to have an almost $4000 check in my hand so I wanted it to be true for a minute, lol. [katsmeow1213]
That sounds like too good to be true, Money delivered to your home. Why they sent you 3950 instead 350, you only need that much, don't you think?? [Kenzierou]
Yep, that's true, that's what got me too. It's definitly a scam. [katsmeow1213]
I think you have enough information in the responses here to verify that this is a scam. My first question would be what would be the purpose of sending you that much money and then having you wire most of it on? Even if the check cleared, it still sounds like money laundering, and you would be right in the middle of it. It's much more likely that the check will bounce. Just pass on the check and letter to the authorities who hopefully will be able to trace the bank accounts, and be thankful that you are smarter than the others these criminals have scammed. [penny64]
It's so mean to play with your head like that. I don't think I could hold such a large check in my hand and not get excited about it. We all want to hope that something amazing will happen, especially when money is tight. I hope something special happens for you to make up for this disappointment! [penny64]
First of all did you even sign up to be a mystery shopper with this company? If you didn't then this is definitely a scam. They don't just send out checks randomly. Did you do a search on the internet for the company name? Something smells scammy.thumbdown [Shar19]
hi friend...i think its better you forget about it...as there many such scams i have seen so far...and to tell you, i believed such things in the beginning and invested some money for a data entry job in a company...later i was told by one of my friend that its a scam site, even that site had a phone number, when i used to call them....they would give response, but i was not paid by them so far even a penny, though nearly an year passed by....since then i realised that i should not believe such scams and not to invest or give money to unknown people...they thought me a good lesson in life....happy myLotting!!! [vk3110]
Sorry to put my 2 cents in, but I have been scammed by a company before and let me tell you, I'm still trying to recover from the situation. So, I am more alert than ever when I hear about stuff like this. If I were you, I would find out the information about your local FBI, either call them or e-mail them, let them know the situation. Make a copy of the check, letter, envelope etc. This keep for your records. Once you have talked to an agent, they will either make arrangements to meet with you to receive the information or they may have you send it to them. You will also need to send an account of how and when your received the documentation, this will be helpful to the FBI in tracking down the originator. Given the many scams that have come about, from my understanding, the FBI now has special relations with agencies in Canada. They will advice this agency to get this scam stopped at its source and the people probably put in prison. [chulce]
Definately a scam. I get those types of things all the time and they get deleted as fast as they come in. ~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS** [twoey68]
LOL I am so used to all my mail being emails that my brain just sort of filled it in when I read your post. If you try it, good luck with it. ~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS** [twoey68]
did you enroll somewhere as a mystery shopper? if yes check on those companies if you have such an offer if you are registered as a mystery shopper on a site, EVERY shoper assignment will be listed there if not then it's a scam I have heard of those scams and yes mystery shoppers do exist but think about it why woudl they give you almost 4,000 just for you to spend 200$?? THATS FISHY ALREADY and know that most mystery shopper agancies give you refunds after your purchase and not cash advances like that so bevery careful [ricknkae]
Yeah, I've decided this one is a scam. If I did sign up for something, it was a very long time ago, and I don't remember. And this letter doesn't list a website at all. I'm chalking it up to scam and ignoring it now. [katsmeow1213]
You really need to ask if this is a scam?? You wouldnt be on here asking if you felt ok about it....so just throw it in the bin and forget about it. So so so many greedy people get stung with these sorts of things because common sense seems to go out of the window where 'free money' is on offer. Yes!!! It is a scam! Sheesh! [littletinker]
This is a discussion site.....which means that you will encounter all manner of responses and people. If this site is going to be sucessful, there always needs to be a counter point to keep a discussion going. Where will discussions go if all posters said the same thing? You asked if it were a scam and I answered....yes it is! I may not have answered in a nice, comforting, wrap you up in cotton wool way.....but perhaps I answered you in a way that makes you realise how silly you could have been. [littletinker]
Hi Kat. I really do not know much about these things but have learnt quite a bit reading through your discussion. Once I get anything in my mail or email that looks questionable I dump them. Let someone else have the heartache (the scammers) of seeing their kindness go to waste. Certainly a very useful and eye opening discussion. Hope we can all work together to put a huge dent in these scam ventures by first checking out the ligitimacy of the deal before we actually spend our own cash. Scammers really hope to get many persns who are quicker to spend than they are at checking out stuff. [tjades]
First of all why do they have a bank in america when there in Canada?to me when u recieve a check for no readon at all and want you to return money its a scam just throw it away and be safe..cashing a check will only give them more info on ur checking account [sassymama1974]
Anytime you are requested or instructed to send money, it is a scam. [kolleenwilson]
One big question I have is, did you ASK to become a mystery shopper? If not, then that check is definitely fake. Thieves these days are becoming more and more sophisticated. Who in their right mind would send ANYONE a check for that large amount in the HOPES that you will do what the letter says and not just cash the check and keep it all for yourself? It is most definitely a scam to take your money. No business name on the check, envelope, letter or anywhere else? That raises a REALLY big flag, or should! Letters, just as emails, can be 'bounced' all over the world these days. The letter came from Canada, yet the check is from the U.S.? No, this is fake. Don't even bother taking it to your bank. The tellers there may not have ever seen this scam before, personally, and it just may look real to them. Why not call the bank and ask for their routing number? It SHOULD match the one on that check, but I know it won't. If there is no name or business written on the check, you'd only be asking for BIG trouble if you tried to cash it or even deposit it into your account. These thieves make me sick! I wish they'd all go blind and have their hands fall off. Then, they'd never be able to use this type of scam ever again! [mentalward]
Sorry, I almost forgot... you got this check in the mail, yet they want you to do a wire transfer to send money to the next person? That right there says "I'm a thief and I'm trying to steal $3,400.00 from you." You'd be sending $3,400.00 directly into the thief's bank account. I'm glad to hear you've decided this is a scam. [mentalward]
This is a scam. A friend of mine fell for this and it cost her not only the amount of the check but also bank fees. I do some mystery shopping and the companies I work for reimburse me for my purchase and the commission for doing the shop. I wish it was that easy to make money but it's not. Beware of any company that wants to to wire them money for the balance of the check. Usually if it sounds to good to be true, it is. [conbill]
It seems like a good deal except for the fact that you need to send somebody some money. What this does is for you to spend some money which is your own. If you have no plans to spend $3400 then this would be spent on something which you don't want. I wonder what could happen if you just spend without sending any money? Cheers!!! [underdogtoo]
It sounds like a scam to me. Call your State Attorney General, they can tell you if it is legit. [laglen]
I think it's definately a scam. The thing that makes me really suspicious is that you have ot send money to a third party. Think about it...that just doesn't make sense. If someone wants you to work for them as a secret shopper it doesn't make sense that they would trust you to sent that money to some third party. My guess is that you will deposit the check, spend some of the money and then after it's already been deposited and spent there will be a stop payment issued. If I were you I might cash it and just hang on to the money, but I sure wouldn't go mailing off $3400 to someone. [MissAmie]
it sound interesting. But to know whether it legit or not you need to do some checking first. Firstly did you every sign up for a mystery shopper anywhere. secondly you sure have the sender company's name. Go to the site and find out whether its genuine or not. You can actually write to them to inquire. If its true then i guess you are really luck and make the best of it. [nornik]
My first reaction is to say scam, I mean lets face it most things are, but I have never heard of someone getting a cheque through the post that is odd. I mean why would someone send you a cheque for that amount and then trust you not to cash it and keep the whole lot, why would they trust you to wire the other amount to them and why do you have to spend the money in a shop why can you not just keep it? That sounds like some kind of money laundering thing which is an offence. If there is a way you can look into it before doing anything then I would just to check and see if you can find out what it really is. It would be great if it turned out to be legit though for you!! [gemini_rose]
Well, the spending money in a shop part could be legit, it would be a Mystery Shopper job. They pay you to review particular stores, and you get to keep whatever you buy. But the money transfer is definitly fishy, especially the large amount, and I've come to learn that this is most likely a counterfeit check, so I could go to jail just by trying to cash it. So yes, it is a scam. Too bad though. [katsmeow1213]
Woudln't it be nice if it were real! I don't know much about how the American banking system works, but I agree with you that it sounds too good to be true. Do you remember applying to this company to be a Mystery Shopper with them? [GreenMoo]
I would keep the whole thing for my self!!! I wouldn't care, and if it was something illegal, I would be like I didn't know!!! The check came to me so I thought it was mine! Simple as that! but did you sign up as a mystery shopper somewhere? if you did then it might be legit if you didn't then it's just free money!! Why stuff like this never happens to me?? damn it!! [x0xpinkyx0x]