I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but given the constant wire stories about it, it seems the mystery shopper scam is still alive and well.
I guess when the economy is down and people are eager to make a quick buck, scam artists like these can find easy prey.
Here’s the deal with the scam: A supposed mystery shopping marketing firm in Texas sends you a check in the mail for several thousand dollars. They ask you to deposit the check and use the cash to evaluate the service of a hotel, restaurant or store in your area. Then you’re supposed to wire the rest of the money back to the marketing firm — along with your report.
The problem is: The check is fake! So not only are you out the bounced check fee, you also now owe your bank how ever much you withdrew in cash for your bogus mystery shopping assignment.
If you get a check from an unknown source in the mail, DO NOT CASH IT. Got that? Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about legitimate mystery shopping operations, check out JobMonkey’s section on becoming a mystery shopper.
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I signed up for a mystery shopping job a few weeks ago and received my first assignment via the mail a couple days before Christmas. It struck me as odd since the assignments should come to my Email as described in the site I joined. Upon opening the envelope I found a check for $3,992.00, with an assignment to send $3000.00 by Money Gram. I knew right away this was not on the up and up and reported the company. I’m writing this to warn others who may receive this fake check not to fall for it and by no means cash the check. This is a scam!!
The money your promised as probationary training pay may look good but the money you’ll be out won’t.