Has anyone on here ever heard of or been hired by a company called "Value Shoppers"? They are located out of Merrifield, VA.

I received a letter from them saying "Sequel to your active search for employment as noted in your reply email, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as an Independent Contracror to Value Shoppers to be a Customer Service Evsluator in the _____ KY area."


I have been having some personal problems lately and have not been following my own advice by keeping a record of every company I applied to, therefore I do not know if I applied to this company or not.

If anyuone knows anything about them PLEASE ADVISE ME AT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Be very cautious. It is not a company I have ever heard of and your quoted material sounds like it was written in Nigeria.

I agree with flash. Nigeria is not known for shopper companies. On the other hand, if they had sent you an email about their royal prince trying to get help with his millions in oil fortune, then we would know it's legitimate.

I researched and could find nothing...

The scammers pulled a name out of a hat....

Who said anything about Nigeria? The poster did not. Realize it was humor tech. Don't bother.

Okay, everyone out there in Mystery Shopping Land, here is the answer to the age-old question who is “Value Shoppers, Inc.”? In fact, in a side item, if you ever need anything investigated, call me. I am getting very good at it.

It appears, according to the employee I spoke with by the name of Amy, they have offices in Virginia, the Bronx, and in Canada.

When asked why the fee for each “evaluation” was so high, she said it was because their clients were so very select that it paid a flat rate of $250 for each evaluation. They also provided the money for the shopping in advance. The stores she names she used were Wal-Mart, Sears, Kroger, McDonalds, etc. For this reason, a check was enclosed. Now do not laugh, I did not, at least not to her face, the enclosed check was for $3,420.00!

At this time, I inquired if this company was recognized by NARMS. She did not hesitate, but promptly said, “Who?” This question was followed up by, “Are you certified by MSPA?” To which she quickly replied, “Yes, of course. Could you hold please? We have a very high call volume today.”

I am in a very rural area and somehow Miss Amy and I became disconnected.

I then contacted a company titled, “VyStar Credit Union.” This is a reputable company. Their phone number and anything else a person would want to know about them is on line. They advised that their company had issued this check number. One teeny, tiny problem was that it was not issued for $3,420.00 and it was definitely NOT ISSUED to _____ _______ (ME).

That was enough proof for me. I certainly did not want to work for a company who issued an invalid FIRST check!

I guess all that is left is to notify the proper officials concerning this attempted scam and check fraud. If everyone would weigh in on this matter, I would appreciate it. As I understand it, I am supposed to notify the local police; National Fraud Information Center;???

I received a check from them also in the amount of 3375.00 I am doing my research befor edopeositing the check in a bank account. They want you to deposit the check and call them back. How will they go about retrieving the funds if they do not have your account infoormation?

DO NOT deposit that check. This is a common SCAM. The check is not good, it will bounce and you will have to pay bank fees.


blythec2001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I received a check from them also in the amount of
> 3375.00 I am doing my research befor edopeositing
> the check in a bank account. They want you to
> deposit the check and call them back. How will
> they go about retrieving the funds if they do not
> have your account infoormation?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2012 04:58PM by spaztck.

Listen to spaztck. Why do they have to retrieve funds when there are none to begin with? Please don't think you are getting over on the scammers by "keeping their money." Knowingly depositing that check will make you party to fraud and will most likely result in a criminal conviction.

When is everyone going to learn, there is no such thing as "easy money" and no company or individual in their right mind is going to pay you up front for any type of work.

I deposited the check, it cleared, And I am supposed to call them back today for my very first assignment. If this is fraud how do they get paid because they can't get any money out of the account. They're not privy to that information. Should I give the bank the money back or close the account and not take any funds out.

They may not be able to get the money if you don't send them any, HOWEVER, when the check bounces, you'll be charged the fees.

It takes 10-20 days for the bank to actually know that the check or money order did not clear te issuing bank. The scammers will ask you to keep a portion of the funds and send the large balance, via money order, to them. You withdraw funds from your account to buy that REAL money order, and send it to them. They cash it and disappear. You are left owing your bank ALL of the money that you sent to the scammers, accessory to bank fraud and, or yes, in insufficient funds fee when their original check is returned.

So, you see, it is YOU who will give them the funds from your checking account when you obey your "shop instructions" to buy a money order.

My bank put a hold on the check bcuz they could not validate it. So when I called Value shoppers to inquire abt it they hung the phone up on me. Informed me the accounts department would send the bank another confirmation. I need help on where to go from here. Do I tell the bank or wait to see if the funds will become available then tell the bank?

Tell the bank and ask them to forgive the bounced check fee for you. This is a scam and you are very lucky not to have gone any father with it.!

The funds will not become available. They're trying to scam you. Report what's going on to the police.

Blythe -

You need to stop having ANY type of contact with these scammers. Period.

STOP calling them!
STOP emailing them.

They are going to say whatever they darn well can to get you to (a) feel guilty and want to believe; (b) think you are silly for not believing them and not wanting your big windfall; (c) try and talk you into doing something R.E.A.L.L.Y. S.T.U.P.I.D.

OF course they are going to tell you they'll look into it, or send another check, or go to their bank for accounting confirmation.

The "funds" are NOT going to become available!

IF they do - they are written on a stolen account number, stolen checks - which is FRAUD. Which, you are participating in!

Like Wales said above - The originating bank can come back THIRTY DAYS LATER - and tell YOUR bank that the check is bad.

Guess what? YOU have to pay the money back. NOT the scammers. YOU will be responsible for bounced check fees, paying back every cent from that fake check. If you cannot pay it back, they will close your account, send it to ChexSystems, which will stop you from opening up a checking account until you make things right with your bank.

So please.. go into your bank IN PERSON.
Tell them you got scammed. Tell them that check is no good.
Be prepared to pay ANY money you may have taken out (for example, say your bank released $1,000.00 of the check immediately. IF you spent that money on paying bills, or ATM withdrawals - you NEED to put it back and make it right back to the balance BEFORE you deposited that check).

Lastly - change your email address - because now the scammers probably have your email (if you emailed back and forth with them at all). Also, be prepared for annoying phone calls, threatening phone calls, etc., - just ignore them.

I have lost track of the number of posts telling you, in no uncertain terms, there is no money, the check is no good, etc., etc. Why do you continue to delude yourself into thinking this check will be fine and you are in for some big pay day? What more do people need to tell you? Is it going to take being arrested?

All of the time wasted on that phony check could have been put to some productive use. Maybe you can let us know what happens. I think they have internet in jail now.

@ Lisa -

I know. I don't get it. This is the 2nd person in less than a week who insists that their "check" cleared the bank. The 2nd person in less than a week who is not reading what is written and listening to those of use who have been around the block.

That's probably why my post above sounds so harsh. I do not understand why posters who receive scam checks just don't want to listen!

I know the economy is bad. I get that people are desperate. But I have a rough time believing people are really not playing with a full deck! These scams are all over the internet. All it takes is researching email addresses, researching phone numbers (Heck, if I get a phone call that doesn't leave a message - I immediately google that phone number!)

But why on earth would a complete stranger send a check to these individuals (are you that special?) for thousands of dollars - when the individual did NOT initiate the employment?

Desperate people do desperate things - but don't let your common sense fly out the window! Please people - please THINK first!

Or else give me a call, let me sell you my ocean front property in Phoenix!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2012 06:23PM by r@inyDayZ3.

I could not agree more. That is why I felt the need to be harsh. The sad and ridiculous part, it most likely still fell on deaf ears.

It is mind blowing that the tales of these scams and how they work are on every form of media, every single day of the world and someone can still think, "maybe this is different." That goes beyond desperation.

How many legitimate mystery shops could have been performed in the span of time spent dealing with this bull crap. Not only by the person with the question, but by all of us. Instead we are wasting our time trying to save someone who obviously does not want to be saved.

Agreed. You need to be harsh because being polite does not seem to work.

Fact: It is STUPID to believe that anyone you do not know would you send you an advance check for mystery shopping shopping work. That job does not exist any more than Santa or the Easter Bunny.

The scammers are taking advantage of your greed and stupidity. If you have read this and been warned, and still choose to deposit a fake check, then you are guilty of fraud as well as stupidity.

I like most of what you said, but it is disappointing to hear there is no Easter Bunny As far as Santa, you are just downright wrong!

I guess I am the one who is deluded. I really thought if I researched this company and their supposed bank thoroughly and reported it then no one would fall for this scam.

I cannot believe there are so many skeptics out there. I sincerely hope all these non-believers are new or at least fairly new shoppers. Why don’t they listen to those of us who have been around for a while?

How many will post how long you have been shopping?

Shopping 14 years
Gold Certified 11 years (back when you had to do more than take a test on the computer)

Well I told the bank about the check, & to my surprise they expected it was fraudulent. I filed a claim

Good news. I can't tell you happy I am, that you are not responding to say you had been charged with fraud or you are now on the hook $3,000.

The explanation about the expectation that the check might be "good" is simple. The banks release the funds to the depositor within 2-3 business days. The depositor thinks that this means that the check is "good." Not so; it takes 10-20 or more days for the bank to find out that the check is fraudulent. That period is the window of opportunity for the scammers. The depositor thinks that the release of the funds by their bank means tha the check "cleared" when that is not the case. That is when the depositor sends what they think are "cleared" funds to the scammer.

End of story.

Wales,

This is one thing that is never "taught" to young people.

I just turned 50. Until 2003 - right after I turned 41 - I had NO idea this was how the banking system worked.

I always thought, "Well, it cleared my bank, it's good.", and happily went off on my merry, clueless, way spending the checks.

In 2003, DH and I sold his truck for 7K. The kid drove out from California to buy it, gave us a certified check from USAA. He had told us early in the day he was on his way. He faxed all of his paperwork to buy the truck, loan information, etc to us since I had to go in and pay it off to get the title work started. DH and I belonged to BofA back then.

BofA would not release that check for 21 days. Wait, they released $1,000 which is what we had in our checking account, because it would cover at least $1,000.

When they told me how long it would take, I was not a happy camper. It wasn't until they told me WHY - because of scam checks (not as widespread as now), and because they had to be sure the USAA cleared the cashier's check first.

Honest to goodness, I never, ever knew this was how it all worked. I figured, my bank, their bank, we're good.

I would bet there are an awful lot of people who don't know the 21-30 day wait.

Which is sad, these kind of life skills are not taught, by parents, by schools, wherever necessary.




walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The explanation about the expectation that the
> check might be "good" is simple. The banks
> release the funds to the depositor within 2-3
> business days. The depositor thinks that this
> means that the check is "good." Not so; it takes
> 10-20 or more days for the bank to find out that
> the check is fraudulent. That period is the
> window of opportunity for the scammers. The
> depositor thinks that the release of the funds by
> their bank means tha the check "cleared" when that
> is not the case. That is when the depositor sends
> what they think are "cleared" funds to the
> scammer.
>
> End of story.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2012 04:31AM by r@inyDayZ3.

There are many who are gullible and need to be taught by real life lessons rather than someone else. It is unfortunate. And most are what I call "otherwise intelligent" people. This is the first I am reading of this thread and I applaud you all for saving Number1Nana50 from a fate she/he did not expect. You all persevered and it paid off. Had you given up after one or two tries Number1 would be out a lot of money.
Great Job People!!! Way to go.

I was also taken in. FEEL like an old fool. How do we stop them?

Well my personal yahoo e-mail got hacked recently. Someone I know, but haven't had contact with in a while thought the e-mail was legit and followed the link and gave up a bunch of personal information. Aside from this, I would say she is a very bright individual, but the entire text of the e-mail was..."I'm okay, check this out.' It was followed with a link.

If you have read my posts here, you know it is rare that I write only a minimal about of words. I feel bad that she followed this link she though came from me. She said she check it out through the BBB and the company had an F rating, but figured that since I recommended it, it must be good.

It was for a way to earn at least $10,000 a month mystery shopping working 5 to 10 hours a week. I just don't get how peole would believe this actually exists, but they do.

To: Mystery Shoppers
**Each and every time you receive a CHECK, first check out the Mystery Shopping Company, then immediately call the financial institution that the CHECK is drawn on. Provide them all the information on the check.

Then mail all the information to the Legal Department of that financial institution.

Also, example: "Value Shoppers" is supposedly located in VA. Search the VA Secretary of State Corporations Database to see if this company is listed. Also search the BBB in Merrifield, VA. for Value Shoppers.

Do all the above-mentioned before DEPOSITING or CASHING checks drawn on any company.
rmmcdonald@charter.net
PS Value Shoppers is NOT listed in the VA Secretary of State.