I got a priority mail express envelope in the mail today with a return address of Modern Welding Inc. The letter inside says it's from Sinclair Customer Metrics and in the envelope there was also a cashier's check for $2350. The instructions state to cash or deposit the check (if depositing email a confirmation to Thomas Gibson at sinclairshoppers247@gmail.com) and keep $300 for myself. Then with cash only I am to proceed to a nearby store that sells Reloadit packs and pick up 4 cards and load them with $500 each. After I gently scratch all 4 packs I'm to email him the report without attempting online activation and wait for a mailing address to send the cards to after my report is received.

After going on Reloadit's website to find stores near me that sell the cards I contacted Mr. Gibson because it wasn't 100% clear if I was to buy all the packs at one store or two. He responded right away. When I went to Sinclair's website and had trouble logging in I did a quick Google search and found out that this is a huge scam! After browsing the MSF I have found that I am not the only one who was sent a large check in the mail supposedly from Sinclair but the amounts of the check and Sinclair rep always differ. I just signed up with them last week and received a text from Thomas Gibson about this package the other day. Is Sinclair a legit mystery shop company or a total sham? I'm praying they're legit cos they now have my social security number!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2018 03:25AM by RockinRita03.

Sinclair is a legit MSC but their name is being used by the scammer. Congratulations on recognizing the scam and not depositing the check. You could take it to your local PD to see if there are interested.

Thank you for responding so quickly and letting me know Sinclair is legit. I was starting to freak out that they had my social security number!

It's a scam. There are variances from this type of scam...

No one pays for jobs in advance. You will never receive money in advance for work you have not done.

Take the check to the post office manager (mail fraud) or call/email the Federal Trade Commission.

DO NOT CASH OR DEPOSIT THE CHECK. You will be in trouble legally (passing fraudulent checks) and possibly financially (when the check bounces and you are out additional money).

I have been a mystery shopper for a few years just doing the occasional gig and have heard of these scams but I guess it didn't register to me that this was one since I had just signed up with Sinclair! The scariest thing about this is that I almost fell for it! I was exhausted today from running around and working all day so I figured I'd just go to the bank tomorrow. Not even sure what possessed me to do research on it but I'm so glad I did cos I can't afford to be caught up in a mess like this!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2018 03:43AM by RockinRita03.

[www.consumer.ftc.gov] The FTC has additional information about this.

Received the same in the mail today. It's a scam for sure.

@insifer wrote:

Received the same in the mail today. It's a scam for sure.

Good thing you were smart enough to look here first! Good luck with your shopping!

How are these scammers getting the addresses of legitimate shoppers? Is it just a coincidence or have the hacked into the MSC servers?

I think it's both and it's very disconcerting. Large non msc get hacked and some of them offer credit monitoring services. I suspect msc computer systems don't have the high backup and security of established companies.

@RockinRita03 - It sounds like you may have cashed the check. If so, contact your bank ASAP to let them know about this because the check will not clear.

@cindycribbs - These scams target everyone, not just shoppers. Your information is available for purchase through hundreds of legitimate companies. These scams go out in waves of 1000 or more at a time. It only takes one person to call back with the gift card codes for the scammers to make a profit.

@7star wrote:

I think it's both and it's very disconcerting. Large non msc get hacked and some of them offer credit monitoring services. I suspect msc computer systems don't have the high backup and security of established companies.

That's fascinating. Never heard of such a thing. I've heard of time of scams like this but never with regard to mystery shopping!

@TroyHawkins wrote:

@RockinRita03 - It sounds like you may have cashed the check. If so, contact your bank ASAP to let them know about this because the check will not clear.

No.... I was about to open an account and deposit it (I've been thinking about opening an account anyway with a physical branch as I get paid on cash as a dog walker and you can't deposit cash at an ATM for any Bank nonetheless an online only branch) but then I started researching that night.


I'm kinda surprised that the guy who I was emailing about it (before I realized it was a scam) hasn't contacted me again since he ought to realize by now I haven't completed the fake shop. Weird thing is he had a Sinclair email address. Maybe that's why at first I didn't think it was a scam.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2018 02:49AM by RockinRita03.

Can you post the fake email address here so we know to lookout for it?

Genius idea.. Although now that I look at it, it definitely isn't theirs and it should've been an immediate read flag. Contact name is Thomas Gibson and the email is sinclairshoppers247@gmail.com.

Thanks for posting it. That is definitely not a scm email address.

I'm thinking it is because any emails from them should come from something @sinclair.com or something similar as apposed to a Gmail address.

Their emails are usually @scmxxxxx.com.

I wasn't sure exactly what their emails are as I have yet to hear back regarding signing up. I've tried contacting them through their site since this but no luck.

You can call them up. Someone usually answers.

So apparently I never finished the sign up process on their site. Now that I have I'm getting emails. Thanks 7star

Great. Did u find that out by calling them?

I got the same thing!!! And they keep emailing me telling me i only have 48hrs to finish the task. This can not be real? What did you find out?

I received the large making on a Sunday! The bank told me it was a fake check. I told in a text that the back has a10 hold on the check. "Thomas Gibson", replied ok. Keep me posted when it clears and you do your assignment. Is this legit?

It’s a scam as others have reported in this thread. Absolutely do not send anything to Thomas Gibson or anyone else. When the check you deposited doesn’t clear, you are on the hook. Don’t be fooled! Sinclair is a legit company but this is not them.

Here is what the FTC says:

Don’t deposit a check and wire money or send money back in any way. Banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take them weeks. If a check you deposit bounces – even after it seemed to clear – you’re responsible for repaying the bank.

To the Administrator. I think it would be helpful to have a general scam warning post “sticky” at the top of each forum or at least the New Shoppers Forum. Perhaps a general description of how the scam works and the warning from the FTC.

@kenasch wrote:

Here is what the FTC says:

Don’t deposit a check and wire money or send money back in any way. Banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take them weeks. If a check you deposit bounces – even after it seemed to clear – you’re responsible for repaying the bank.

@7star I went back and signed in on the website again lol. Something so stupidly simple I hadn't thought of it before lol

@RockinRita03 wrote:

Genius idea.. Although now that I look at it, it definitely isn't theirs and it should've been an immediate read flag. Contact name is Thomas Gibson and the email is sinclairshoppers247@gmail.com.

Report that spam email to Google.

I was holding my breath as I read this- I was so worried you were going to be scammed out of all of that money- Thank goodness you checked. I've worked for Sinclair and they are a fine company- but obviously, this 'fake' Sinclair isn't-

They must have picked that name "Thomas Gibson" as a joke- he was one of the actors on Criminal Minds.