Scam Alert?

Looking for insight. I got an email from someone I thought was reliable on Linked in. (Im sure you experienced shoppers know where this is going). They told me about a mystery shopper service. Bottomline. I signed up received text and e-mail telling me I would get a certified postal package with instructions. It arrived with a check for $2450 detailing how I should deposit the cashiers check (which I did) I've now alert my bank since I've had second thoughts. The "mystery shopper" contacts me to let them know when the check clears and they will give me further instructions.. Only thing is the email they sent me already gave me instructions to purchas e-bay gift cards at local chain pharmacy, rate the store, clerk, experience etc. Then wait further instructions. They told me to keep $300 of the payment as my first payment. I only deposited the check yesterday and I've alerted the bank. The company said it is Ardentservicesltd.com I see there is an Ardent company, but I'm very skeptical of the "services Ltd" part. Thoughts? What should I do?

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I am so sorry. I received this type of check in the mail. This is a scam. I would not use any of the money in the check as you will be liable for repayment. Go back to your bank and talk to them,you can notify the police and the postoffice. This is mail fraud. I have notified the post office in the past but they laughed at me. Maybe you will have better luck

SCAM!

Do NOT use any of the money. The check is fake and will bounce within a few days. IGNORE the scammer and their threats. Block their email and phone number. Mystery Shopping NEVER pays $2,500! ....more like $10-15 dollars per average shop. You will NEVER be paid in advance. The "further instructions" will be for you to give them the numbers off the back of the card (which they will use immediately) and to continually dupe you out of money.

Ask yourself this: Would YOU send someone you did not know a check for almost $2,500 dollars in the mail and expect them to go to their bank and mail/wire you back the remainder of the money? Do you see how ludicrous that sounds?

You are not the first person to fall prey to this, every few months we have a new person asking about this scam. The scammers are very sophisticated in creating real looking money orders, checks, etc. I am glad you alerted your bank. It is definitely fake. Contact the FTC.

A real mystery shopping company has a website where you apply and are given a user name and password and you sign an IC agreement. You look on their job boards or they will email you about available assignments that pay generally between $10 to $35 each depending on the company, how detailed the assignment is, etc. After you are accepted for the shop, you get a printed guidelines and report form. You will log into the website, report your experience on the website report form and submit the report--it does not involve buying gift cards or anything like that. After your report is accepted, it takes a couple of week to sometimes a couple of months to get paid. You will NOT be paid up front.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2018 11:13PM by JASFLALMT.

The Post Office laughed? I am so sorry that happened to you!

@anniemaria wrote:

I am so sorry. I received this type of check in the mail. This is a scam. I would not use any of the money in the check as you will be liable for repayment. Go back to your bank and talk to them,you can notify the police and the postoffice. This is mail fraud. I have notified the post office in the past but they laughed at me. Maybe you will have better luck

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Thank you so much for everyones quick and thorough response. It's as I thought. The bank told me they couldn't do anything until the check comes back if it is indeed a fraud. They did say they would put a hold on the check clearing for at least 10 days. With the holiday weekend, I couldn't get to the bank. I am headed to talk to them personally on Tuesday. Aggrivating.... but follows the old adage, "if it sounds too good...." Thanks again.

Hopefully this will not affect your banking status since you alerted your bank. I am not trying to scare you or anything, but in the past there have been people who deposited the check and then had their accounts frozen and were unable to open a checking account elsewhere. Go straight to the bank first thing Tuesday morning and meet with a banker. Be proactive and hopefully all will be well.

Let us know what happens/happened!

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