A friend of who has never mystery shopped or signed up to do so almost fell victim to the check scam recently! The scammers sent him a FedEx package with a check inside, and emailed instructions for depositing it and withdrawing some funds to "donate to an orphanage." Luckily, he saw the red flags and did not touch the package.

The only place he thinks they may have found his address was his resume on Indeed.

(Isn't is kind of old school to put your address on a resume? Lol..)

Suppose we should warn family and friends against posting their address online on job sites in case scammers take advantage.

Mailing lists can be legally purchased from a variety of sources, including the US Postal Service. Scammers don’t need to scour the internet looking for personal information, everything that is needed to send a mailing is readily available for purchase. This type of scam does not target individuals. Rather it relies on one or two out of thousands of recipients falling for it.

I already received a large payment for a simple assignment & told to cash large check 1st is this a scam?

Unfortunately, scams disguised as mystery shopping are out there. Here's what to look for to prevent becoming a victim of such scams and what you can do if you have already been victimized.

What mystery shopping scams look like:
• Emails/ads/letters/text messages/phone calls asking you to cash a money order/check, wire it back, and keep a large fee ($300-$1000) for yourself. Any company that sends you a check in the mail before you do an assignment for them is fraudulent. They will often say it is for a mystery shopping opportunity at Wal-Mart, MoneyGram, or Western Union.
• Emails/ads/letters/text messages/phone calls promising great deals and lucrative opportunities in mystery shopping but require a registration fee or subscription. Many times, these jobs do not exist, but if the job is legitimate, it can be found for free elsewhere. Real companies pay you to complete these projects, not the other way around.
• These "companies" often use names that are similar to existing reputable companies. They do everything they can to appear legitimate (e.g., create fake copies of webpages, use email addresses similar to the company's email address, copy the company's logo/letterhead).

How to prevent becoming a victim:
• Never cash or deposit a money order/check that is issued before completion of an assignment or issued with an expectation to wire some or all of it back.
• Never pay anyone to mystery shop or for mystery shopping information.
• Research the company. Is it part of the MSPA [www.mspa-na.org/]? Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau [www.bbb.org]? Ask about it on [www.mysteryshopforum.com].
• Sign up with legitimate companies. Some places you can find them at include:
o [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
o www.prestomap.com
o [www.mspa-na.org]
o www.jobslinger.com

What to can do if you are a victim or believe you have received a fake check with a "mystery shopping" offer:
• Contact your local (non-emergency) number for the police.
• Report to the FTC at 877-382-4357 or www.ftc.gov.
• File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center www.ic3.gov.
• If you are in Canada, report to the Canadian PhoneBusters at 888-495-8501.

@Grandmato2 wrote:

I already received a large payment for a simple assignment & told to cash large check 1st is this a scam?

YES, THIS IS A SCAM.

Do NOT deposit the check!

(Isn't is kind of old school to put your address on a resume? Lol..)

I still have my address in the resume, I have always had it. But you are right. Do people still put their addresses on resume?! I haven’t applied for any jobs in years so I may be behind

I have my resume invisible to employers. (and scammers) If I am interested in a job, I attach my resume.

SCAM. Mystery shopping companies, like most work opportunities, do not pay in advance. The check is fake, most assuredly. Your bank may not realize it immediately if you deposit it. But, about 10 days later, after you have bought the gift cards or wired money per the instructions given by the scammer, the check will bounce and you will be out of the funds and possibly in legal trouble. And the scammers will be long gone by then with changed numbers and defunct contact information.

@Grandmato2 wrote:

I already received a large payment for a simple assignment & told to cash large check 1st is this a scam?