Check I got.

I filled out an application by text to be a secret shopper. FedEx delivered a package yesterday that included a cashiers check for $2,942.00 with instructions on how to spend the money (keeping $300.00) for myself for what I figure is one hour of actual work. They want me to deposit their check in my bank and then email them when I have done so. Somebody tell me why this is a bad idea. I know it has to be a scam, but I can't figure what their scam is.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Their scam is that the check is fake. You will send them money. The check will bounce and you will be out the entire $2,942.

These scammers are able to do it because some keep thinking their real...no one sends money before you do a job, and thousands of dollars for a few MS'ing jobs, does this sound real... report it. This forum is full of people that fell for this and got burned. DO NOT CASH CHECK!!!!

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2019 03:49PM by Irene_L.A..

At first, your bank will "clear" that check in about 2 business days. Then you will be told to buy something, like $2500 in gift cards maybe, and provide the ID numbers to the sender of the check, or their pals. Those folks will use those gift cards to buy stuff on line, rendering them of zero value to you. Supposedly, the remaining funds would be your "fee" for this "job." About 2-3 weeks later, the bank will find out for sure that the check was a fake.

Your bank will demand restitution and bounced check charges. They may close your accounts and refuse to let you open a new account. They may put you on a list of folks that other banks can see. That is a list of folks known to deposit fraudulent checks. Other banks can then refuse to let you open accounts. In summary: total disaster for you.

Please note: NO real MS company sends large checks to people who have not done a TON of successful shops for them, without getting any up-front funds. Typical MS assignments for beginners pay $5-10 and those fees arrive 1 to 12 weeks AFTER a successful report has been completed by the shopper. AND, legitimate MS companies have secure sites where shoppers resister.

Finally, the fraudsters also like to use the good name of real MS companies to hide behind.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2019 03:52PM by walesmaven.

@walesmaven wow thanks for all the info. I did not realize they put people on a list.

Put that bogus check through the nearest shredder NOW!

pegleg,
Yes, I learned about that from posts on the forum some time back. Someone who had been a victim then found that he could not find any bank that would let him open a new account.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM
Did you give them your social security number? What other information did you give them? Do Not shred the check, bring it to the nearest police station and be sure to notify the Legit Mystery Shopping Company. Do not respond to the Scammers. Did you gave them any information about credit cards? You also could be scammed in other ways. They might tell you your computer needs fixing! It don't. They might call you on the phone with your number, hang up. I get at least 1 SCAM a day on my phone. Never, ever answer any questions. There is the IRS Scam. Grandson SCAM, they never end. One they have your information you may be targeted for SCAMs. WALESMAVEN IS 100% CORRECT.

Once again, an OP has joined and left the forum in one fell swoop.

Wow! I had no idea people could be so evil. I explained to the young man who recruited me that I was elderly, disabled, and lived on a modest fixed income. He said he had the answer to all my money problems.

@Corkster wrote:

Wow! I had no idea people could be so evil. I explained to the young man who recruited me that I was elderly, disabled, and lived on a modest fixed income. He said he had the answer to all my money problems.

Sounds more like, in hoping you would fall for this, that YOU were the answer to all HIS money problems!! RUN from this!! It is a total scam!

He is a thief, pure and simple. He is not recruiting you to do anything except send him money.

This is such a common scam that my bank is holding my small check from Service With Style for 3 weeks or something until it clears.

@Corkster wrote:

Wow! I had no idea people could be so evil. I explained to the young man who recruited me that I was elderly, disabled, and lived on a modest fixed income. He said he had the answer to all my money problems.

Turn the check over to the post office if it came in regular mail. It's mail fraud. Definitely alert the Federal Trade Commission. Yes, it's a fake check, but it might be useful information to an agency that can try to use it to thwart future fraud.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

Put that bogus check through the nearest shredder NOW!

It's not just banks that keep a list; the fraudsters also do. They resell the list of "suckers" for more money to other fraudsters.

It's called the "sucker list". Means, "this is an easy mark, they already fell for one or more scams".

I'm not kidding.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Turn the check over to the post office if it came in regular mail. It's mail fraud. Definitely alert the Federal Trade Commission. Yes, it's a fake check, but it might be useful information to an agency that can try to use it to thwart future fraud.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

Put that bogus check through the nearest shredder NOW!

While I'd like to think investigators and federal officials are waiting for small potatoes fraud attempts such as this one and others on this board, I have never heard of a successful resolution to something like this. Be proactive --- use the shredder (or your fireplace)!

I regularly see in the news people who have gotten caught doing things like this. Shredding the check only benefits the scammer.

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

In most states any amount over $1,000 is felony theft. Law enforcement doesn't consider it small potatoes.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Turn the check over to the post office if it came in regular mail. It's mail fraud. Definitely alert the Federal Trade Commission. Yes, it's a fake check, but it might be useful information to an agency that can try to use it to thwart future fraud.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

Put that bogus check through the nearest shredder NOW!

While I'd like to think investigators and federal officials are waiting for small potatoes fraud attempts such as this one and others on this board, I have never heard of a successful resolution to something like this. Be proactive --- use the shredder (or your fireplace)!

Many of these scams originate from outside the country you are in so the officials here cannot legally do much about them. They also sometimes continually change their phone numbers and addresses etc so they cannot be tracked.

quote=JASFLALMT]
In most states any amount over $1,000 is felony theft. Law enforcement doesn't consider it small potatoes.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Turn the check over to the post office if it came in regular mail. It's mail fraud. Definitely alert the Federal Trade Commission. Yes, it's a fake check, but it might be useful information to an agency that can try to use it to thwart future fraud.

@bestofbothworlds wrote:

Put that bogus check through the nearest shredder NOW!

While I'd like to think investigators and federal officials are waiting for small potatoes fraud attempts such as this one and others on this board, I have never heard of a successful resolution to something like this. Be proactive --- use the shredder (or your fireplace)!

Yes, that is true, but there are circumstances where the scams are perpetrated from people who live in our own country. I have seen them on the local news occasionally and I think Honny has seen scammers in her area get caught as well. At any rate, it can't hurt to turn it over to the FTC or post office. If they can't stop the foreign scammers it's too bad, but there is no harm in turning over the fake checks to the authorities.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Check I got.

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine