This is more for you newbies - I can't add photos here? ? DARN

Well, I KNEW this was a scam when I signed up, but, wondered how far they'd go. (I'm bored)
When I am suspicious, I ALWAYS use a wrong name or spell my name incorrectly.

Today I received a Flat Rate Priority Mail Envelope from a Edward Gerald 412 green pastures, kyle, Tx 78640.

Inside was a check from COLUMBUS COLLEGE of Art & Design, 50 Devoland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215. It is dated 12/22/2023, for $2950.00. It was mailed 12/20/2023.

It shows the meter number - P.D. can always use that to trace.

And, a letter. It's a photocopy, not personalized at all.

Essentially, I wanted to post the pics for newbies, but..

So, it basically says:

Deposit or cash the check.

Deduct your fee ($500.00) and, if you complete the survey within 24 hours, you get an additionally $100!
BONUS: If you complete the survey within 12-24 hours, you get a survey bonus of a total $600.

Job is to buy gift cards (ha!) on ebay. But, you can buy GC anywhere. They can be in ANY
DENOMINATIONS, to a total of $2,000..

Upon completion, you provide details in a report.

Questions on report:

Did the store restrict the number of EBAY GC you can buy?
Name of sales attendant?
How was the customer service?
How could the store improve?
Would you return to that store?
Rate your experience:
GENTLY SCRATCH OFF BANK PANEL OF EACH CARD TO REVEAL CODES
AND SEND A CLEAR PICTURE OF EACH CARD, ALONG WITH THE RECEIPTS
AND REPORT TO:

support@venusmysteryshoppinginc.com
619-485-0704 (btw, this prefix is for San Diego county, CALIF)

End of letter:

Regards,
(I'm guessing this is around the African area or European b/c of the usage
of regards, which America does not use much)

Derin Johnson
Head ofRecruitment/Coordinator

( and, the constant emails I'm getting are from a completely different name)

DO NOT BE FOOLED ~


I'll drop this off at a local PD tomorrow for their perusual.

Oh, zip code shown on the METER shows it was mailed from Massachusetts

It's so sad that people get taken in by those scams each and every day, even after so many years of public warnings.

That's a double scam-- not only will they lose their money when they deposit the check at the bank, they will also lose the value of the gift cards when they deliver the pin numbers and card photos to the crooks.

The check is fake. And giving them the numbers on the gift cards you just purchased will give them all of your money too.

The first time they tried it was an email offering me a $250 mystery shop if I buy a $200 gift card and give them the number. It looked like a company that I had worked for previously, had their logo, and familiar scheduler names on the email. But I realized that it was a scam when they asked for the numbers off the back of the gift card, so I spent the gift card before I sent the picture of the numbers on the back of the card..

The second time it was an incomplete scam. They sent a check from a company I knew of, but didn't know very much about, in MI. I researched the company and knew they were a real company. But there was nothing in the cardboard envelope except the check. I never got anything else from anyone with any instructions. I carried the check around with me for a couple months, then I went into my bank and asked if the check was real. The banker showed me a real check from that company and how all the tell tale things were in the wrong places or the wrong type, and I watched her shred the check before I left the bank.

The local police may have you report it to the Federal Trade Commission. I hope they get the crook. If I get this, I will let you know.

Since it was sent via Priority Mail, the US Postal Inspectors are likely to get involved. They have the power to shut down the sending address (PO Box or Street Address).

It is typically the post master general that would investigate here. Legitimate companies also open investigations to try and stop this...unfortunately they seem to go no where.

I really don't see how this scam can work these days. I doubt any bank will cash a check like this, or at the very least will require you to deposit it and wait a few days. Seeing as how they could instantly check on the validity, I can't see this going as far as they think it will.

@Morledzep wrote:

The check is fake. And giving them the numbers on the gift cards you just purchased will give them all of your money too.

The first time they tried it was an email offering me a $250 mystery shop if I buy a $200 gift card and give them the number. It looked like a company that I had worked for previously, had their logo, and familiar scheduler names on the email. But I realized that it was a scam when they asked for the numbers off the back of the gift card, so I spent the gift card before I sent the picture of the numbers on the back of the card..

The second time it was an incomplete scam. They sent a check from a company I knew of, but didn't know very much about, in MI. I researched the company and knew they were a real company. But there was nothing in the cardboard envelope except the check. I never got anything else from anyone with any instructions. I carried the check around with me for a couple months, then I went into my bank and asked if the check was real. The banker showed me a real check from that company and how all the tell tale things were in the wrong places or the wrong type, and I watched her shred the check before I left the bank.

Ha! I love the fact that you spent the gift card money and then sent them the code numbers.
I try to "play" the phone scammers all the time. They don't think my wasting their time is funny. I recently started getting a few of the grandma calls. I tell them I am so glad they called as their cousin is in real need and I hope they can help him out. Then I tell a sob story about the cousin. Time is money for these people. I have other tactics for the unsolicited contractor calls I get every day to give me a free estimate for work i do not need.

I must be missing out on all the fun! I don’t get spammy calls anymore (thank you, call blocker.)

Yep it is cheap entertainment for the retired group. I have only gotten a few of these grandma calls so far but they are doozies. These grandchildren of mine, who I evidently am not supposed to recognize the voices of, get into all sorts of trouble. Starts out simply like they got hurt but quickly escalates to stories of jail, lost or stolen passports and credit cards, hospital bills from the broken whatever and being trapped in the jail or the hospital or both until they get money from me to pay them off.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

I must be missing out on all the fun! I don’t get spammy calls anymore (thank you, call blocker.)

@sandyf wrote:

Yep it is cheap entertainment for the retired group. I have only gotten a few of these grandma calls so far but they are doozies. These grandchildren of mine, who I evidently am not supposed to recognize the voices of, get into all sorts of trouble. Starts out simply like they got hurt but quickly escalates to stories of jail, lost or stolen passports and credit cards, hospital bills from the broken whatever and being trapped in the jail or the hospital or both until they get money from me to pay them off.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

I must be missing out on all the fun! I don’t get spammy calls anymore (thank you, call blocker.)

I bet one of them is now living in exile in the United States after their kingdom in Nigeria was overthrown.

@Boutique wrote:

I really don't see how this scam can work these days. I doubt any bank will cash a check like this, or at the very least will require you to deposit it and wait a few days. Seeing as how they could instantly check on the validity, I can't see this going as far as they think it will.

My bank lets me do e-deposits of checks. They apply the amount of the check to my available balance right away. I could easily spend that money long before the check clears, or doesn't, as the case may be.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2023 04:56AM by Morledzep.

Banks will not cash a check unless you have at least that much money in your account already. Otherwise, the check gets deposited and most likely you will have access to the funds the next day. The check will bounce a few days later and the bank will want the money back. There have been TV news reports about fake checks. They even fake cashier's checks and US Postal Money Orders and even experts can't tell that they are fake. There is no way for the bank to check whether the check will be honored by the "home" bank until it goes through the system and is either paid or rejected. I have checked with bankers, and there is not an "instant" system that they can use to verify a check.

@Boutique wrote:

I really don't see how this scam can work these days. I doubt any bank will cash a check like this, or at the very least will require you to deposit it and wait a few days. Seeing as how they could instantly check on the validity, I can't see this going as far as they think it will.