If you followed sandyf's thread about the Whole Foods scam, you know I "signed up" out of curiosity using fake data. You can read the backstory here: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
I was able to intercept (we won't talk about how) the Priority envelope, and what they're doing is the good old "here's a check, go buy gift cards, send us pictures, and keep a healthy cut for yourself" scam. It's so thinly veiled as a mystery shopping assignment, yet you know thousands would think it was legit.
I contacted the credit union the scammer used for the fake cashier's check, and they appreciated the call. The postmaster at my local post office showed little interest in doing anything with the information. So much for 'help us stamp out mail fraud!'
If you're curious, here's the instruction letter, which I've redacted:
I realize I won't be able to shut them down, but I can at least be a thorn in their side until I grow bored with toying with them. Here's the email exchange so far [scammer's messages in bold]:
"Hello [redacted],
This is HR Gabriel T Szoke from Whole Foods Market Research. How are you doing today? I would like to inform you that your first whole foods assignment package/payment has been delivered to your provided address in or at the mailbox .Your item arrived at the [redacted] post office at 12:47 pm on July 13, 2024 and is ready for pickup. Your item may be picked up at [redacted], M-F 0800-1630..
Kindly Confirm it and signify RECEIVED."
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[I didn't reply. Later that day, I got this:]
"Your package has been delivered in or at the mailbox at 11:23 am July 14 2024 in [redacted]."
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[I didn't reply. I received this bright and early the following morning:]
"Good morning, Kindly send your survey report unfailingly today.
Best regards"
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[At this point, I decided to mess with them a bit. Everything I said is as fake as their check.]
"The lady at the bank wouldn’t deposit the check. She said I needed a money order from you instead."
"The check is a payable just like money order."
"My bank said they won’t accept the check, but I am welcome to deposit a money order."
[I replied further:]
"I just went back to the bank. They said since I don't have enough money in my account to cover it, the only way they'll accept the check is to put a 10-business day hold on the funds. Would that work for you? I'm willing to take a cut in pay because of the inconvenience."
"Yes, you can do that."
"Okay I’ll be back in touch in 10 business days, which will be July 29th. What will my compensation be?"
"Everything written in the memo is what we will be working with at the moment. Unless you want a checkbook issued from your bank delivered to your home address. That way you write the amount, cash it and carry out the survey and you get a compensation for every evaluation successfully completed."
"Whole Foods is a huge corporation; it would be easiest (and quickest) for you to send me a money order."
"We cannot send money orders, it is done by check."
"Why not? According to you, a check and money order are payable exactly the same. If you can send a check, you can send a money order."
"We are only allowed to mail check."
"Okay, I’ll submit my report on July 29th, then."
"Sum funds are already available, we need to open more stores in your area, your feedback is important. Use it to evaluate stores mentioned in the instructions."
"No, some funds are not already available. I told you my bank said they'd place a 10-business day hold on the check, and that once the money was available to me on July 29th, I'd complete the assignment. You agreed to that. If you want it sooner, you can send me a money order. I asked you to do that to begin with so that neither of us had to wait 10 business days.
If you'll send me a money order to cover what I need to purchase cards for additional stores in my area, I'll be glad to get them done for you as well. I'm sooooooo excited to work with you!! Otherwise, I can't move forward until July 29th. :-("
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It's been crickets since the 16th. I take pleasure in knowing that, if nothing else, I've cost them $8 in postage and probably some cursing in their native language. I think when Monday rolls around, I'll stop at a store, take pictures of a bunch of fast food gift cards they wouldn't want (with unscratched-off backs), and tell them I felt bad about making them wait. -lol- I'm not done poking the bear.
I was able to intercept (we won't talk about how) the Priority envelope, and what they're doing is the good old "here's a check, go buy gift cards, send us pictures, and keep a healthy cut for yourself" scam. It's so thinly veiled as a mystery shopping assignment, yet you know thousands would think it was legit.
I contacted the credit union the scammer used for the fake cashier's check, and they appreciated the call. The postmaster at my local post office showed little interest in doing anything with the information. So much for 'help us stamp out mail fraud!'
If you're curious, here's the instruction letter, which I've redacted:
I realize I won't be able to shut them down, but I can at least be a thorn in their side until I grow bored with toying with them. Here's the email exchange so far [scammer's messages in bold]:
"Hello [redacted],
This is HR Gabriel T Szoke from Whole Foods Market Research. How are you doing today? I would like to inform you that your first whole foods assignment package/payment has been delivered to your provided address in or at the mailbox .Your item arrived at the [redacted] post office at 12:47 pm on July 13, 2024 and is ready for pickup. Your item may be picked up at [redacted], M-F 0800-1630..
Kindly Confirm it and signify RECEIVED."
------------------------------------------------------------------
[I didn't reply. Later that day, I got this:]
"Your package has been delivered in or at the mailbox at 11:23 am July 14 2024 in [redacted]."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[I didn't reply. I received this bright and early the following morning:]
"Good morning, Kindly send your survey report unfailingly today.
Best regards"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[At this point, I decided to mess with them a bit. Everything I said is as fake as their check.]
"The lady at the bank wouldn’t deposit the check. She said I needed a money order from you instead."
"The check is a payable just like money order."
"My bank said they won’t accept the check, but I am welcome to deposit a money order."
[I replied further:]
"I just went back to the bank. They said since I don't have enough money in my account to cover it, the only way they'll accept the check is to put a 10-business day hold on the funds. Would that work for you? I'm willing to take a cut in pay because of the inconvenience."
"Yes, you can do that."
"Okay I’ll be back in touch in 10 business days, which will be July 29th. What will my compensation be?"
"Everything written in the memo is what we will be working with at the moment. Unless you want a checkbook issued from your bank delivered to your home address. That way you write the amount, cash it and carry out the survey and you get a compensation for every evaluation successfully completed."
"Whole Foods is a huge corporation; it would be easiest (and quickest) for you to send me a money order."
"We cannot send money orders, it is done by check."
"Why not? According to you, a check and money order are payable exactly the same. If you can send a check, you can send a money order."
"We are only allowed to mail check."
"Okay, I’ll submit my report on July 29th, then."
"Sum funds are already available, we need to open more stores in your area, your feedback is important. Use it to evaluate stores mentioned in the instructions."
"No, some funds are not already available. I told you my bank said they'd place a 10-business day hold on the check, and that once the money was available to me on July 29th, I'd complete the assignment. You agreed to that. If you want it sooner, you can send me a money order. I asked you to do that to begin with so that neither of us had to wait 10 business days.
If you'll send me a money order to cover what I need to purchase cards for additional stores in my area, I'll be glad to get them done for you as well. I'm sooooooo excited to work with you!! Otherwise, I can't move forward until July 29th. :-("
--------------------------------------------------------------
It's been crickets since the 16th. I take pleasure in knowing that, if nothing else, I've cost them $8 in postage and probably some cursing in their native language. I think when Monday rolls around, I'll stop at a store, take pictures of a bunch of fast food gift cards they wouldn't want (with unscratched-off backs), and tell them I felt bad about making them wait. -lol- I'm not done poking the bear.
If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown