I posted this here since it doesn't fall under "mystery shopping." We keep getting the same question AND the topic has become personal to me, read the last paragraphs.

I'm sure many people know about check cashing scams. I had to explain this to my husband, and this is the best way to put it:

A person receives a check along with instructions to cash the check. The person is enticed to complete the task because they're promised a "reward" of a certain percentage or flat fee from the check. (Cash this check and you can keep $200.) It may also be worded that the person has won a reward and the business on the check is a sponsor...there are other ways, too.

After the person cashes the check and keeps their "reward" they are told to wire/send the money to a 3rd party, usually untraceable. By the time the 3rd party receives their money, the person who cashed the check is told by their bank (or financial institution, check cashing place) that the check was fraudulent. The person who cashed the check is then required to pay the money from the check (and any fees related to the returned check, if any) to the bank.

The person who cashed the check is a victim of the check cashing scam, which may also be disguised as other jobs (work from home, mystery shopping, financial representative). The sad thing is, there are many, many LEGITIMATE work from home and mystery shopping opportunities. These scams are what bring the legitimate opportunites bad names. (I will tell a friend to sign up with x-company to shop and they automatically assume "fake" because of the bad wrap from the check cashing scams.)

But, there is another victim to the check cashing scam, the business/person the check was written from. I am a victim of the check cashing scam because my bank account, which I never write checks from, was used as a source of "money" for the scammers. I have never, ever written a check under the bank account used. When I looked into my account, two checks with my name, address, account numbers was used. But this was not a "normal" check. The check had two bar codes, probably to make the person who was cashing the check is was "more realistic", along with the signature line saying "signature on file." The check used was very, very similar to those given out in credit cards...with a note on the side saying, "This is a LEGAL COPY of your check. You can use it the very same way you would use the original check."

This matter has not cleared itself, it is still under investigation by the authorities and I can't say much more than that right now.

Ouch, Amanda. Hope this all gets cleared up soon for you.

A major problem with the forums is that the check scam questions usually appear in the very first section that folks open up when they get registered--the Mystery Shopping Discussion at the top. Either they don't know how or can't be bothered to check further in the forums for information. Many who ask also never return to the forum, so answering their question is equally useless.

And you are absolutely correct that the scammers give anything a bad name yet they persist because there are enough gullible people out there who so want to believe that their ship has FINALLY come in.

[antifraudintl.org]

UPDATE 1/10/09

Well, it happened again, this time with the new bank account which has been opened for a month. The check was supposedly provided by payelectronic dot metavante dot com, but if that is true or not, who knows.

It will be months before I see money because I have to go to court -- things are looking suspicious on my end; having 3 fraud cases within 30 days of each other.

I learned that these are electronic checks; they work so fast (and clear) that by the time you see the transaction in the account, the money is taken, provided there are sufficient funds.

I can tell you the only people that had these banking information are three reputable mystery shopping companies....and I don't want to say more since I'd hate to be wrong -- and don't want to think these companies had anything to do with what has happened.

Have you put the information anywhere on your computer? I would suspect a breech of your firewall rather than a legitimate MSP. A reasonably intelligent thief from a company that you could track the information back to would not hit the same person twice--definitely not 3 times.

I would strongly suspect that some type of spyware has rather gotten lodged in your computer and is sending out info every time you log on to the internet or into your on-line banking. Do run spyware detectors across your machine(s).

I had the same experience.My mistake was when I trying to cash and my bank informed me that the check was fake.Now,I have to wait what will happen with me.I was so stupid but no one asked from me to wire the money.
The point is : IF YOU EVER RECEIVE THE CHECK,INFORM THE POLICE !

I have had this happen to me. I collected the checks, paste them on my wall in the bathroom like wallpaper and now have over $300,000 in bad checks on my wall. It is beautiful but I have not lost any money.
And who out there has collected on their inheritance from Nigeria. I calculate that I have over 200 million due to me and all I have to do is send $196 to the diplomatic service courier who will hand deliver my check to my home. Wowee Kazowwee. I just can not wait to spend it all.These guys are smooth and I hate to see how many seniors get beat with this act. I forward all of the offers to the following: fraudunit@fbi.com, fraudunit@postalinspectors.com , Fraudunit@interpol.com and to your local attorney general. It probably will do no good but I feel better knowing that maybe, just maybe, I stuck it to them a bit.

This type of fraud will definately continue. Remember it only takes a couple of people to fall for it. Yes, Most of the people affected by this type of scam are usually elderly or desperate.

I HAD THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME. I WENT TO MY BANK AND MY BANK STATED THEY HAD TO HOLD THE MONEY FOR 2 WEEKS TO CLEAR BUT AFTER 20 MINUTES OF WAITING IN LINE THE TELLER STATED THE CHECK CLEARED AND GAVE ME THE MONEY AND I PUT $500.00 INTO MY ACCOUNT AND AFTER 2 WEEKS CAME BY THE BANK CALLED ME AND STATED THE CHECK WAS FRAUD AND I WAS GOING TO JAIL. I WENT TO THE BANK ME AND MY MOTHER SINCE SHE WAS WITH ME WHEN THE CHECK WAS CASHED. I HAD TO TALK TO THE MANGER OF THE BANK AND HE STATED I WOULD GO TO JAIL IF I DID NOT AGREE TO PAY THE MONEY BACK AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM EVERYTHING THE TELLER SAID BUT HE DID NOT WANT TO HERE THIS AND THEY TOOK THE $500.00 DOLLARS BACK AND THEY STILL ADDED THAT TO MY CHARGES EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD GOT THAT PART BACK. SO I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO JAIL I SIGNED THE PAPERS STATING I WILL PAY THE MONEY BACK. I WENT TO TALK TO THE INVESTAGATIOR AND HE STATED I SHOULD NOT HAVE SIGNED ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS THE BANK FAULT BECAUSE THEY STATED THE CHECK CLEARED AND THE TELLER TOLD ME THEY HAD TO HOLD THE CHECK FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY DID NOT AND IT WAS NOT MY FAULT. NOW THE BANK COVINGTON COUNTY BANK NOW HAVE ME IN JUDGEMENT AND IT WENT FROM $4,000.00 TO $7,000.00 AND I PAID ON THE CHECK AND THEY STILLED TURNED ME OVER AND MESSED UP MY CREDIT AND EVERYTHING.

Baby Girl. You have been unjustly accused. A good lawyer will take them apart. Also, the banking commission will want to know how you have been taken advantage of. And next time remember, Nothing for nothing is a good motto. They are not giving you anything but taking advantage of a needy person. As for your credit. call The credit bureaus now and explain before you get wrecked for credit scores.

babygirl07, in two other forums I frequent, posts in all caps are considered "screaming" and are automatically deleted.

Good luck, and I hope you report back - with good news.

Here is a new one from our friends in Nigeria. It comes in official IRS forms that state that a refund is due for a large amount. The trick to seeing through this scam is they sign it "Best Regards" The IRS never sends best regards to anyone. Then they ask for a credit card, an account and a pin in order to get your money credited to your account. Believe me, it looks REAL. These crooks are Pros. Watch yo fanny.

omg-this almost happened to me twice.Glad I didn't go through with it & went with my gut feeling.I hope you get it cleared.That is why I am so leary about paying any mystery shopping comapany

Amanda Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I posted this here since it doesn't fall under
> "mystery shopping." We keep getting the same
> question AND the topic has become personal to me,
> read the last paragraphs.
>
> I'm sure many people know about check cashing
> scams. I had to explain this to my husband, and
> this is the best way to put it:
>
> A person receives a check along with instructions
> to cash the check. The person is enticed to
> complete the task because they're promised a
> "reward" of a certain percentage or flat fee from
> the check. (Cash this check and you can keep
> $200.) It may also be worded that the person has
> won a reward and the business on the check is a
> sponsor...there are other ways, too.
>
> After the person cashes the check and keeps their
> "reward" they are told to wire/send the money to a
> 3rd party, usually untraceable. By the time the
> 3rd party receives their money, the person who
> cashed the check is told by their bank (or
> financial institution, check cashing place) that
> the check was fraudulent. The person who cashed
> the check is then required to pay the money from
> the check (and any fees related to the returned
> check, if any) to the bank.
>
> The person who cashed the check is a victim of the
> check cashing scam, which may also be disguised as
> other jobs (work from home, mystery shopping,
> financial representative). The sad thing is,
> there are many, many LEGITIMATE work from home and
> mystery shopping opportunities. These scams are
> what bring the legitimate opportunites bad names.
> (I will tell a friend to sign up with x-company to
> shop and they automatically assume "fake" because
> of the bad wrap from the check cashing scams.)
>
> But, there is another victim to the check cashing
> scam, the business/person the check was written
> from. I am a victim of the check cashing scam
> because my bank account, which I never write
> checks from, was used as a source of "money" for
> the scammers. I have never, ever written a check
> under the bank account used. When I looked into
> my account, two checks with my name, address,
> account numbers was used. But this was not a
> "normal" check. The check had two bar codes,
> probably to make the person who was cashing the
> check is was "more realistic", along with the
> signature line saying "signature on file." The
> check used was very, very similar to those given
> out in credit cards...with a note on the side
> saying, "This is a LEGAL COPY of your check. You
> can use it the very same way you would use the
> original check."
>
> This matter has not cleared itself, it is still
> under investigation by the authorities and I can't
> say much more than that right now.

LESSON # ONE:
EVERYTHING FROM AFRICA AND ENGLAND THAT SAYS YOU HAVE WON IS A FRAUD.

LESSON # TWO:
ANYONE WHO SENDS YOU MONEY AND WANTS YOU TO WIRE, FED EX OTHERWISE SEND MONEY IS A FRAUD.

LESSON # THREE: IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE,THEN IT IS NOT TRUE.

In case some one out there who is a critic says that I sound like I am talking to students, I am and I am qualified as I teach marketing at the U. of Harford as a professor.

Received this email from Corporate Research:

Good Morning Linda,
Scam Alert!!

Be aware that there are individuals using Corporate Research Internationals good name to perpetrate a scam on unsuspecting consumers.

Consumers are receiving fraudulent letters offering, among other things, a mystery shopping assignment to evaluate a money transfer service (click here to see an example of the letter). [www.corpri.com]

These letters use Corporate Research Internationals name and website address to establish credibility with the recipients and are accompanied by a cashiers check for several thousand dollars. In the letter, shoppers are instructed to cash the check at a local bank and then wire the cash to a designated location while keeping several hundred dollars for themselves as payment for the shop.

This is a scam! The cashiers check ultimately bounces and the shopper is held liable for the funds.

If you or anyone you know has received a similar letter, please contact local law enforcement or the nearest FBI regional field office to report the scam attempt. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

We also ask that you inform those friends or family whom you know to engage in mystery shopping to be on the lookout for this type of fraudulent offer.



Anne Harris
Scheduling Supervisor
Corporate Research International
www.corpri.com

Amanda, yes, about the check scam. another sure fire way to tell if the 'opportunity' is a fraud. If they are offering a fee that is more than $5 or $10. Most legitimate companies do not pay fees that approach what the scams offer. So if you see anything being offered that is more than say $10. watch out. This business is not about money, it is geared to the suburban housewife that wants to keep busy and have a little extra 'pin' money at the end of the month for a present for hubby or the kids. So beware, you can get taken in by the scams and an entire years worth of work, let's say $200, could be lost to these unscrupulous people.

Thanks
Barry

I have had so many of these check scams. Some off of craigs list when I tried to sell something, other emails, other ways. I did tell the police,(my local small town police and the state police in NJ also) but they were not concerned. The fraud is just too big, and they said just to throw them away. But last week, a new one came up. I received a check, saying it was from a shadow shopper job. I threw it away like the others, but this was the first time a mystery company was named.

Update, it has been nearly 10 months since the first issue happened. Guess what? It's happened 14 MORE TIMES since then.

I was pretty sure I know who was leeching my information to hackers/scammers (either actively or passively) about two months in -- a mystery shopping company, a very popular one at that. Having a degree in computer science and knowing some things on network and computer security, I have gathered information from the events that have occured and contacted a higher up within the company.

I have discussed issues and given an in-depth timeline of events. We have been working together for about a month now, and a suggestion I made was to gather the information of those who have changed banking information. (The company only pays by direct deposit unless you live outside the United States.) The employee I was working with came up with a number of about 40 individuals who had "unusually large number of changes to banking information" and contacted the individuals. Of them, nearly half had the same issue as me with fake checks being written on their account.

A few more cases are being investigated. The company thinks the issues are internal -- the checks were all sent to those who worked for the mystery shopping company. (And we thought that those who worked with legitimate mystery shopping companies would be smart enough to not fall for the scam.)

The banking information was stolen from ABC Company shopper1 and then given to ABC Company shopper2 to cash.

I have been told the company will send out a reminder to shopper to not cash checks; employees who have access to sensitive information/web interface/servers/networks, etc will have a drug/background check completed on a quarterly basis; and computers will have more safeguards such as passwords, locks, etc. They've asked me to consult, which is great (and somewhat scary considering this company does not have a formalized IT department).

Company shall not be named. Ever.

GOOD MORNING, WHAR WEBSITES ARE HONESTSITES FOR PRIVATE SHOPPERS TO UTILIZE? THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AND I AM HONESTLY AFRAID TO JUST TO TO ANY SITES WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER THEY ARE SCAMS OR NOT! YOUR INPUT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE AN HONEST DOLLAR.

The first thread in the Mystery Shopping Company Discussion section of the forum offers a list of more than 200 companies that are legitimate. There are also legitimate company lists at the MSPA website [www.mysteryshop.org] and Volition.com [www.volition.com] and other locations. But basically there is heavy overlap of those 3 lists so keep track of the companies you are signed up with.

i want to see it

specialone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i want to see it


So, navigate on over to that part of the site, and look at it. No one here is going to, nor can they, do the work for you. Mystery shopping is work, just like any other job. You need to get in there and do it, if you want to succeed at it.

This post was in response to HReid's ridiculous sniper rant. He has been deactivated and had his posts removed. As such, I deleted it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2010 08:51AM by dee shops.

The other tip is...think which Company you work for will pay you $300.00 to perform a mystery shopping job, and if it comes from Europe or such, please send for help!! Greed plays into this, if it's too good to be true, it isn't true.

Had I join this forum, I wouldn't have been a victim because certain company called market watch group wanted to perform a shop and send me $4,970 to cash and use the money to perform some assignment just to get the fill of the customer service representative the various store the company wanted me to perform the shop and couple of days later my bank closed my account and the check did not clear lucky enough I had not performed any of the functions so I was only charge $10 for the fees and now I had to open another account but there was alert on my account. So be very careful with checking cashing shops. Whenever I receive such, I delete it from my email address. Their name is MarketWatch Group.

Luckily your bank acted quickly to protect you. Kudos to them! Sorry you had any charges at all, but $10 sure beats $4970 + 10!! These outfits are smart enough that they use names that are close to the names of real mystery shopping companies and sometimes exactly the same. Too good to be true deals will always get you in hot water.

Be careful! Intellishop's name is now being used by check cashing scammers, according to Intellishop staff.

I think every MSC out there has had their name used by this point. If you didn't sign up with them directly, if you can't track how they got your name, if the email they want you to send to is not a company address, and they want to send you money up front...RUN the other direction, no matter what the name of the company. :-)

I'm sure I am not the only shopper out there that recently got a variation of this same scam from someone who said he was recruiting Gold shoppers for a shop for the MSPA. Needless to say I did not fall for that one.

J. Karen Spears - Merchandising in the Mountains since 2000
MSPA Gold Certified 2004
Video Shopper Certified 2010

It's kind of odd...I have never received an MS scam letter. Plenty of "Nigerian" scams, but no MS ones. Lucky me, I guess.