SCAM
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Safeway, Bank of New York Melton, your local D.A., your local Postmaster (mail fraud), or the FBI (mail fraud).
[www.fbi.gov]
[www.fbi.gov]
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> I just received a check for $1,985.55 from Safeway
> Inc.,the Bank of New York Melton. The company
> said's there name is
> BenchMark Mystery survey Management inc. and
> Secret Shopper. I really want to follow this and
> give the check to the right
> people to pursue this scam. I did at one time
> sign with Safeway for employment, but they don't
> do business this way.
> Should I take it to my Safeway...help!!
I would tell the scammers you cashed it and someone bumped you on the head and took the money.
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> I just received a check for $1,985.55 from Safeway
> Inc.,the Bank of New York Melton. The company
> said's there name is
> BenchMark Mystery survey Management inc. and
> Secret Shopper. I really want to follow this and
> give the check to the right
> people to pursue this scam. I did at one time
> sign with Safeway for employment, but they don't
> do business this way.
> Should I take it to my Safeway...help!!
I would tell the scammers you cashed it and someone bumped you on the head and took the money.
you need to turn the tables and call the scammers tell them to wire you 300 dollars to prove they are real, and then you will wire them the money from the check. Of course, you will not do that, and just keep the 300.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
Do NOT cash the check. There has been an incident where an individual received a check, went to the bank and the police was called because she was cashing a counterfeit check (noticed by an alert teller). Although she was not arrested she was taken into custody then released after being questioned.
Teh best place to report the check is NOT to the police but to make a complaint to the Federatl Trade Commission. You can go to www.ftc.gov.
Chances are nothing will happen unitl enough people report it to them.
One reason why it is a slow process is because victims report it to various agencies and there is no central database BUT by reporting it to the FTC as the checks add up the more chance of these people being caught. Most of these scams are coming out of Canada.
Also, I would not confront these people online. RFemember, they do have your address....
Teh best place to report the check is NOT to the police but to make a complaint to the Federatl Trade Commission. You can go to www.ftc.gov.
Chances are nothing will happen unitl enough people report it to them.
One reason why it is a slow process is because victims report it to various agencies and there is no central database BUT by reporting it to the FTC as the checks add up the more chance of these people being caught. Most of these scams are coming out of Canada.
Also, I would not confront these people online. RFemember, they do have your address....
Thanks Doug, I was not cashing check, but thought about taking it to Safeway and let their detectives look into it.
These checks are from Safeway...I will also report it to your link. I certainly wouldn't call them, that's all they need
is my phone#. I took that post as a joke, but not a funny one. Very serious for those caught up in these scams.
These checks are from Safeway...I will also report it to your link. I certainly wouldn't call them, that's all they need
is my phone#. I took that post as a joke, but not a funny one. Very serious for those caught up in these scams.
Live consciously....
I received the same thing today in the mail. Very strange, I think I will take the check to my local Safeway and see what they say.
Apparently several on this forum got the Safeway checks, there is another thread on this. Could the scammers be getting our address from this forum, and how.
Live consciously....
I received a similar letter yesterday from Midatlantic research corp. The check is for 1998.00 to do mystery shopping at Walmart, target, etc. and western union. I know better than to cash the check but I am looking to let people know about this scam and also to find out where to report it. I did a check on the routing number and it is registered to State bank and trust of Fargo but the bank on the check is state bank of Fargo. The meter post on the envelope is from Canada. I stumbled on a site that lists banks being stolen from State bank and trust of Fargo. So this is just a heads up to make others aware of this scam. I see from the posts that I should report it to the FTC which I am going to do. I am also going to the postal inspectors.
Mine was also from Canada where Safeway is headquartered, and the check was from safeway. I took it to Vons and
they said there have been many scams from Canada lately. I'm going to the post office with it tomorrow, but don't forsee
they will help. I have been getting many daily scams going into my spam box this month.
they said there have been many scams from Canada lately. I'm going to the post office with it tomorrow, but don't forsee
they will help. I have been getting many daily scams going into my spam box this month.
Live consciously....
More than likely the Safeway checks are counterfeit and did not come from Safeway. Scammers probably bought a list of names from a marketing company. If they mail enough and only 1% are answered with a check being cashed they made their $'s
Hope everything works out, Irene! =)
dcrector Wrote:
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> Do NOT cash the check. There has been an incident
> where an individual received a check, went to the
> bank and the police was called because she was
> cashing a counterfeit check (noticed by an alert
> teller). Although she was not arrested she was
> taken into custody then released after being
> questioned.
>
> Teh best place to report the check is NOT to the
> police but to make a complaint to the Federatl
> Trade Commission. You can go to www.ftc.gov.
>
> Chances are nothing will happen unitl enough
> people report it to them.
>
> One reason why it is a slow process is because
> victims report it to various agencies and there is
> no central database BUT by reporting it to the FTC
> as the checks add up the more chance of these
> people being caught. Most of these scams are
> coming out of Canada.
>
> Also, I would not confront these people online.
> RFemember, they do have your address....
Good advice! Don't ever try to turn around and scam a scammer! You could end up with a prison sentence for scamming!
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> Do NOT cash the check. There has been an incident
> where an individual received a check, went to the
> bank and the police was called because she was
> cashing a counterfeit check (noticed by an alert
> teller). Although she was not arrested she was
> taken into custody then released after being
> questioned.
>
> Teh best place to report the check is NOT to the
> police but to make a complaint to the Federatl
> Trade Commission. You can go to www.ftc.gov.
>
> Chances are nothing will happen unitl enough
> people report it to them.
>
> One reason why it is a slow process is because
> victims report it to various agencies and there is
> no central database BUT by reporting it to the FTC
> as the checks add up the more chance of these
> people being caught. Most of these scams are
> coming out of Canada.
>
> Also, I would not confront these people online.
> RFemember, they do have your address....
Good advice! Don't ever try to turn around and scam a scammer! You could end up with a prison sentence for scamming!
Anything coming out of Canada can be reported to [www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca]
This is a federal government site devoted to phishing, frauds, etc and they co-ordinate all such crimes in this country.
That said, it is unlikely the emails actually originated out of Canada, just as it is unlikely they originated from Safeway.
Safeway Inc is actually an American company out of California. Canada Safeway is the Canadian branch. The headquarters for Canada Safeway is Calgary, Alberta so anything purporting to be from Canada Safeway should be sent from Calgary. If the scams are coming by email, then you can always look at the 'full headers' to often get a clue if the email is phoney.
It is also highly unlikely that Canada Safeway would use an American bank. They would use one of the following: CIBC, RBC, Scotia, BMO or TD/Canada Trust. If the cheque says it came from Safeway Inc, then my guess is it would be from a bank that is big in California.
Hope that helps.
This is a federal government site devoted to phishing, frauds, etc and they co-ordinate all such crimes in this country.
That said, it is unlikely the emails actually originated out of Canada, just as it is unlikely they originated from Safeway.
Safeway Inc is actually an American company out of California. Canada Safeway is the Canadian branch. The headquarters for Canada Safeway is Calgary, Alberta so anything purporting to be from Canada Safeway should be sent from Calgary. If the scams are coming by email, then you can always look at the 'full headers' to often get a clue if the email is phoney.
It is also highly unlikely that Canada Safeway would use an American bank. They would use one of the following: CIBC, RBC, Scotia, BMO or TD/Canada Trust. If the cheque says it came from Safeway Inc, then my guess is it would be from a bank that is big in California.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the information, it does help. My check was mailed from Ontario, Canada, but the check was from New York, Mellon Bank. Headquarters in Ca are in No. CA, but as DCrector said, these can be bought or made, but I will report it
to above address. I went to the P.O. and they gave me another phone# that handles scam's, not holding my breath.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2012 12:20AM by Irene_L.A..
to above address. I went to the P.O. and they gave me another phone# that handles scam's, not holding my breath.
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2012 12:20AM by Irene_L.A..
Here is a new one, very bold check for $890.00 came in form of a postal money order, with a return address in a town close to me, and I know the street. Person's email in letter, same thing, Wal-Mart, buy 200.00 send rest to another woman in New York. I think we can get them......posting her address, wow.
Live consciously....
I received a check from Mystery Shopping Inquiry last week with a letter telling me to call as soon as I got it. I call and Duncan Bennett was on the phone he told me to take the check to my bank and deposit it. It will take 24 hours to go through. The check was from Citi bank for $1355.00 so since it was from a good bank I thought I was ok. I had to spend $50 at walmart and 55 at home depot and send 1040 western union to Ruth Lisby, London United Kingdom. so I did all this. now 7 days later my bank does a return check on me for the $1355.00 I am now out that money I have tryed to call and the number still works but no one is answering.
Is there anything that can be done so no one else gets hit like I just did.
Is there anything that can be done so no one else gets hit like I just did.
I'm so sorry, you will be responsible for the money. I post these things to warn everyone when your sent a check,
it's a scam. We just don't get paid before doing a job period. There is so much of this going on lately, no one
seems able to stop it, new ones rising, and hopefully these forums can educate shoppers not to cash these checks.
I have gotten two in a week.
it's a scam. We just don't get paid before doing a job period. There is so much of this going on lately, no one
seems able to stop it, new ones rising, and hopefully these forums can educate shoppers not to cash these checks.
I have gotten two in a week.
Live consciously....
These scams have been posted on all the forums, Western Union has warnings in their offices, newspaper articles, news programs, practically every company's web site. I don't know why people don't learn. The warnings are everywhere!
The phone numbers that are on these offers are prepaid phones so you can not track them down. Some use Google Voice where you can get a phone number connected to any area code you want.
Unfortunately you have no recourse and will not see your $1355.
The phone numbers that are on these offers are prepaid phones so you can not track them down. Some use Google Voice where you can get a phone number connected to any area code you want.
Unfortunately you have no recourse and will not see your $1355.
Even without warning after warning after warning, common sense dictates you don't make something for nothing. Now add in all those warnings and it blows my mind that someone who has had even the most minimal exposure to the internet could fall for this malarkey.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I'm really sorry to hear about what happened to you, ks. That's horrible.
I knew a friend, once, who got hit by something similar. She was an older lady and not very internet adept and it was the beginning of the crazy "I am from bank so and so," or "I am the ostracized king of so and so," period. It was horrible to watch her lose a huge portion of her nest egg. It wasn't so much a something for nothing scheme that got her, but she thought she was really doing a good thing, and so... it took her years to recover, but finally she did. Just rest assured that even though it might not seem like you will now, you will eventually.
Sending the best,
Jen
I knew a friend, once, who got hit by something similar. She was an older lady and not very internet adept and it was the beginning of the crazy "I am from bank so and so," or "I am the ostracized king of so and so," period. It was horrible to watch her lose a huge portion of her nest egg. It wasn't so much a something for nothing scheme that got her, but she thought she was really doing a good thing, and so... it took her years to recover, but finally she did. Just rest assured that even though it might not seem like you will now, you will eventually.
Sending the best,
Jen
Hi there,
I have purposefully signed a couple times with these fraudulent emails... just to pay the game! Of course I don't cash the check, but I lead the scammer on for days/weeks... then I send the information to the Inspection Service.
On another occasion, I forgot to put my mail on hold once when I was gone. When I returned, kids had gotten in my mail, and the USPS had collected my mail and sent it to an inspector. I called the inspector, and he was very inquisitive. He went through my mail on the telephone call, and there was a check in there from an MSC. He actually explained to me that most mystery shopping checks were fraudulent, etc., and he asked if he could open my mail, which as I laughed, I said yes.
Then, I told him I worked as a mystery shopper, and I was aware of the scams that are out there. Then, he laughed because the check was only for $14. You don't get rich shopping!!!!!
I have purposefully signed a couple times with these fraudulent emails... just to pay the game! Of course I don't cash the check, but I lead the scammer on for days/weeks... then I send the information to the Inspection Service.
On another occasion, I forgot to put my mail on hold once when I was gone. When I returned, kids had gotten in my mail, and the USPS had collected my mail and sent it to an inspector. I called the inspector, and he was very inquisitive. He went through my mail on the telephone call, and there was a check in there from an MSC. He actually explained to me that most mystery shopping checks were fraudulent, etc., and he asked if he could open my mail, which as I laughed, I said yes.
Then, I told him I worked as a mystery shopper, and I was aware of the scams that are out there. Then, he laughed because the check was only for $14. You don't get rich shopping!!!!!
LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even without warning after warning after warning,
> common sense dictates you don't make something for
> nothing. Now add in all those warnings and it
> blows my mind that someone who has had even the
> most minimal exposure to the internet could fall
> for this malarkey.
I agree with you. But I guess the temptation of free money over rules.common sense.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even without warning after warning after warning,
> common sense dictates you don't make something for
> nothing. Now add in all those warnings and it
> blows my mind that someone who has had even the
> most minimal exposure to the internet could fall
> for this malarkey.
I agree with you. But I guess the temptation of free money over rules.common sense.
And what is sad is this usually happens to people who are already desperate for money.
I too recieved a check and the instructions said call and take the check to KMART...(no Safeway here)...I immediately had read so much about this scam (you get $150, you buy something, you send them money AND THEN the check bounces,while you become liable) Have known many to get these checks. Called FBI said they know about this scam, supposedly set up out of the country so they cannot stop it. The FBI advised me to call Postmaster General. I called Postmaster General they said take check and write VOID across it. They didn't seem too upset as they must get these complaints and inquiries every day, and are doing Nothing to stop them. I guess the Post Office is so poor they can't stop anything or can't be bothered, what a shame because there are those who really believe out of the blue someone would send them a check for a thousand or two. Or is the greed factor? Who knows, all I am concerned with is that we have To pay taxes to Government agencies who are not doing their jobs, additionally the Banks should share in the money default since they should have some electronic vehicle which tells them immediately about the status of the checks. Of course no one takes the brunt of the loss, except the consumer
In order to understand why the government agencies are "doing nothing" you have to realize these scams are complex and originate overseas. The scam artists work quickly and that is why they are always so insistent check recipients cash them right away. By the time most of these get reported one shop has been closed down and another opened. Banks are legally obligated to release funds within a certain amount of time, before the check has been proved to be bogus. Granted this is a huge problem, but on the big scale of world problems, our law enforcement officials have more than enough to handle and when it comes to scams people have to take responsibility for protecting themselves. Expecting banks or the post office to be even partially responsible for the losses is unrealistic and would have all of us sharing in the cost.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I received a check from Mystery Shopping Inquiry last week with a letter telling me to call as soon as I got it. I call and KENNY SMITH was on the phone he told me to take the check to my bank and deposit it. It will take 24 hours to go through. The check was from Citi bank for $1355.00 so since it was from a good bank I thought I was ok. I had to spend $160 at WALGREENS and send $1523.00 to WESTERN UNION to SALINA THAMAS, KENT, LONDON, U.K. so I did all this. Now 7 days later my bank does a return check on me telling me that the Check was a Fraud for the $1989.55. I am glad I used an account which had only $11.00 but now I will have to return the amount to my bank which I sent to UK and utilised in Walgreens. I have spoken to Kenny Smith coz he wants me to fax the receipts to the Survey Co. The fax does not go thru. Today I again spoke to the above said and told him about the situation, he has asked me to call him tomorrow.
How can I get out of this mess coz I dont have a job, how am I going to pay this amount back and is there anything that can be done so no one else gets hit like I just did.
Please help.
How can I get out of this mess coz I dont have a job, how am I going to pay this amount back and is there anything that can be done so no one else gets hit like I just did.
Please help.
Why didn't you read about scams before cashing this check. Did you really think anyone would send a check before doing the work? I personally wrote a warning on the original thread about scams, now it's just to late, you are responsible for repaying the money.
Read the original thread on scams, much information there.
Read the original thread on scams, much information there.
Live consciously....
please, please please people do not cash these checks , im not going to get into details about this because i am still upset about the situation. these people are scammers and i am now out 1400 thanks to mystery shopping inquirys . its not real lessoned learned unfourtnatley i now have to pay the price.
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