Is richard jonah a scam???

I have what appears to be a possible scam contact to hire me as a secret shopper. It is from [email protected] and I have received a USPS money order too. I am instructed to cash it at my bank and go to any Western Union office and wire the money to a person in the Philippines. This smells like it's a scam. Any help out there?

It's a scam.

The scammer is using you to turn fake money orders into cash. Do not even attempt to cash that money order, or you can end up in pretty serious legal trouble. In fact, if you keep it, write fake on it in large permanent marker--even having it in your possession can get you into trouble if it looks like a real money order.

Real secret shopper jobs only pay a small amount per job, and do NOT pay in advance. In a real secret shopper job, you have to use your own money for the activity, then submit your review and apply for reimbursement.

Any time you are sent money in advance for a secret shopper job, or you are promised hundreds of dollars for a single job, it is a certain scam.

Could you please post the email address this scammer is using, and the text of his emails if you still have them?

Hello half100. It certainly is a scam. Please do not even think of converting the money order into cash. The money order will be traced back to you through your account. Whilst the wire money transfer will not be able to be traced to the scam artist. You would have been left holding the can.
Either explain the situation to your bank or just burn the money order.
No, I've never heard of payment in advance either. Without going into specifics, payment is received after the assignment. When the paperwork is received by the company, I'm led to beleive payment is made about 10 days after. And you also need to declare any income from this tyoe of activity as tax is not deducted.
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=21815 has another example of the scammer.