Mystery Shopper Forgery

Hey there all ya "cyber-stool-pigeons",
I've been surfing the web for only about 3 yrs now & surely have learned lessons & getting better recognizing when there's something "fishy". For the past 6 mos. I applied as a "Mystery Shopper" cuz it sounded like some pretty easy/quick cash, to mention keeping the items that were bought, etc. Behold,.....there were overnite express pkgs. arriving with company checks, postal money orders & even Circle K m.o.'s each for the amount of $1,975. One time I got 2 m.o.'s for that amt!!!! Only way to verify or to cash them were to go where you usually bank & every one was B.S. including the P.O. m.o.!!!
Of course there's instructions with what to do with it(keep your pay,...send the rest to this address). I just don't understand these freaks spend $15. for Exp. Mail hoping these will actually get cashed!!!! After being embarrassed by my bank,....I simply get on my PC & send very threatening email telling them I've contacted the proper authorities & DO expect them knocking very soon. Of course there hasn't been any replies!!!!
ARE THERE ANY LEGIT MYSTERY SHOPPER ORGS. OUT THERE???? (scamdoggie)

Hi there ScamDoggie. It's good to hear that you've learned lessons without losing any money.

Don't be too judgemental on those who fall for scams. We come across many trusting people who aren't so wise to the ways of the world and it is our purpose to help them rather than make them feel bad about themselves.

If you want to really torment scammers, then 419eater is the place to go to learn how to do it safely and in ways you wouldn't imagine. I'm a member there too.

Welcome to Scamwarners.
Can you post the first email from the scammer here please (without your name and email address of course). so that search engines will find it.
This scammer's fake checks don't sound very good, but that isn't always the case. It can take weeks or even months sometimes for the fake to be noticed.
There certainly are genuine Mystery Shopper jobs, but I've no idea how you find one.

Welcome Scamdoggie,

As Arnold said, you either have an unskilled scammer or a more vigilant bank. This scam works because some of the fakes are good enough to pass first inspection at the bank, and in the US, by law banks are required to issue the cash within 5 working days--if the bank gives out the cash, the victim thinks the check cleared when that's really not the case.

The scammer generally has nothing to lose--the check is usually shipped on a phished/stolen account (e.g. a stolen business account for fedex) or an account opened by the scammer or an accomplice using a phished or stolen credit card. In the end, it is the owner of the account or credit card, or the shipping company if that person has to be refunded, that ends up paying for shipping.

There are indeed legitimate mystery shopping jobs out there, and there are some mystery shopper associations and/or firms that train shoppers and provide leads on current jobs (many jobs will only be offered through one of these associations or firms, and training certification is often required). Mystery shopping is not as easy or as lucrative as people think it is. Mystery shopping jobs can require interviews and even writing tests in order to be hired. The pay is much lower than the scammers offer! Often lengthy and very detailed reports are required, and the sponsoring company will not pay until after they have reviewed the report and found it to be complete and acceptable. This can take weeks. In addition, you are generally not given money up front to buy the item--you have to pay out of pocket and request reimbursement, again waiting days or weeks for the money for the item you bought. There are certainly people who enjoy mystery shopping and money can be made, but it is definitely not what most people think it is.

In general, if you are not registered with a mystery shopper association or the firms that coordinate these jobs, and you are randomly offered a mystery shopping job, or if you are offered any mystery shopping job in which you are sent money before you do anything, odds are very high that it is a scam.

Hi Scamdoggie, Welcome to Scamwarners! Did you find this mystery shopping job from a website? If so, please also post up that information. It is likely a fake and we can check into that. Also post up the email address and names they are using so our search engines can pick them up.

Did you save the fake checks and/or the envelopes they came in? Don't post that information, but if you have them I'll send you a PM.