newbie need help

Hi, I got this email and didn't think too much about it because I have done mystery shopping before. When I received a money order in the mail, however, I started to think it was a scam...is it?


I would like to inform you that you'd be receiving payment for your First Secret Shopper Assignment today via Fedex Courier Service and the tracking number to the package is 795117522966. You can track it on http://www.fedex.com to know the exact time the delivery will be made. You will be evaluating the Walmart store and Western union outlet in your City. The total Payment sent to you $935 which covers all expenditures including evaluation, shopping, transport and your compensation for carrying out the assignment is $200.00.You are required to take the money order to your bank for cash, then you are to proceed to the Wal-mart Store for your First Evaluation Followed by the Western union location.

You are to purchase Goods of your Choice for your own Use at the Wal-mart store in your City which you are evaluating, spending not more than an $15.00.

Also as regards Western Union, we will be using our company feed-back mechanism, therefore you will be sending funds through Western union outlet in your City to our receiving agent.

You will take a total of $720.00 to the western union outlet you are evaluating, send out a total of $700 to another Secret Shopper (Money in Minutes) while you'd be making use of $20 for the Western Union Transfer Charges and your Transportation.

Here is the name of the Secret Shopper in another location which you would be sending the funds to:

Name : Agar F Ramos
City : Bacolod
Country : Philippines
Zip code : 6100
Test Question : Fav.color
Answer : Red

===HOW TO FILL THE MONEY ORDERS===
The Money Orders have 2 sections:

The 1st section {writes pay to}.....in this space you are to fill in your full names and address.


The 2nd section {writes from}.....in this space you are to fill in this name and address:

David Joshua
20074 218th PL SE
Maple valley, Washington 98038


EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN:-
Compensation ................................................................$200.00
Wal-mart.........................................................................$15.00
Western Union charges $ Transportation …............................$20.00

===YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT===
During this assignment which requires you to have the money orders cashed at your bank before proceeding to Walmart and Western Union Money Transfer location in your area, You are expected to secretly perform the following survey operation:

-Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
-Smartness of the attendant
-Customer service professionalism
-Reactions when under pressure
-How fast and Efficient is the Western Union Money Transfer Service?
-How long does it take you to have the funds wired?
-How Close is the Western Union Money Transfer Location to your area?
-Is the Senders Request Form too short or Long?
-Information that you think would be helpful
-Your comments and impressions.
-Your personal opinion

You are expected to have this done today and email me back your results with the following information after you have wired the funds.

1. Name and Address of Sender
2. Money Transfer Control Number(10 digits)
3. Amount Wired

I will be waiting to read from you ASAP with the requested transfer details. Your pay would increase after every completed assignment.

Yours Sincerely
David Joshua
518.636.6430

I also want to know, if it's a scam, what do I do with the money order???

Welcome to ScamWarners, momof2boys.

Yes, this is a scam. The money orders are fraudulent. Here's the huge red flag:

You will be evaluating the Walmart store and Western union outlet

Never send money to a stranger through Western Union. If you have processed the money orders, contact your bank immediately and notify them of the scam. If you have not processed them, rip them up and throw them out, write FAKE across them and keep them as a souvenir or turn them over to your local law enforcement - but do not cash them as you will be legally responsible.
Stop all contact with the scammer, even if he keeps emailing you and accusing you of theft of the money orders. Everything he says is a lie.

There is more info on this type of scam here: viewtopic.php?f=34&t=3250

Let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you, I did not do anythng with the money order yet. I will rip it up.

Great! I'm so glad you were suspicious and followed your instinct. Can you please add the email address information for the scam email so that it will show up in searches? It will help anyone else who does a search for the info.

This is interesting. I see the ramos character has a mention on the page http://www.scamwarners.org/forum/viewto ... 05&p=62950
And the david joshua character has previously been clearly seen in 419 scams
If the scam artist is using a phone number that you know of, perhaps post that as well?