is it a scam got the money orders but not sure

Dear Shopper,

Enclosed with this instructions is a check payment of $1,990 which was delivered to you by USPS courier services. You are to cash the payment at your bank then you deduct $300 for yourself for the secret shopper assignment, you will have $1,690. left and i want you to send $1,650 to the next secret shopper in another location via western union money transfer. The remaining $40 will be for western union transfer charges ensure that money is sent using the (Money Available in Minutes) procedure. Here is the name you will wire the funds to below:

RECEIVER: KAY VANI
ADDRESS: 14 project 8 road 10.
CITY: QUEZON CITY
STATE: MANILA
COUNTRY: PHILIPPINES

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT:

During this assignment which requires you to have the check cashed at your bank before proceeding to wire the remaining funds at any local western union money transfer location in

your area, You are expected to secretly perform the following shopping operation:

1. How fast and Efficient is the Western Union Money Transfer Service?
2. How long does it take you to have the funds wired?
3. How Close is the Western Union Money Transfer Location to your area?
4. Is the Senders Request Form too short or Long?
5. Is the neighbouring environment safe for handling Western Union Money Transfer Service.
6. What is the name of the Local Western Union Money Transfer Agent where you have the funds

wired?
7. General Comment ....

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

1. Name and Address of Sender:
2. 10 Digit Money Transfer Control Number {M.T.C.N}
3. Amount Wired :

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best Regards,

Mr David Anderson.

Yes, it's a scam.

The money orders will be fake or altered, though the bank may not recognize it immediately. They might give you the cash, but once they discover the fake, you will be liable for the cost, plus any fees they charge for depositing a fake money order, and you could even face criminal charges for fraud.

You are to cash the payment at your bank then you deduct $300 for yourself for the secret shopper assignment, you will have $1,690. left and i want you to send $1,650 to the next secret shopper in another location

Clever story, but no secret shopping (or any other) firm would operate in such a ridiculous way. What, like to save a picayune amount in office expense, they'd send their money on a round robin like that and risk losing it at every turn?

3. How Close is the Western Union Money Transfer Location to your area?

As if they'd need the services of a secret shopper to find that out? Obviously the closeness would depend on who took the assignment! So it looks like grasping at straws to come up with legitimate reasons to "employ" someone.

Robert

Also, cdevaughn, it would be a better test if the person sent you the money through Western Union in the first place, but that would require him to send you real money. You could then report on the receiving aspect of the money transfer as well as sending aspect.

Any job requiring you to bank or cash the cheque(s) of a stranger is going to leave you handling counterfeits, and losing money, and getting in to a whole heap of trouble.