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 Post subject: Secret Shopper Scam
PostPosted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:10 pm 
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Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
Please read the article at http://www.nbc24.com/Global/story.asp?S=4236496

Quote:
(Sylvania, OH) --- It's a smart scam that could leave you thousands of dollars in the hole. Con artists calling their company "Secret Shoppers" are contacting folks who have their resumes posted online.

Dean Loring, Sylvania, says the company hired him to be a mystery shopper. They sent Dean a check for almost $4,000. They told him he'd be evaluating the quality of the Money Gram, a money wiring system used at Walmart. Next they asked him to wire most of it to a man in Canada then, keep $300 for himself.

But instead of going to Walmart, he went to the police. Dean found out the check from The National Bank and Trust Company was counterfeit. So if he had wired the money to Canada, the cash would have gone through. And by the time they figured out the check was a fraud, the man in Canada would have his money, and Dean would be out $3000.

Detective Ervin Bratt with Sylvania Police, says this is a very commen scam right now, and anyone who thinks they may be a victim should call the police.

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Shawn Mosch
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:13 pm 
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Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:21 pm
Posts: 1249
Shawn,

Annie and I just got a victim of this scam, it is very costly and I repeat what I have said in the past. If the company is out of the country, if they do not have a varifiable business license and they are asking you to do something that seems too good to be true RUN dont walk.

As with any work at home scam be very careful, ask the right questions:

Who are you ?
What is your physical business address ( not a po box )
Who is your owner?
How many years have you been in business?

Then match the information against public records or call the business license office in that county and state to verify that the company holds a legitimate license BEFORE agreeing to do anything with them.

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Silence is a thief's best friend, Word-of-mouth is his worst enemy. Pass the word! brought to you by Fraudaid.com where victims always get FREE help.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:39 pm 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
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I agree with you. The problem is that when people are desperate for a job/money they do not think clearly and can fall into this scam. Right now becoming a secret shopper is something you see advertised a lot, and I think because the "assignment" has you testing out a money wiring service people fall for this one more easily.

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Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of http://ScamVictimsUnited.com
There is strength in numbers!

Share your story with the media and educate others about scams! Details here http://scamvictimsunited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=6319
Sign our petition http://www.change.org/actions/view/crea ... s_programs
Follow our blog http://scamvictimsunited.wordpress.com/
Find us on Twitter, Facebook and more http://www.retaggr.com/page/ShawnMosch
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 Post subject: Secret Shopper Scam
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:13 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:53 pm
Posts: 1
My daughters best friend (18yr old) brought over a check and letter from Eye Spy Job that she received by Fed Ex. They had all of her personal info (I asked if she recently posted her resume, and she had). The check was for $3920; the letter congratulated her on her job and told her she was a secret shopper. She would be paid $400 (for 4 hours of training, but did not say how she was to get this) and $100 spending money and $200 for service charges/misc. All she had to do is shop at one of the listed stores (GAP or KMART) and then go to Western Union or MoneyGramm and send the remainder $3200 to Ms. Carie Brown in Halifax, Novascotia, Canada. I figured from the get go it was a scam, but took some convincing and lots of explaining of why it was a scam to my daughters friend. Amazing what people try to get away with!

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KAM


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 Post subject: Secret Shopper Scam
PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:24 pm 
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Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:21 pm
Posts: 10
Location: Plymouth, Mn
There are legitimate Secret shopper sites - they however pay very modest amounts - usually $5 -$10 per shop. They also have very strict rules of conduct and online courses that you need to take to be qualified. Corporate Research is one such site.

If you are contacted by ANY company soliciting employment here are things to ask (I know - I too was scammed)
1) Actual address of the company (and if this doesn't feel right, the owners home address
2) Company phone number - not just a fax number
3) Owner and/or CEO's full legal name
Before you think about doing business with them - check them out with the BBB, FBI and any other company they may refer you to. If your intuition tells you that this is bad - listen to it and run in the opposite direction.

But NEVER fall into a situation where they either send you a huge check or their clients do, have you wire money back after taking a commission for your time - this is a scam! :evil:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:19 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:23 am
Posts: 8
true..


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 Post subject: Re: Secret Shopper Scam
PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:53 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:36 pm
Posts: 3
Yes-- I was into something similar a few months back. It was a ad in the local papers here in Colorado. I applied for an job that would pay $20 a hour and the company stated they would send me the kit to start working and pay me an advance check. They sent me the check for $2,500 and I was to cash it at BANKONE or my bank, and take out $300 and send to another employer in Canada. I took the check to BANKONE and they discovered it was a scam/fraud, the check was worthless.
There are SCAMS everywhere. You have to check out everything now-----up front.


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