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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:41 pm 
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Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:09 pm
Posts: 1
I want to thank all you guys so much, because I too received a letter in the mail today from Nationwide Marketing along with a $3990 check. I am unemployed right now and have been applying for pretty much every customer service/clerical/administrative job out there. I have some what of a good memory and couldn't for the life of me remember applying for a position with nationwide marketing, but was happy none the less because I really need a job.

My letter was also from Canada, but mine had a different address (P.O. Box 91 Minneapolis, MN 55440), but the same email address, same fax number, and the same number to call to validate. The letter was also signed by "Peter Goldman Co-ordinator". The name of the bank that the check was drawn up on was KeyBank of Utah out of Price, UT.

I was automatically a little fishy, because I have never heard of anyone getting paid $400 for 2 hours of training, not to say it doesn't happen, but that is definitely a new one for me. What caught my attention was the misspelled words on the check, I am not a perfect speller but I expect a legitimate business to be. I wasn't as clever as the rest of you guys so I didn't pick up on the check number being the first one in the sequence of numbers, nor did I pick up on the different address on the envelope versus the one on the letter and the check. I also wasn't smart enough to call the bank or call the mailing company. I was only smart enough to google it, and boy am I glad I did, because if I hadn't I would have been the next one who fell for the scam. Before I had sense enough to google it I called the number and a guy answered the phone. I told him that I had received a letter about a position and I asked him was the company legit and of course he said yes, lol, not that I believed him because right after that he put me on hold and I hung up so that I could do a little research before I went any further. I really dodged a bullet this time. You guys are life savers. THANKS.


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:14 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:10 pm
Posts: 5
Thanks to you, I've made a post about this on my blog!! ;) There people will find you more easily!!! :) thanks again guys. They tried this with me too!!!

http://www.tech-linkblog.com/2008/10/sc ... ting.html/

If you like what you see, stay a while and help make discussions!!! I also have a post about how they found my information. In case someone is curious!!!


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:31 pm 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
Well, guess what . . . I just got a "Customer Service Evaluator" letter, check and survey sheet in my mail! The post mark is from Canada, and the check is from The State Bank of Faribault, Minnesota and the survey company letterhead says that they are located in New York. The phone number I am supposed to call is 1-416-831-1673 to let them know that I have gotten the check. Then I keep $100 and wire the rest back using Money Gram.

I did a google search on the name of the company, and they have a scam alert on thier site telling people that the letters that they are getting in the mail are NOT from them.

http://www.surveyclub.com/e/ScamAlert.aspx

They should really check WHO they are sending these letters and checks to before they drop them in the mail! :lol:

_________________
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/
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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:17 am 
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Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:10 am
Posts: 1
Hi Guys,

I am located in London. just to keep up i am posting the similar emails.

thanx for that page.

it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but you're surely never too old to learn (it's about me!) after the second email I barred that address.

good luck

Don

"> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:55:16 +0000
> From: evaluationhiring@gmail.com
> To: donat35@hotmail.co.uk
> Subject: Re: Evaluator Needed
>
> Hello Donat,
>
> We are a company that conduct surveys and evaluate other companies.
> We get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers
> in order to know how the staffs are handling their services in
> relation to their customers. once we have a contract to do, so you
> would be directed to the company or outlet, and you would be given the
> funds you need to do the job(either purchase things or require
> services), after which you would write a comment on the staffs
> activities and give a detailed record of your experience.
>
>
> Examples of details you would forward to us are
>
>
> 1) How long it took you to get services.
> 2) Smartness of the attendant
> 3)Customer service professionalism
> 4)Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how
> they react to clients when they get tensed(under pressure).
> 5)Poor services
>
>
> And we turn the information over to the company executives and they
> would carry out their own duties in improving there services. Most
> companies employ our assistance when people give complaints about
> their services, or when they feel there are needs for them to improve
> their customer service. Your Identity would be kept confidential as
> the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid £100 for every
> survey you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance, and
> funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty.
>
>
>
> Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a
> wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area.
> No commitment is made on this job, and you would have flexible hours
> as it suits you. If you are interested , you have to fill the list
> below so we can look at your distance from the locations which you
> have to put your service into, and your address would also be needed
> for your payments.
>
>
> Before you fill the list below make sure you read the INDEPENDENT
> CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT attached to this mail before you will fill the
> application .
>
>
>
> First Name :
>
> Last Name :
>
> Phone (mobile) :
>
> Phone (cell) :
>
> Address :
>
> City :
>
> State :
>
> Country
>
> Zip Code :
>
> Birth date :
>
> Mon / day / year :
>
> Gender :
>
>
>
> The Mystery Evaluation Team
> Henry George"

2nd email
"> Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:54:05 +0000
> From: evaluationhiring@gmail.com
> To: donat35@hotmail.co.uk
> Subject: EVALUATION OF WESTERN UNION SERVICES
>
> Donat,
> Your application has been viewed by our customer service,and has
> been approved. Through extensive background checks, your information
> has been reviewed and processed. It is a pleasure to inform you that
> you have been cleared to be one of our agents.The Mystery Evaluation
> Team invites you to run a survey on one prominent company in your
> area.
>
>
> Your First Task is to Evaluate a Western Union Location
>
>
> The management and staff of Concord International has reported a laps
> in the services Western union in some locations around the United
> Kingdom.Their complains were based on reports which their customers
> forwarded anonymously and Phone calls which were also made to the head
> office.The Western union locations were reported for evaluation for
> the following reasons
>
>
> (i) Slow services
> (ii) Unbalanced exchange rate
> (iii) Poor services
> (iv) Rudeness to customers
> (v) Excess charge
>
>
> Your Secret Evaluation would be :
>
>
>
> 1) To make a transfer of fund from a Western union location to our
> Mystery shopper in another city or Country,and the funds would be
> picked up by our mystery shopper at the exact location which a
> customer reported her funds stolen from.
>
> 2) You would have to record the time at which you go to the location
> and how many minutes it took you to get service.You would be sent
> money order which would cover your payment of £100 for the duty. As
> soon as you receive the money order you would cash in at your bank,
> and deduct your £100,(commission) and use the rest of the money for
> the services.
>
> 3) Upon receiving the funds, you will look for a Western union
> location around you to carry out your task and also the Name and
> address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made to will
> sent to you.You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every
> activity you carry out.
>
> 4) You would also provide me with the name of the cashier that
> attended to you along with the name of the Western union location and
> address.Your report should be drafted and sent to me via email
> immediately the transfer is made .
>
>
> Kindly get back to us if you can perform this task.
> Warmest Regards,
> Henry George
> The Mystery Evaluation Team"


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:32 pm 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
Let's see if I can upload the images we scanned of the letter sent to our house . . .


Attachments:
SecretShopperDoc1 001.jpg
SecretShopperDoc1 001.jpg [ 377.06 KiB | Viewed 32825 times ]

_________________
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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Buy us a coffee to say thanks ~ http://www.scamvictimsunited.com/donations.htm
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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:04 am 
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Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:57 am
Posts: 1
I am now waiting for my 3rd check. i smelled a rat the first time and checked with the police who gave me the number for the fraud division. i'm in canada so it might be a little different here.
the third one looked legit though an employment site; career edge
after the third email i smelled the dead fish, and decided to go along.
soon a i get the check i will notify the fraud squad on this one, they can't do anything until someone reports.
i'm going to play a little game with this one.
i love being a pain in the a__.


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:21 am 
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Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:10 pm
Posts: 5
Sky wrote:
I am now waiting for my 3rd check. i smelled a rat the first time and checked with the police who gave me the number for the fraud division. i'm in canada so it might be a little different here.
the third one looked legit though an employment site; career edge
after the third email i smelled the dead fish, and decided to go along.
soon a i get the check i will notify the fraud squad on this one, they can't do anything until someone reports.
i'm going to play a little game with this one.
i love being a pain in the a__.


Let me know what the check says and any instructions I will blog about this also, gives people the information better!!

I love blogging, don't you!!


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:33 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:40 pm
Posts: 1
Hi all
I joined here because I have a similar case to donat35's message:
If you all have any place these people can be reported, let me know.


Here it is....On Craigslist in Los Angeles.
FLEXIBLE AND FUN TIME PART TIME JOB (Los angeles)
Reply to: merrilllynch.evaluationinc@gmail.com [?]
Date: 2008-11-03, 12:26PM PST

Do you like dining out,shopping and trying new places? Would you like to get paid for shopping and dining out?
If you are interested in applying for consideration as a Mystery Shopper and meet the following criteria
* Must be 24 years of age or older.
* Must have reliable transportation.
* Must have good written communication skills.
* Must be able to focus on details.
* Must have full internet access (at home or at work).
* Must be reliable, observant and detail-oriented
For inquiries on how to get started contact via e-mail The Manager Human Resource Department
* Location: Los angeles
* Compensation: $200
* This is a part-time job.
* OK for recruiters to contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
That was the ad:

First email:

Hello,
Many thanks for your initial response showing your interest in working with us.
We are a company that conduct surveys and evaluate other companies. We get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers to know how the staffs are handling their services relative to their customers. Once we have a contract to do you would be directed to the company or outlet and you would be given the funds you need to do the job (either purchase things or require services) after which you would write a comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed record of your experience. Examples of details you would forward to us are
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Smartness of the attendant.
3) Customer service professionalism.
4) Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant to see how they react to clients when they get tensed (under pressure).
We turn the information (you gave us) over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving there services.
Most companies employ our assistance when people give complaints about their services or when they feel there are needs for them to improve their customer service. Your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid $100 for every survey you carry out bonus on your transportation allowance and funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty.
Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area. You are an independent contractor and not an employee or agent of Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc.
This means Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc:
* May request your services on an assignment-by-assignment basis.
* May not request your services at all.
* Will not withhold taxes from your compensation and will not pay any taxes on your behalf. If you make more than $599.00 in one year Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc will provide you with a 1099 form.
* Will not cover you under any type of worker's compensation plan. .
If you are interested do send in your:
(I)Your Full Name:
(II)Your Residence address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
(III)Present work address:
(IV)Home and mobile Phone numbers:
(V)Email address:
(VI)Your Age and Current Occupation:
(VII)Your Gender:
So we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service service and your address would also be needed for your payments. We also implore you to send a scanned copy of any form of Identification for the processing of your application form and also for record purpose but if you cannot provide it presently then you can provide it later.
Thanks. The Manager Human Resource Department David Federman. Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc.

Second email:
Good day,
This is to inform you met our criteria laid out for this Mystery Shopper/Survey Agent/ Evaluator opening and thus you have been accepted.
Welcome Aboard.
When Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc notifies you of an assignment either by e-mail or telephone you may accept or decline. Acceptance of an assignment:
* Creates an inferred contract between you as the independent contractor and Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc.
* Means you will perform the assignment in compliance with the criteria stated in the Shopper Directions, Notifications, Scheduler Updates and the Terms of this Agreement.
* Means that if conflicts arise such that you are unable to fulfill an assignment you must notify the Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc scheduler 24 hours in advance by e-mail before the funds to carry out the survey is sent to you. Not doing so jeopardizes your status with us.
You will be evaluating MONEYGRAM SERVICES and MACY'S STORE in your Neighborhood
Please remember that you are to act Cool, Calm and Confident through out the period in which you will be carrying out the survey. In order not to arouse any suspicion we will furnish you with transfer details which you will send Funds to via Money Gram. Also you will be shopping at Macy's stores close by. After which you will write a report and send back to us via e-mail using the following pointers:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
3) Smartness of the attendant
4) Customer service professionalism
5) Reaction of personnel under pressure
6) Information that you think would be helpful.
7) Your comments and impressions.
Payments will be mailed out to you which you will cash and expend in carrying out all that will be required of you including your compensation.
All Other Instructions will be sent out to you as soon as Evaluation begins.
Kindly mail us back with Locations of Money Gram outlet ( You can get addresses of locations near you, via their website,www.moneygram.com)and Macy's Stores Near you for our own review and we later mail you back if they are the stores you are going to evaluate. [i](Notice how they were very deatiled on this one! I wonder if they send you to a Macy's to throw you off?)[/i]Please reply this e-mail and ask questions on instructions not understood.
The Manager Human Resource Department David Federman. Merrill Lynch Evaluation Inc.

After this one I replied asking more information from them:Dear Mr. Federman,

I do have a couple questions: First do you have a website or some way of verifying your company? I searched for Merrill Lynch Evaluation INC. and came up with nothing. On BBB, national search your business name was not matched. I understand that Merrill Lynch itself is a very larger corporation, but due to the fact I have dealt with bad companies in the past, I like to check out companies first. That and there is no address or phone number in these emails. Second reason why I ask is the Money Gram mystery shop assignment. I know there are many scams that exist that use western union or money gram to get people to launder money for them. I will not do that whether you send me the money first or not. I cannot find any information about your company through the internet and frankly in today’s information age, I would think I would have found something. Third, most people would (out of respect) reply back “Dear ______(Name of recipient), not just “Good day,” etc.
Please reply with more information about who you are, contact information, place of business, how long you have been in business, and why I cannot find any information about you on the internet. Also please address the Money Gram question. I apologize if I seem paranoid, but it is only for my own sense of self security that I ask these questions.....


I felt bad at first for questioning them...but now after seeing donat35's message, I just want to get the word out. They used Merrill Lynch's name to benefit themselves. They may have changed something so it was not copyright infringement...but I would think that it is.

Anyway, I hope this helps some one and now if someone else decides to search this company they can at least find my posting.

Susan

P.S Sorry this post is a mile long!


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:46 pm 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
Just so everyone knows, I recently wrote about the topic of the Secret Shopper Scam on my blog.

_________________
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
_______________________________________________
Has this site helped you?
Buy us a coffee to say thanks ~ http://www.scamvictimsunited.com/donations.htm


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:30 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:19 pm
Posts: 1
I received a letter in the mail today from paladin research company in canada and it says that they want me to be a part time mystery shopper. They sent a check with my letter and said
salary and training - 400.00
my tasks were as follows:
wal-mart purchase 60.00
1st money gram transaction 1860.00
2nd money gram transaction 1800.00
service charge by money gram 140.00
the check is in the amount of 4260.00
i was also supposed to send the money gram to a wendy davis the human resources manager in the city of duncan , the state of british columbia , country of canada or the director of operations tony ellis at the head office . once i completed my first assignment i was to call 514-691-5792. The check says its from jpmorgan chase bank in texas. please no one fall for this scam!!!! I dont know what to do with the check and letter. should i call the police?


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:22 am 
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Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:18 am
Posts: 1
I found it on Craig's list, too. I was suspect when there was no company name in the response email. However, the name of the person who sent it to me was "James Cherry" so it appears James changes his last name.

Thanks for this website and making sure I knew from a simple Google search that it was a scam.

:)


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:53 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:02 am
Posts: 6
ShopUntilYouDrop.net - Get paid for shopping, eating out and more...



[b]Here is another scam on craigslist


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:09 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:49 pm
Posts: 1
I almost went victim to this. I applied but really thought about the whole money gram thing... I didn't make sense why they needed a mystery shopper for that. I thought that was a dead give away so I started to google this company and stumbled upon all of your comments. Thank you so much for this!!

Trinity


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:41 pm
Posts: 1
I just wanted to thank the creators of this site and everyone who posts. I applied to their ad, which I thought was fishy from the start (I have heard too many stories of scams on Craigslist) and got the same email back as some of you. I got the idea about googling the info from a post on Craigslist and found out that the ad in Toronto was removed, but the Ads in Kelowna and Victoria are still up. I will flag them right now.


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 Post subject: Re: Mystery Shopper wal mart/money gram scam
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:32 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:28 pm
Posts: 1
Well me and my husband has fallen victim to this scam.It caught us at the wrong time my husband is unemployed and i'am on disabilty benefits every month is very hard to get by paying the bills.So when my husband got this mail and had this check it was so real that our bank cashed it.And the sad thing about all of this is that i'am a real mystery shopper for other companies.And all of the paper work was what i do.Anyway we are now out $1800.00 at our bank my benefits goes directly into my bank which is used to pay our rent.Now the bank will keep this money and i don't know how we are going to pay for our rent.I cryed for days wondering how i'am going to pay our rent.I wish our bank can understand that this was not done on purpose and clear this balance for us but ths system don't work like this.So i'am trying to get some kind of legal help to try and get of this whole mess.If anyone knows of any service that may help us please let us know.I live in maui,hawaii so hopefully sumone can help us. :(


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