Mystery Shopper Scam

Mystery Shopper Scam

An old scam is beginning to resurface in surrounding areas. This scam is titled the "Mystery Shopper" or "Secret Shopper." The scam begins when the victim receives a letter in the mail, accompanied by a check of varying amounts ranging from several hundred to a few thousand dollars. The letter begins by offering part-time employment as a "mystery shopper" and offers a "trial" assignment, where the new employee can prove themselves. The letter offers a large salary on a weekly basis, if the shopper accepts the assignment and completes it successfully.

The letter instructs the shopper to cash the enclosed check at their bank and keep a small portion for their work. The rest of the money is to be used at two different locations, usually Wal-Mart for a small shopping spree, where the shopper keeps the merchandise they purchase. The victim is instructed to evaluate their shopping experience and complete an enclosed evaluation form. The letter then instructs the shopper to complete a money transfer using Western Union or Moneygram, to evaluate the process. According to the letter, the money, which is the bulk of the enclosed check, is to be wired to an established account representative with the evaluation company, usually in Canada.

The scam comes to a conclusion when the check the victim cashed is returned to their bank, giving a reason of no account located or insufficient funds, leaving the account holder, the person who cashed the check, responsible for the funds. There is usually a telephone number included in the letter, which may be answered at first, but will soon only lead to an answering machine. The victim has now lost money from their account, in the amount of the original check.

Another common scam is the Lottery Scam, where the victim is sent a similar letter, indicating they have won some type of foreign lottery in the amount of several hundred thousand dollars, up to millions of dollars. A check is also enclosed, meant to pay the taxes and fees associated with the winning. The recipient is told to cash the check and wire the money to an account representative, so they can claim their winnings. All of these scams are common and are always "too good to be true."

It has been discovered, that the money obtained as a result of these scams, is usually funneled to terrorist cells operating in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations around the world. Any of these mailings are a scam and are indeed "too good to be true." If you have any question about a letter you may receive, or any other type of possible scam, please do not hesitate to call your local sheriff’s office or police department.