Mystery Shopping

Brendan – Mar 12, 2020

Victim Location 43739

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

I found a mystery shopping job on my tablet. I received a $1000 money order in the mail.The return address is Grant Colbert, 14608 W Kearney St Blvd, Kerman, CA 93630. The letter says I’m supposed to deposit it my checking account. I texted and said I don’t have a checking account. He texted me and said to open a checking account and I can’t send the money order back. I’m supposed to go to two stores and buy two $400 eBay gift cards. Scratch off the numbers from the back then take pictures and text the pictures back to them. I can keep $200.

Ian –

Victim Location 60954

Total money lost $6,380

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

There was an add in the online newspaper for mystery shoppers. I requested information for it. They sent me info through email. So I sent my name, age, address, and phone # for it. They sent me a priority mail with info on first assignment. And a check for $2930. I deposited it in bank and withdraw it the next day. I then went and did the assignment which was to go too 2 different Walmarts and purchase 3 gift cards of $400 each at both locations. And purchase a $50 cashier’s check for American Cancer Society. After each purchase take pictures of the scratched cards and send them through text. And a picture of the cashier’s check also. Also had to take a few notes about any challenges, names of people, environment, how fast and efficient service was. And then compare all of them. Then I received 2 checks 3 days later for $3450 each to deposit one right away and wait til next step was completed before cashing next check. And to go to another Walmart to purchase 7 cards at $400 each and $100, $50 iTunes gift cards. Which I then did today. I checked my bank online account and could not log in so then I call my bank. And they told me that a fraud alort was on my account for checks. So, I ask what to do and they told me to contact you about it and file a complaint. They froze my account.

Carly –

Victim Location 70443

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

I was contacted for a job to be a mystery shopper. I filled out an application and a couple days later received a check from a concrete and paving company in the amount of $3,968 via ups. I then received a text message addressing the check I received and that it was for mystery shopping and I was to deposit the check. I picked up on it being a scam right away and played it off to get details from the scammer. He then said for me to withdraw all but $450 And send the rest in the paper that I’m suppose to say how the shopping experience at Wal-Mart went. I am suppose to be sending it to a Benjamin Ikuta The Palms University Apartments 1400 Avenue 1-410D Riverside .ca. 92507

 

Here is the address of the address below please make sure you wrap the cash in a paper before you put the money inside a brown envelope NAME BENJAMIN IKUTA THE PALMS ON UNIVERSITY APARTMENTS 1400 AVENUE 1 -410D RIVERSIDE CA 92507

Ryan –

Victim Location 70443

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

I was contacted for a job to be a mystery shopper. I filled out an application and a couple days later received a check from a concrete and paving company in the amount of $3,968 via ups. I then received a text message addressing the check I received and that it was for mystery shopping and I was to deposit the check. I picked up on it being a scam right away and played it off to get details from the scammer. He then said for me to withdraw all but $450 And send the rest in the paper that I’m suppose to say how the shopping experience at Wal-Mart went. I am suppose to be sending it to a Benjamin Ikuta The Palms University Apartments 1400 Avenue 1-410D Riverside .ca. 92507

Edwin –

Victim Location 30088

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

An email was generated through the job email system from an employee saying make extra money mystery shopping. I clicked on the link, entered my name, address, email and phone number thinking that this was a legit email. I waited for a call as stated. Hours later, the IT dept issued an email saying that the mystery shopping email was a scam, and I fell for the click bait. About a week later, I received a priority envelope with a check ($2k) and instructions to deposit it and WU the money to and address. I have not done either of this, so beware! I am now just waiting on the harassing/threatening phone calls and emails.

Carolyn –

Victim Location 96734

Total money lost $1,300

Type of a scam Employment

Received an email that I was selected to be a mystery shopper/survey agent several companies and review their service. The next day I received a priority mail envelope with instructions on how to received my assignment, how to do the survey, together with a money order of $2780.45. It states on the letter that my task coordinator is Peter Stamoolis with email [email protected], he will be the one to give the instructions. He sent an email that my task agent will be sending me the instructions on what to do, his telephone number is the 9403126491.

They instructed me to deposit the money order and when it’s cleared to withdraw and get my $200 commission.They said not to use my own money for anything. I thought well I don’t use any of my money so it should be ok.The first assignment was to send money $1300 + $16.00 fee thru Walmart2Walmart service to an agent in Houston, Texas named Andrew Moore, then do a review. I did what was instructed using the money from the money order. It went well. The following day the task agent was adamant to do another survey using Money gram, I said I couldn’t do it since I am working and have to do it the following day. I sent the money $1200 + $24 fee to another agent in Houston,TX 77077 named Kenton Waldo. The following day I received a text from the agent that the money didn’t go through and to get the money and send it to Walmart2Wart again. I begun to ask a questions why do I have to do a review the same business all over again, then they said I don’t have to. The next day I went grocery shopping and found out that all my money in the bank was gone. Apparently the money order bounced and since they gave me the money they have to take it back. It’s good that the money gram was put on hold or else it would have taken a lot of my hard earned money. I thought it was a good deal since I trust people but this changes everything.

Denise –

Victim Location 75762

Type of a scam Employment

I received an email stating: "Mystery Shopping is accepting applications for qualified individuals (18+) to become shoppers and merchandisers. Its fun and rewarding, and you can choose where you want to shop ***, ***-***, ***, etc. There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need previous experience. After you sign up, We would pay you $300 per assignment. Apply now by clicking the link below to become a Secret Shopper."

Joanna –

Victim Location 46750

Type of a scam Employment

Filled out an online form to become a mystery shopper and then a few days ago I received a text saying go to the website [email protected] to confirm my interest in doing a survey of MoneyGram services in my area. I received a package delivered by USPS Priorty mail and inside was a money order for $2,498.57 from the bank of Alabama Credit Union, zip code 35486 which doesn’t exist. I was to deposit the money order and then email this Emanual Robertson to let him know I received the package and I deposited the money. Once I did that the funds would be available within 24 hours then I was suppose to withdraw $48.57 for moneygram transfer cost and also another $2,250 for 3 different moneygrams and then $200 was my commission for doing the transfers. I was suppose to evaluate 3 different moneygram locations and the money was to be sent to 3 different people all in Texas and once I did all the transfers I was to email my report to [email protected] The person that contacted me first about the mystery shopping job was Kimberly Robertson which has also sent me emails about school grants I am eligible to receive. The package came from a woman named Shalonda Gaddy in New York NY 10011. That’s what made me suspect it was a scam the money order was from Alabama but the package was sent from New York.

Cindy –

Victim Location 53144

Type of a scam Employment

Since I reported the scam of how I registered to become a secret shopper, I received a follow up e-mail from Melvin Churchill

"Hello , this is another reminder that a response is yet to be received from you regarding the completion of the Walmart assignment packaged delivered in your mailbox via USPS. It is imperative that you respond to this message regarding why your survey report has not been received"

HR Dept.

Melvin Churchill

Since I have not responded I have been bombarded with over 100 emails from different people stating.

"Hello, I got your email from a website where you registered to make money online."

Just today I received over 60 of these emails from all different people. I wonder if the COMPANY that set me the above ASSIGNMENT is trying to flood my mailbox with all of this junk mail. Iam getting ticked off with all of these emails and trying to block al of these junk mail.

Susan –

Victim Location 27409

Type of a scam Employment

I received an email from "Mystery Shopping" from ***, ***. *** for a Mystery Shopping job. Several days later, I received the first check for $2970.00 telling me to deposit the check and then text for additional information. I was to keep $270.00 for my commission. The check was drawn from Community State Bank in Starke, Florida which is a legitimate bank. The routing number on the check was correct but the check was a fake per the bank. The description told me I would carry out evaluations at locations including Money-Gram stores, Rite Aid Stores, Walmart, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. One flag that this was a scam was that the representative "Ronald G Revers" had his name spelled differently on several emails. One was "Revers" and one was "Reevers".

Cassandra –

Victim Location 60516

Type of a scam Employment

I was contacted by a Christian Myrick saying that he was a task coordinator for Secret Shopper and that there weer assignments in the area to secret shop at Walmart. I sent my name, address, and email to him so that the assignment could be mailed. The next contact by email said that the task would also include evaluating a Western Union. I was going to be sent a cashier’s check for $2900. First I was to cash the check at my bank, keep $200 for myself, and then send "Kaye Wilson" $1200 from a Western Union and also send "Kay Wilson $1300 from a Moneygram. The cashier’s check did in fact show up in a priority mail envelope with a return address of Tiffany Barth, Acuity Financial Inc. 8th Floor, 320 N. 3rd St., Burlington, IA 52601. The check looks legit, however, when photocopied "void" appears all over it. Once I was asked to deal with transferring money, I knew it was a scam so I did not lose anything, but I do want to make sure this gets reported.

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