A very serious and costly scam is currently targeting mystery shoppers right now. I have been contacted by several of my subscribers, who have been victimized by it. Unfortunately, some of my subscribers have informed me that someone is impersonating MysteryShopOnline.com in perpetrating the scam.
This is very serious: If anyone claiming to represent a mystery shopping company sends you a large check, DO NOT CASH IT. Even if the bank says it is OK. Even if they claim to represent a company you have worked with. Even if they claim to represent MysteryShopOnline.com. They are lying and out to steal your money. DO NOT CASH THE CHECK. Instead, contact the police, the Federal Trade Commission. Your state’s attorney general may also be a good person to contact.
When protecting yourself from scams in the mystery shopping world, there are two rules of thumb that I follow:
- Never cash a large check from any mystery shopping company, especially as part of an assignment.
- I never give my Social Security Number to any company until AFTER I have completed an assignment with them, and gotten paid for it.
There are plenty of legitimate mystery shopping companies out there, and if you’re a little careful it is relatively easy to avoid scams.
If anyone claiming to represent MysteryShopOnline.com has contacted you about completing a mystery shopping assignment, please send me an email or leave a comment. I would like to get to the bottom of this, and stop the person who is damaging my business. Thank you.
Yes I got one and I already knew better! I did not try and cash it and I will be reporting it as well. We need to keep trying to shut these people down. Not everyone knows better.
My mom received a large check in the mail for $7,000 dollars. She took it to the bank and they informed her that it was a bad check.
I also got one but, darn, I just shredded it. Next time I will contact someone. Darn, darn, darn, we need to stop these people.
Pat
yeah, my mom got one of those bogus checks and the first thing I thought was yeah easy money!! She recieved a check for $3950 on January 16, but the check was dated December 18 that what made me suspicious. The check came from Norwarlk OH 44857 and I know for a fact mail, even from OH, comes in 2-3 days. This check was designed to force its recipients to place the checks in their bank accounts becuase if taken to check cashing, too much time will have passed and you cannot cash it. thanks for the email confirming my suspision was valid.
I just received a check today for $4,998.00 from shopping jobs, inc. They want me to shop Walmart, Gap, and then do a Western Union and a money gram and I get to keep $350.00. I called the number on the information and they told me to deposit in my bank and wait for the check to clear 7-10 days. Once the check clears, I am suppose to do the shops. The check is a cashiers check drawn on Jourdanton State Bank in TX with a phone number of 1.877.446.3108 to verifiy the funds. I could really use the money and I wish that this was a true shop. The letter is from shopping disbursements, part of shopping jobs, inc. with a phone/fax number of 1.905.467.3634. Farther into the letter is another number to call to activate the cashiers check 1.905.467.3634 x102 then press 1. I have friends in the police force and they informed me to use a bank that I do not use and to inform them of what I am doing and believe to be happening. They will wait and see what happens and since we have their information, hopefully, they cannot go too far.
The envelope has no return address just my name and address hand written.
If anyone else out there has had this check please contact me-melissa
I received one of these bogus check a while back. I did not even sign up with any companies at that time. I took this check (in the amount of $3850) to my bank and had one of the officers look at it.
Someone sent her one too. I gave her the check. She informed me that I could have possibly faced jail time if i cashed that check and it was bogus. She then sent this information to other banks in my town so people don’t get scammed. The FBI was also informed of this. I’m grateful that you are sharing this information and I will be on the look out if I see anyone trying to imitate your website.
By the way, be aware of people phishing on paypal accouts too.
Jacob,
I have been warned about these checks and you beter believe it that happens to me I will let you know immediately believe me I will.
I will or rather all of us that subscribe to this will look out for our Jacob because Jacob you are the best we love you and I have learned so much reading what ever you talk to us about You are truly not boring and you are not selfish at all you tell us things that help all of us so we will stick by you Jacob I know we will. We all love you.
I also have recieved numerous moneygrams in the mail ( 6 in all ) I got 4 the other day, at $850.00 for each one and they came by UPS! I got these kind of checks a few month’s ago and I deposited these into my back account. A few days later the branch manager called me and said they where fake, so this time I called the bank that they where written on in another state and they told me that they where all cashed weeks ealier. After a couple of days go by I received an e-mail stating from this company that I was to send them the remaining balance through western union to a place in the UK and I reported this all to the FBI and they are investigating it further! I am glad that I checked into this before hand because if I did’nt I would have lost $3400.00 dollars of my hard earned money! And I would like to thank everyone involved that warned me ahead of time.
Cash
I too had this experience. A check came and they wanted it cashed and then a type of mail a gram was to be purchased at Wal-Marts. This check was written on a Canadian bank but the telephone number that I had to call was in New Jersey. I was going on a couple of days trip so I didn’t do anything with it at first. Then I did take it to the bank in my deposit and then called the bank both days following and both days I was told that it was good. Then on the third day I called the bank and was told that no, it wasn’t any good and had been sent back. They said that I was being charged $20 against my account but I told them that $20 was cheap just to find out. I haven’t received any since but if I do I will call the authorities. I might still have the letter around.
I have recieved several of these checks and deals. I recieved 5 Travelers Checks in the mail last week each for $500.00. I called the number that I was suppose to call to verify funds and was told yes they were good. I then looked up the bank they were from (Citicorp)and was told they were fake and to destroy them. The trouble is there are so many of these scams going right now that the law enforcement and attoney generals and others are overwhelmed with them. I called and filed reports with my local police department on 3 of these and they started investigating me because they thought I was part of it and trying to scam people and filing reports to cover my butt and throw them off. So be careful in calling the authorities and filing reports. If you get a large check all you have to do is call the bank or company it is written on and and tell them you want to “verify the funds” they will ask for the “routing number” (the first set of numbers at the bottom), then the “account number” (second set of numbers at the bottom) and they will tell you if the check is good or bad before you put it in your bank or cash it and end up having to pay back hundreds or thousands of dollars that you don’t have or even worse being charged with a crime that you didn’t know you were committing. I recieved one for $6000.00 a month ago and did what I just wrote and was told to send them a copy because it was fake. It was for a mystery shop for “Mysteryshoponline” and involved the Walmart and MoneyGram scam. There was an 800 number on the check and when I called it they said it was good but then when I called the bank it was written on I was told it was bad and to send them a copy of it which I did. I was told that I was the 15th person that had called in the last week about the same scam. If everyone stiocks together we won’t get these people shut down and eventually they will get tired and go somewhere else. If you recive anything from Morrison Craig or Fred Holmes these are two of the fakes going right now. If anyone knows of any others and post them on the sight then maybe we can put a dent in there scams. Sorry for being so long winded but I wanted to post what I know so that maybe someone else doesn’t get caught and loose their money.
Darrell
My boyfriend just yesterday got a check in the mail for $4,200. It has the intructions to cash the check, spend $100.00 at WAL MART and send two other money grams, leaving him with $400.00 as a payment. We are not sure if it’s a scam or not. The phone number listed on the letter head in located in Canada, with an actual person answering the phone. The check is drawn from a bank in Georgia. The internet search shows an actual bank does exist, I will be calling to verify the funds. My one concern is that the check is drawn off of a different company, (a resort actually) with information available on the internet about them as well. It was explained by Datum Research Group “MysteryShopOnline.com” there are different sponsors that help pay for the “mystery shoppers”, but why would we get something from Canada all the way to California. The check is dated just last week. We haven’t decided what to do just yet, except not cash it at this point! This firm also states they will send funds with instructions on a weekly basis with payment included. Is this REAL easy money???? SCAM OR NOT????
Sherrie,
Do NOT cash the check. Look up the phone number for the bank it is issued from and talk to that bank directly. Do NOT use any phone number that may be on the check. YES, IT IS A SCAM.
MysteryShopOnline.com is NOT associated with ANY other company. Anyone who claims we are “sponsoring” them is lying.
Jacob
Thanks for the heads up,Pray the thiefs are caught directly.
Thank you so much for this information, I have yet to receive a check from anyone like this but I will be on the look out for them, will let you know, and report them immediately.
My wife and I got a check in the mail for ( $ 3,900.00 ) from a company called ( THE WEISSMAN RESEARCH GROUP ) and it even said a division of MysteryShopOnLine.com. I called the phone numbers on the paperwork and they ask me for my reference number and then told me to cash the check go to wal-mart spend $100.00 then go to 2 different money grams and send them $ 1,650.00 to a Beth Smith in Canada. Then fill out the evaluation sheet they had provided for meI even called the girl named Beth Smith in Canada and she said she was human resorces for the company and in order for me to get paid I had to finish the asssinment first. They sounded very professional to and said to make sure I didnt just go out and blow the money that the funds for the check would not be released until they recieved the money grams. To make a long story short i’m still paying back the bank. I have called the police and the F.B.I. is looking into it also. They have even contacted the authorities in Canada to help Hopefully they will be caught soon. I have all the paperwork with all the numbers if it will help put and end to all of this fraud.
Like I said if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.
Have a nice day
Steven
Thank you,
I was sent a 980.00 check from Global Solutions Inc. I was told to take it cash it, then take it to Wal-Mart and see if the Money Gram place was willing to sent it to a fictional Relative.
Since I only use Money Orders and do not do bank accounts. I was not able to cash it, voided it and mailed it back.
I do not know if it is a scam or not.
After I read all of this I just filed a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
I received a check from Informa Research Services, (which is a New York Company), mailed from Canada, with an Illinois address on the check that is a Citibank in Delaware. It purports to be a division of MysteryShopOnline.com. It arrived while I had been traveling, so I called when I got it, two weeks later than the dated check of 01/17/08. Long story short, I did deposit it, waited, called back, got an assignment to send a Money Gram to a person in Canada, got really suspicious anc called the real company in NY and was told no, they don’t send checks with letters. The check was rejected by Citibank, but I haven’t sent any money and the AG for my state as well as my bank are now aware of the scam. You know the old saying… if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. The contact phone in the letter was 613-263-5056 (an Ontario, Canada phone number) and the name was James Hailey (but he sounded foreign, hard to understand.)
got a letter and a check from monster market place for mystery shooping is this a legit company …. are they scammers
just received a letter today in response to my “application for part time work as a mystery shopper” and a check for $3,850.00. I called the number listed in the letter as required- the man told me to deposit the check in my account and wait 2 days for it to clear. I asked if I could just cash it, he said no it had to go into my account. I went to chase bank, the bank it was written on, and an hour later was dealing with their fraud department. I was to keep $500.00 of the money, spend $20.00 at walmart and $20.00 at mcdonalds the last shopper task was to go to western union and send $3,110.00 to “their agent”. The bank said the check was stolen and copied. When I looked into this the check turned out to be from an unrelated exporter for the airlines in Phoenix, AZ–their letterhead said Golder consumer research, Inc. A division of mysteryshoponline.com.New York, NY, the envelope it all came in was post marked from Canada, and I was to western union the money to someone in atlanta, GA. I called the original number back and asked the man why he would ask me to deposit a fraudulent check into my bank account. He seemed very surprised and told me they would look into it and call me back. I asked how he would do that without my name and phone number, he only wanted the check number, he said “”we have your number!!”
I received the exact same information!!! This is rediculous! There is no return address on my envelope from canada…… What should I do next?
Amooney,
Call the bank that the check is issued from. Don’t use any phone number that might be on the check. That banks fraud department will want your information. Also, reporting it to the FBI is also a good idea.
Jacob
I received the EXACT same letter as Tami with the same adresses! It’s really frustrating. Before reading this, my husband and I both commented on how realistic the letter looks. Thanks for the warning Jacob.
I got one today too–for “Omega Research & Development”. $4000.
Yes, I got one too.. It was funny- not return address, and and very large check. I glad we have the internet- it works GREAT!..
Hope to have this stop, before it get too bad. There are really nice company’s out there getting there image damage.
But what to, call someone- report to FBI? I like some info..
Yup, I got one today from Omega Research & Development for $4200.00… i should have turned it over to the feds. But I called the number back and said I was going to be in TN the next day so I would just cash it at the bank where it was drawn from BB&T. He got a little pissed and I could not help but to laugh him. no answer since. well there goes another $10 throw away cell into the garbage. lol
Hi. I just got a letter with a check from Omega Research & Development, INC. for $ 4200 with instructions to spend it in Wal-mart and Money Gram + $ 400 for me. After readind your website I know it is a scam. It is from Canada with address in Georgia.Once I invested in canadian lottery over $5000 and I lost it.So I know they can not be trusted again jerks. Please let me know where exactly report these thieves.
Tom
I was so excited being a single parent who could really use an extra income. Unfortunately the check I recieved for $3,950.00
was not good and I was charged $5.00 by my bank for the returned check. True words to live by . . . . “If it’s too good to be true it probably isn’t!.” I found out today and will be picking up a faxed copy of the fraudulant check to turn over to the proper authorities.
I just recieved a letter and a check The address on the letter is :
Golder Consumer Research Inc. (it says it’s)
a Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
P.O Box 7212, New York NY 10015 Unit 7,8 Scurfied Boulevard t.204.9526471 f.204272.3370
The address on the check itself is :
CleanBrands LLC
400 Massasoit Ave Ste 300
East Providence, RI 02914-2012
The check is for 3,850.00 40.00 to spend at McDonalds, 40.00 to spend at Tim Hortons/ Walmart.
3110.00 to send a western union or Money Gram along with 200 for the fee of the western union or Money Gram
The said to send the check to :
Amy Woodward
454 River Ave
Winnipeg Manitoba
Canada R3L0C7
I hope this is helpful.
Just for everyone, I received a similar deal which Jacob and Flash helped me out a great deal with. I actually worked for Wal Mart at one time and went in there earlier today and they have never heard of the companies listed doing the scams. So if you get one…DON’T CASH IT!!
Ireceived a check for $4710.0. Name of company – Premier Research Services – a divisionof MysteryShopsOnline. com. Gave me a contact name to call – checked out the phone # and it is a cell phone out of Hamilton, On. The fax number to fax the application to is out of Bellevue, Wash. Not going to cash the check. I am in Fla. – who is the best person to contac. Thanks. jc
I got one from huffman research & development, $4500. check is from clark brothers sales company. i’m supposed to go to walmart and get money grams and send elsewhere. the law doesn’t care when u report this. i will contact clark bro. to let them know about the check and chase bank. i have counterfeit wal-mart money orders sent to me from another scam that i would love to send them instead of the ones i was supposed to buy. they sent me a counterfeit check, so i’ll send counterfeit back!
I recieved a check for 4500 today, took it to Police Department and was told they didn’t have the man power to handle this. Should I contact FBI? This company was Cementex mysteryshoperonline.com phone # 1-519-694-4382
Eric,
you should contact the Secret Service, as well as the FBI. You should also contact http://www.phonebusters.com
Jacob
Hi, just came upon your blog while doing a search on this company who sent me a check this last week. Thank you and all the others for the input. I will be reporting them to the Post Master, FBI, BBB, and who ever else I can find. This is getting way, way out of hand. The check I received was for $4,500, They want me to shop at Walmart, and send two Money Grams. The weird thing was when I looked up the Company that was on the check (Cementex Products, Inc.), it showed up as a company selling Large Power equipment, tools and the such. Then on the letter which came along with the check and the survey I was to fill out, it had a similar name (Cementex Research Group, A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com) The letter and the Check had two different addresses, phone numbers………I am not sure if all of this will help you, but I sure Hope so….
i just recieved one today in the mail and went to a check cashing establishment,and was told it was more than likely a bad check.i had not heard of this scam and quickly found out.we wil be reporting this and hope it will help to stop all the scams so that we can concentrate on the legitiment ones.the one i recieved was from Mintel Consumer Research Inc. i recieved a check for the amount of 3990.00,and was instructed to make copies of the formes and do the research at 3 locations,send the info back to them and to also send them back 3200.00 by money gram.and when we took the check to a check cashing location,i was informed that it was very possible to be a bad check and that they were going to research it the next day and get back to me,if it is,they will also be reporting it.
I was sent a check as well and told to do deposit the check and shop send 3800.00 back to two different people by money gram or western union. The bank did not put a hold on the check and so the next day I withdrew 3800 out of the 4450.00 check and sent by western union to these people.
i am now out of 3800.00, cannot pay my mortgage for that was all the money I had. I wish I had gone here first.
The bank did not put a hold on the check and made no reference that it may be counterfiet.
Hi. I received a letter from Mintel Consumer Research Inc. and a check for $3998 with my 1st pay of $500 and after that $750. There is still a hold on the check, should I cancel it ASAP or wait to see what bank says? I have been reading all of the scam warnings and well, it appears to be a scam, but I noticed under the mysteryshoponline legitimate listings, Mintel Services was listed. What is the best way to know when it is the actual legitimate company contacting me and when it is a scam?
Angel,
unfortunately, the scammers often impersonate real businesses. Mintel is a legitimagte company — but the check you recieve IS FAKE.
Real mystery shopping companies will give you low paying assignments($5-$20 per assignment), and will never trust you with a large amount of money.
Jacob
Hi,
I received yet again another one of these scam letters today.
The so-called Mystery shopping company is indeed using your website in the letter, and has a bogus check enclosed for $4,500.00
They are using a different name from the last one I received:
People Research Group
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
66 Alexandria Bay Morden, MB R6M 2c4
3609 Liberty LN Hiram GA 30141
TEL: 1-306-880-0317: 1-866-445-9341
The name on the check is Jack Chen CPA, P.C based in Dallas TX (probably another unfortunate person whose name has been used).
Last one I got had a check supposedly issued by “Taco Bell” (what a riot)!
These scammers will try anything!
I hope you find out who is behind this.
I just got a letter from “Monster Market Place” in a non-return addressed envelope postmarked from Canada, with pretty much the same stuff that Tami got up there on Feb 12th, except I was supposed to spend $130 at Wal-mart or a few other stores. The check was from Banknorth Massachusetts issued under LaMarche Associates, Inc.
It sounded really fishy and I searched the web and found this site. I’ve contacted the Postal Service and the FBI and have been told to surrender the letter to the Postal Service.
So, yeah. Interesting.
Yea, I received one post marked from Canada. I have received other scams so I am completely aware of such foolishness. I have reported other to the police and this will be attached as well.
Hi,I received a check for $3850.00 from Ranger Joe’s,Columbus Army Surplus Co. And it also was posted from Canada, The letter head is ACET Consumer Research Inc.,a division of Mysteryshoponline.com P.O.Box 9188 Atlanta, Georgia 30322. I was to spend $20 at McDonalds, $30 at Wal-Mart, and Western Union or Money gram for $3300.00. I was to keep $500. I did call the #204*951*2323, and it was a foreign speaking man, hard to understand. I am so glad I waited to cash the check. Something in me told me to wait, and I am thankful I listened, and thankful for your website for finding this information.
Hi,I received the same check that Leslie did. The check was for the amount of $3,850.00. The check was mailed in a envelope that had Canada as it’s postmark. The check had Ranger Joe’s, Columbus Army Surplus Co, 325 Farr Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907. It also had Columbus Bank & Trust Company as the bank. The letterhead on the check was Acet Consumer Research Inc.I called the number on the letter and it said that the mailbox was full, I knew then that this was not real. I am glad that I research this on the internet. Jacob thanks for warning consumers about these scams.
I received a letter from Alcon Consumer Research Inc. a divison of Mysteryshoponline.com from atlanta GA
The check that they sent me is for 3,800 and i am supposed to spend 40 at 2 different wal-mart locations and 10 at 2 different mcdonalds locations and then money gram or western union 2,890 and keep 600 for myself. and then fill out a form called a Customer Service Evaluation tool and then fax the results of my evaluation over to 636 787 9567. The letter that I got was from Patricia Richardson the Director of Operations. also they want me to call with conformation upon receipt of the check. The bank say its a real check but you say that there is no other divisions of mysteryshoponline.com and the number that I call is 204 887 5929 and every time that I call it says that the mailbox is full and cannot receive any new messages. The person I am supposed to send the western union or money gram to is Adre Choette. So I don’t know if this information helps but I just thought I would let you know.
Thanks
Matt
Jacob,
Got your e-mail and I would like to thank you for the swift response.The check I recived is from JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and payable at Melon Bank, Pittsburg PA. I am going to turn the check and a copy of your notification to the Montague Police Dept. tommorow morning. Thank you for your assistance!!!
I also recently received a check from Tersylbran Reseach Inc. a divison of Mysteryshoponline.com in the amount of $3750.00 written off of BB&T bank dated for 05/02/2008. I was suppose to deposit the check into my account wait for it to clear, send $15.00 at McDonald’s, $50.00 at Wal-Mart and send $3035.00 plus a fee of $150.00 through Western Union or Money Gram. $500 was for me to keep for salary and training pay. I wasn’t sure if this was a legitimate company or check so I called the company so I was told to do when I received the check and I told the man that I didn’t have a checking account, but I would go to the bank it was written on to cash it out. He then told me that the check doesn’t work that way and that it would have to be deposit into an account and if I didn’t have an account I would need to open one but I could not use the check to open the account. He said I would have to use my money to open the account first then as a second transaction cash out the mysteryshoponline check. This had sound to crazy to me so I went online to do some research on the company and couldn’t find it. So I google search the website and a lot of rip off reports were filed.
I recieved one of these scam checks about a month ago. I reseached the company Consumer Research Group out of canada and could not find any information on them. The check was said to be drawn from Wacovia bank by Walmart. It was for $3920.00 i deposited it into an account I did not use much and watched it for 7 days. Sure enough on the 6th day the check was found to be bogus. I knew it was too good to be true! Scammers will stop at nothing. I read somewhere that banks cannot put a hold on cashiers checks like these because they are obligated to make the finds available, but for some it is too late because they start to use the funds before the check is found to be fraud. What a racket scammers have going on!
I received a check for 4500.00 with instructions to cash it, spend 100.00 at Wal-Mart, wire 3800.00 to an individual named Scott Foster thru any local Money Gram office. I went to my bank and they would not cash it, but said that they had to deposit it with a hold until they could verify funds. I am truly upset as I am genuinely interested in this line of work while I finish school, and feel that it goes against all common decency to scam another in such a horrific way. I have read a lot of the previous comments and am so sorry for the heartache and troubles some have been through and am just grateful that I have not found myself out 4500 bucks!
The company represented to me is “GOLDMAN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT”, A DIVISON OF MYSTERYSHOPONLINE.COM.
I also received a check for $ 4,998.oo on 05/21/2008. Thank you for the advice. I always deposit the check.
Mazinha
Thank you Sarah I just received a check from the exact same place, wondering if it was a scam or not i did some research read everybody comments on this page, no one had the same research group until I got to yours. Thank you again, Sincerely James.
I just got the same type of offer in the mail. The company was called Prime State Research and Development. A division of MysteryShopOnline.com. It was for $4,500 dollars and wanted me to buy something at Wal-Mart then send money through money gram. I am glad I did the research and found out that it was a scam before I moved forward on it.
Thanks,
Alex
I recently got a letter from prime state research&development.same thing 4500.00 spend 100.00 at walmart send the rest back in a money gram.Thank you all for making it clear that it is a scam
june 9, 2008
i recieved that same scam from prime state.
very official looking letter but how can they say
“a division of mystershoponline.com”?
what if you just cashed it? what would happen to me if it were not real?
I received a 4500.00 check from Prime State REsearch and Development. The bank could not get in touch with the bank it was drawn upon. This threw up a red flag immediately with me. I was supposed to do a money gram to Kevin Hayes in High Point North Carolina for 3800.00 and mystery shop at Walmart and keep the merchandise.
I just recieved yesterday a letter from:
The Park Hill,
Consuner Research Center
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
7 Elk Street,New York,Ny 1007
Head Office;504 Munroe st Abby,SK
Tel;1-514-699-5813 Fax;1-403-775-4378
This letter was sent from;
1220 Sheppard Ave E,
Suit#300
Toronto,ON M2K OA2 this dosent give a name of the company on the evnvelope,,,,,The check they sent is for 4,500.00,and it has an assighnment and a #1-514-699-5813 to call with my rep ID# and you said this is a scam so please feel free to use this info to sop the scamming ,,,,tnx Melanie B.
Well mine came today…Better Service Research Groupo, a dividion of Mysteryshoponline.com with both a NY and an ON address…phone numbers not traceable to anything. I called one, rang endlessly to a disconnect.
My check is for $3950 as well…the breakdown was my salary of $300, walmart purchase for me to keep of $100, a $2500 wire gram, an $850 wire gram, and $200 in fees.
I contacted the bank which is local to me, Bank America and they said they cannot verify funds over the phone, that I need to bring the check in.
I am going to do such, simply because if this is a scam, I will do anything in my power to assist in stopping it!
What if I were to have deposited this in my account? What if I had cashed it at a check cashing business? What if the bank tells me that they WILL cash it, but I am not their customer?
Oh…and bottom of letter says to ONLY cash/deposit the check after you have faxed your completed the form and faxed it. The “form” does not ask for ANY personal info such as SS# or bank info though.
Will update after I speak to the bank.
Mother Recieved a letter from:
The Park Hill
Consummer Research Center
The Park Hill Concumer Research Center
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
7Elk Street New York,NY 1007
Hedad Office: 504 Munroe St Abbey, SK
Tel 1-514-699-5813 Fax 1-403-775-4378
She called the number spoke to a woman who said her name was laura wilson was told to deposit the check for 4500. Shop walmart for 100.00 and keep merchandise and send 3800.00 money gram to the 504 munroe address. She was waiting for the fund to clear before doing this. this laura also told her once she was done to fax report and reciets then call the human resource person jeremy white at 1-514-572-1651. My mothers bank called her said the4500.00 check was returned fund unavailable and she was charged a 10.00 fee. when she tried to call this laura back for 4 hours there was know answer. so she then called Mr. White once she started to explain her problem he hung up and would not answer so she tried calling from her cell when he realized it was her he again hung up and has not answered again.
I believe I have you all beat!! Recd a letter similar to Kat E with my check being for $5950.00-of course being new to the internet I couldn’t believe my eyes but had been trying to get into ‘mystery shopping’ for quite some time so I thought “my ship finally came in” but of course was advised by 2 people ‘if it sounds too good to be true it usually is’ but at this point decided what do I have to lose?
@1 to fax the acceptance form back to Toronto and if the check does not clear as it should (within 24 hours(?) then it is a scam. Deposited the check on the 24th and received a letter from my bank today (26th) that they are delaying releasing the funds until August 8 as they feel this may be a bogus check. Since the ‘assignment’ needs to be completed within one week will be calling ‘Toronto’ on Monday to let them know assignment won’t be completed as requested bt have to tell you really did look ‘real’ and in speaking with ‘rep’ in Toronto sure sounded ‘real’!! Obviously I neeed to ‘get real’ and keep looking for another ‘in home’ job. Thanks for your expertise and info.
I can’t believe I’m saying this,but yes I was scammed to.Now usually I get scams like this in my email.But a week ago,I received a letter in the mail from,THE PARK HILL CONSUMER RESARCH CENTER.7 Elk street,NEW YORK,NY 10007. THE HEAD OFFICE:45 DUNCAN ST GLACE BAY,NS. TELEPHONE number is 1-514-699-5846, and FAX number is 1-403-775-4378. AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER SUPPOSE TO BE STEVEN BROWN. THE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK WAS 4,500.BOGAS CHECK,MY SALARY AND TRAINING PAY WAS $400 DOLLORS and was SUPPOSE TO BE RAISE TO $650 EVERY WEEK,AND AFTER 3 MONTHS $800.THEN I WAS SUPPOSE TO SPEND $100 DOLLARS AT WALMART AND THEN SEND 3,800 DOLLARS AT A NEAREST MONEY GRAM. THE PERSON NAME I WAS TALKING TO NAME WAS BRIAN MCCKINSEY.ANYWAY I TRIED DEPOSIT THIS CHECK IN MY ACCOUNT THAT I JUST OPENED BUTHE BANK SAID IT WAS A BAD CHECK AND I COULD GET IN TROUBLE FOR TRYING TO CASH IT> AND I BELIEVE THE 2 GUYS ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AND THEY ARE USING A CELLPHONE BECAUSE BRIAN RETURNED MY CALL.THE GUY STEVEN BROWN IS THE JACKASS THAT BITCH HUNG UP TWICE WHEN I SAID I NEED THE ADDRESS TO SEND THE CHECK BACK.BECAUSE I WASN’T SURE TO SEND IT BACK TO THE SAME ADDRESS.YOU GUYS USING THE INTERNET JUST BECAREFUL,AND WHEN YOU GET A BIG CHECK IN THE MAIL, SHRED THAT SHIT.we got to catch em>
AND THE OTHER NUMBER TO THAT STEVEN BROWN CHARACTER IS 1-514-572-1651.I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM AND HE HUNG UP ON ME TWICE.NOT PROFESIONAL AT ALL.THAT’S WHAT GAVE IT AWAY. THE PARK HILL CONSUMER RESEARCH CENTER.
THESE PEOPLE FROM THE SAME PLACE AND USING DIFFERENT NAMES WITH THE SAME CELL NUMBER.SIMILIAR TO KIM AND MELANIE B. STORY.
I received a check for $3,650.00 today from a company in Canada name PrimeTrust (a division of market consulting group). It stated they will pay $500.00 for the assignment, $50.00 for transportation and $150.00 to go to wal-mart, k-mart, home depor, sears or jc penney and I get to keep the items I purchase. Second, I am suppose to wire via money gram or western union $2,800.00 along with $150.00 service charge.
I went online to see if this company is legit and thank God i found this website. I can’t believe people really stoop this low.
Thanks,
Bernice
JMC Pro Solutions is the name on the letterhead of the letter I received a few days ago. Inside was a check for $4,250.00 and all I had to do was deposit it in my bank. These parasites prey on people that are looking for legitimiate online (which I do not believe exist)work and assume that I would try to cheat them by trying to keep all the money for myself and not do the work for it, i.e FREE MONEY…….woohoo. They didnt count on poor people being freaking poor AND honest. I called the bank and the company the check was written on and will be turning everything over to the police. I was told in the letter that I would have to do a survey at walmart and two money grams to be sent to Canada. The check was on a bank in Texas. This is a total scam and these people should be hanged like haman.
I would have been out of a lot of money and probably faced jail time and the company that the check was written on is totally innocent as their account information was hijacked to commit these crimes. All I did was request online LEGIT work and the vultures that circled found a potential dupe. I’m through with this online stuff and would rather work a second job at McDonalds.
I received one of these to over the weekend. I have called the number and left a message wanting to ask some questions and they never get back to me. I am so glad I checked online before cashing this check. We are already having a hard time….this would just make it worse.
Jacob….feel free to email me and I will give you all the information I have that is on the check, on the letter and the envelope.
I am really thankful I did research on this because just yesterday I received a check for 3800 dollars from a postmark in Canada a check drawn off an account called Sawyers Estates in Dallas Texas, but the check is from bank of america in tampa florida. My friend has been thru this and is still paying the bank back all of this is a fraud come on people who is really going to risk sending you a legitimate check for thousands of dollars without knowing anything about you no social security#, no homephone#, and also trust you enough to pay you before knowing that youeven complete the assignment. I have worked for legitimate mystery shopping companies and they do not pay 3800 dollars. The assignments I completed payed between $5-$20 dollars if they payed liked the companies claim to pay I would have easily quit my job that i have been on for 11 years. Please be aware an do not attempt to cash the checks or deposit them in your account, because I promise you, you will be sorry later, I know how tempting it sounds hell I was very damned tempted, but I knew it was wrong and thats why I searched for information on the internet and I found this info from jacob and everyone else who left comments. Thank you very much for sharing this valuable info. I know it saved me $3800 dollars of trouble. Becareful and god bless to all. Jacob if you have any questions you may email me, because no one on this site had received a check from the company I mentioned, so these scammers may be trying to get a lil sophisticated, but we have to stay a step ahead of them,so that no one else has to suffer.
I got one of those checks and I so wanted it to be real. I checked with the bank via my bank and the check was no good, this crushed me! But at least I am not out 4,250 dollars!!!
by the way, the company that sent my check was Brookfield Infrastucture Partnership in Pittsburgh, Pa and the bank was Mellon Bank of New York, don’t know if anyone else got scammed by the same name, I have all of my paperwork including the check, I turned them in to the B.B.B. and the IC3 internet crime reporting that is also linked to the F.B.I. I hope they get caught soon!!!!
I want to thank everybody for their postings. I too received a check for $4,250, and if it wasn’t for this site, I would of followed the instructions on the letter. Again, thank you, and hopefully those bad guys are caught.
Hi Jacob,
I really appreciate that you have taken the time to put up this website. I just received a check for $3,950.00 along with an assinment for walmart and money gram. I gotta tell ya, the offer was very tempting, but I noticed that in the envelop there is one address then in the check it comes from a bank and then they used a business to represent their company with a totally different address. I started doing research about this compnay and the bank, and I found your website while doing this research. I started reading other people’s stories on here and then I realized this was a scam. I dont believe I ever encountered anything like this. Could you please advise me on what to do? Thanx again for your help.
Gee
Gee:
I got the same scam sent to me. I didn’t do anything for the company and told them if they contacted me again I would file charges againt them. Hope you didn’t lose any money over it.
Megan
I received a check for $4,250 and I was supposeed to keep $400 for my work,I have 3 assigment the firts one was to go to Wall-Mark and purchase $60 and write an evualation about their services. Second assigment a Money Grant transaction for the amount of $1,860 to be send to Diana Mcbee, Human resource manager in the city of Brandon, State MB, cpuntry of Canada. 3st assigment a Maney Grant transaction for the amount of $1,800 to be send to Gregory Kane, Director of Operation at the Head Office. After the transactions I was suppossed to call 1(514)839-7186 and give the transaction numbers. I did not catch the check. This company address is P.O.Box 899, Colwood, BC Canada.
i wasnt sure if i needed to put my email or psycial address.my address is,9901 e fowler ave. #c-8
thonotoasassa,florida
33592
my room mate received a check from:
Research Group
a division of mysteryshoponline.com
300 w 57th street new-york ny 10019
1000 ottawa rd,windsor on n9r 2y5
tel:1-514-561-9875 fax 1-928-438-5764
position:customer service evaluator
rep id # 29098700
i suspected this to be a scam right away.the above information is on the letter head.
i did a little research and discovered this to be what suspected, a scam.the check is from jedlicka’s which i find to be some type of a westernware store.the check (#085874)it drawn off of mid state bank
2222 bath street
santa barbara,ca93105
i hope that this information helps aid in putting these people out of business and where they belong.
i will be taking the check to the police and also to the states attornys office.
Ken.Harp
my room mate received a check from:
Research Group
a division of mysteryshoponline.com
300 w 57th street new-york ny 10019
1000 ottawa rd,windsor on n9r 2y5
tel:1-514-561-9875 fax 1-928-438-5764
position:customer service evaluator
rep id # 29098700
i suspected this to be a scam right away.the above information is on the letter head.
i did a little research and discovered this to be what suspected, a scam.the check is from jedlicka’s which i find to be some type of a westernware store.the check (#085874)it drawn off of mid state bank
2222 bath street
santa barbara,ca93105
i hope that this information helps aid in putting these people out of business and where they belong.
i will be taking the check to the police and also to the states attornys office.
Ken.Harp
I already posted about what I received…but wanted to update on what occurred.
Of course I was suspicious all along…there is a saying, “If it’s too good to be true, then it IS TOO GOOD to be true!” LOL
But I will be honest…I NEEDED that money! And since I was not depositing it into my personal account…only attempting to cash it…then, I figured, “what they hey” and I took it to the bank it was drawn on.
Initially, the teller told me that it WAS a real account, but that she could not cash it at this time…and she could not tell me any specific info as to why. I questioned it further…and she ended up getting a superior of hers who knew more…and they kept the check for their fraud department. I did (and I suggest this to others) make them copy it for me, and write a small statement that I brought the check to their attention and what occurred. I also allowed them to copy all of the other stuff (envelope, instruction sheet, etc) for their files…because I did not want MY name and prints associated with this in a negative manner!
I was told that, had I gone to a check cashing place…it possibly would have been cashed (bad in the long run…they would have pursued me to pay it back!) because when they pinged the bank, they would have only been told it WAS A VALID ACCOUNT, and they would have cashed it.
The thing that really ticked me off is, it was NOT a simple task to report this to the appropriate authorities! The bank said their own fraud dept. would handle it…but I wanted the local police and other agenicies notified…because obviously this is still going strong! I know a police officer who does internet and computer crimes investigating…so there is a dept in every police dept.
But these scammers are targeting people who deposit them into their own accounts…and then have to pay the money back in the long run. I am ticked off that, while MysteryShop may not have anything to do with it directly…they HAVE allowed someone to breach their mailing list.
A couple of months ago I did 3 shops for a company here called Pacific Sales. I never got paid but I don’t remember who the mystery shopping company was that assigned it. Does anyone know who might be doing those shops. Thanks PAul Ehrenberg.
i got a check like that too in the mail(fed-ex) the people are trying to get me to send them money western union.
My daughter and I have been doing our own investigation into one of these letters which was sent to me. Tomorrow morning I am going to contact the FBI, and perhaps the States Attorney’s Office. These people are using the United States Postal Service with intent to commit fraud via mail. That is a Federal offense, and only one of the offenses that these people can be charged with. I am remaining anonymous, but the person who operates this web site may contact me via my email address and I will talk privately.
I cannot post details on this site because it could disrupt what we intend to do.
I have the people who sent me the offer in the mail on the hook thinking I am going to do this. I hope this can be used to spring a trap.
FOLLOW UP:
Apparently, according to the FBI, this is a Nigerian based scam. Any attempt at back tracking has proved to be futile to the FBI agents who have attempted it. What should be done is for everyone who is aware of the scam to contact any and all media offices in their area and see if they are aware of it. If not, then inform and educate them with hopes that they will inform and educate people before they fall into this trap.
I GOT A CHECK FOR 4250.00 TODAY FROM HOME INSTEAD INC. IM SO THANKFUL I CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE. I HAD A FEELING IT WAS A SCAM BUT NEVER HAD ANYTHING SENT TO ME LIKE THIS. I CALLED THE BANK AND SURELY ENOUGH IT WAS A FAKE CHECK. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO POSTED THEIR STORYS. IT SAVED ME FROM FALLING FOR THIS SCAM.
Well, I deposited mine. I’ve been doing quite a bit of activity that some similarity. So, I called the number on the letter and spoke with the man via the number they sent about how usually I would get a 10 day hold on a check of $1000 or more. I explained to him that I would not be able to do anything until after the check cleared, and requested that I not send the acceptence fax until I knew I had a week to take care of it. He told me to go ahead and deposit the check, which I did.
This afternoon, due to my deferments having not yet occurred (I wasn’t in school for a year), I checked my account to find that the check amount had been subtracted including an additional $500. Now I’m an additional $500 short in my account. I called the bank and they told me that the bank where the check came from had put a stop payment on it. This man I spoke with Adam Stevens won’t return the call and I’m just torn up.
I knew of a woman who was a secret shopper and made quite a good deal of money at it. So I found my experience outrageous. I don’t understand the $500 loss at all.
I got a letter and a check from Canada. The company name is:
Progressive Marketing
Research and Development
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
HEAD OFFICE: P.O box 310 Chester, NS Canada
Tel: 1-514-746-0736 FAX:1-250-984-7557
The check is from:
INTERNATIONAL INSTALLATIONS INC
833 Wooster Road N.
Barberton, OH 44203-1664
in the amount of $4,250.00
The phone number is not listed on the check but I found it through searching Yellow Pages website it is 1-330-848-4800.
Salary and training pay – $400.00
Tasks include:
Wal-Mart purchase – $60.00
1st Money Gram transaction – $1,860.00
2nd Money Gram transaction – $1,800.00
(both to be sent to two separate people in Canada – one Rita Jones in Melfort, SK Canada and one Leo Klein in Chester NS Canada, Leo Klein is also listed as the Director of Operations at their Head Office.)
Service Charge by Money Gram – $130.00
They want me to contact ‘my’ assignment coordinator at 1-514-746-0736.
My plan is to first contact my local FBI, then my bank, the FTC and the Better Business Bureau. Good luck on busting these people. If I can be of any help at all please feel free to contact me at the email address provided.
i had received one in the mail today and the check looks totally real and i actually called the place and they sounded very convincing. i told them that i will call back later and tried to find them online. well i cant find them anywhere or there address. the adress they gave me didnt even give a floor number.(since its in New York it has to have a floor number) I called back and asked what the floor number was and she sounded dumbfounded and then answered 4th floor. well im not as convinced any more. then i started looking at the check and if u look really closely, I mean like very closely it has void written all over the check. it is really hard to see. its dotted in capitol letters and is the same color as the check. the name of the company is CUSTOMER FIRST. SO DONT CASH THOSE CHECKS!
my son recvd and cashed the check and sent the 1st 1860. to angela gibson in canada..i stopped him from sending the 2nd…but now the kid is out 2400. and has no way to repay…i have contacted fbi, phone busters and federal trade…
Yes i did recieve one of the big check and i call in about that and the lady told me every little detail she had and told me that it is ligit.I dont really believe in that..What should I do..Low on money right now and try to improve my income but, this oppurtunity is very risky.Any recommendations you have for me..
I have just received a check for $4,260 dollars from a research center called “Majestic Research Center” where the head office (get this) is a post office box! If this were a truly legitimate company why would the “head office” be a “post office box”? The “Research Center” is based in “Canada” and the check is from a bank in (get this) “Texas”! I agree with what everyone is saying we have to stop these people from running these “scams” and trying to cheat us of our hard earned money! I forgot to mention they said they are affiliated with “mysteryshoponline.com”
I just recieved a large check from canada for Mystery Shopping? Names are a “Division of MysteryShopOnline.com”, “Gold Valley Research & Development”, Susan Ross and Robert Rice. After reading letters on this site i found the void in the middle of the check. its all very confusing and im not sure what the next step should be. Except DONT CASH THIS CHECK!! i have that figured out..
I received a letter from The PAR Research Center and they sent me a check for 4,260.00 and told me to spend $60 at Walmart and then two moneygrams to a company in Canada. The PAR Research Center is in Florida and they do psychological research. I am glad I read up on it before I cashed this check.
I just received one of those shopping assignments with a large check amount sent with a letter. I am notifying you due to the fact of it being a scam, whom else should I notify???
Thank you
Hi I got a check from Bear Stone Research Center
It says iit’s a head office adress is: P.O. box 187 Chester, NS Canada
Their phone number: 1-514-836-0757
Fax: 1-902-482-3424
The Check Title was from: VWR Supplier Partnerships For Customer Solutions.
I researched it and nothng made sense.
And how the hell did they get my name and Adress?????
Should I report the check?
I received a check for $4260. for The PAR Research Center, A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com, Head Office: PO Box 357 Chester, NS Canada, Tel: 1-514-638-6155 (called got no answer) FAX: 1-902-482-3424 (fax would not go through). That is when I deceided to look it up on the internet and found this site, I am so glad I found this site it saved me a lot of problems. Anyway they also wanted me to do 3 transactions, $60. at walmart and two money grams 1 for $1860 to Sharon Brown our Humanresources managerin the city of: Melford, the state of:SK and the country of: Canada or to our Director of Operations, Ted Hall at our Head Office. The other for $1800., $140. for service charges and $400. for myself, sounded to good to be true and it was. But on my letter they have a NOTE: PLEASE FAX ONLY YOUR COMPLETED ACCEPTENCE FORM BEFORE CASGING/DEPOSITIND CHECK FOR PAYMENT! The check was from the Bank of St. Petersburg, St.Petersburg, Florida 33707.
My husband calledthe F.B.I. they told him that these people should be reported to this web site (www.ic3.gov). I urge everyone to to this.
Omg! I am glad I found this site! My brother just went to jail today for cashing a check from CANADA. The bank that is taking him to court over the check is in Georgia! It was supposedly from some type of mystery shopper. It was the exact same situation as Sherri. His amount was 3,000 some odd dollars though. They think he made the check because he threw away the papers that it came with. The cover letter with the instructions and the application. IF anyone has this information it may help get my brother out of jail. I have the shadow shopping companies phone number, but it is doing no good. PLEASE HELP ME! I WOULD GREATKY APPRICIATE IT!!!!!!!!! My Em Is butterfly kisses rab at gmail dot com if anyone can help me!!!!
Like Chris above 9/12/2008 I was sent a check for $4260.00. It was dated 10/01/2008. I have had this check a couple of weeks in mail I haven’t read. What should I do? Paper work refers to the Majestic Research Center, Thompson, MB Canada. Check itself Majestic Produce Sales Co. McAllen, Texas. I called information and address & phone numbers are correct. I really need an opportunity to be an legimate mystery shopper. My cell # is 361-205-6458
hi i just recieveda check from Munroe Distributing company IE:Munroe Reasearch Center for $4260.00 with the same instructions as the others and figured it was fishy so i pulled up Mysteryshoponline.com and confirmed my suspicions.ive never had to report anything like this before and would appreciate some guidance so it gets done right and doesnt fall thru the cracks as some things do.HELP lolol thanx
Hi, I just received a check from Invention Investment Fund I, LP drawn on the Silicon Valley Bank, so after reading these posts and then calling the Bank, I found that the check is fraudulant and that the Bank has an open investigation into this already. The letter that came with the check was exactly like the one everyone on here was explaining… My Frauldulant company name is Nationwide Temporary Employment in Buffalo, NY; telling me to deposit the $3,970.00, wait 2-3 days for it to clear and then spend $51.00 in Wal-Mart, Sears, etc.; keep the merchandise, Send a $3,420.00 Money Gram via Western Union to one of several people, $199.00 for the Western Union Service Charges, leaving $300.00 as my pay.
Damn… Why can’t these things be real when they come in the mail.
– Disappointed in Phoenix.
I just got this same letter everyone here is talking about. I knew it sounded too good to be true so thanks to this site for it’s info. I reportrd it to the IC3.gov. thanks Joy
I have all the original copies of everything. Hope these low lifes get what they deserve.
By the way everyone these people are out of Africe not Canada. That is what the FBI told my husband and they are working on it. You are quite welcome Charlie and anyone else.
This company called The PAR research center: A divison of mysteryshoponline.com, sent me a check for $4,260.00 and I took it to my bank after I called to confirm I got the check. The lady told me to go ahead and take it to my bank. Well my bank said 12 days for the hold on the check. I called today and the check was returned and I got charged $25.00. I called both numbers and one says the customer is busy and to call later. Thats what it said yesterday. The other number just keeps ringing and sometimes its busy. The company is from Canada. Im so mad Im going to turn this company in.
Today I received a letter and check in the amount of #3,998.00 from a company, “Orange Grove Research Center”,, A Division of MysteryShipOnline.com. Address on envelope is: P.O. Box 7737, Station Terminal, Vancouver, British-Columbia. The address on the inside letterhead is: P.O. Box 840, Sydney, NS Canada. The check is written on Millennium Bank, Dallas, TX (that does exist) and the account name in upper left corner is: Florida POP LLC. They wanted me to deposit the check, complete the first assignment within one week (purchase $60 of merchandise at Walmart), fill out a form and fax it to them. Then, send 2 moneygrams at 2 different locations to them. Now, if someone does this within the time required, and the check bounces, you will have put out $3598. of your own money by the time the check bounces!! So, be very careful. This is definitely a scam. But, I do wish there was a company that did something like this that was legitimate!
Wow! What a letdown! I’m glad I had the presense of mind to check the web first and found Jacob Jans Mystery Shopping Tips. I am currently unemployed, looking for a lucritive means to earn income online.
I received the exact same Check as Sandi today, drawn on the Millennium Bank in the amount of $3,998 from Orange Grove Research Center, a Division of MysteryShopOnline.com Also with the same instructions: to cash the check, make a $60 purchase from Walmart, and then make two $1700 MoneyGram transactions. What a bummer, I though I had got a blessing. Let me know if the FBI or some other agency is collecting this crap! I’ll scan it and sent them a copy.
Thanks much for your Tips.
Silk
I just received a check for $4,260.00 to shop walmart and 2 money grams.. I would be paid $400.00 to do this…to good to be true and to easy…I called back to say I thought this was a scam..the girl on the other end didn’t defnd the comapany Shale Royalties 7, Inc a division on Mystershoponline.com.
any sugestions on what to do? or who to contact about the scam?
Sheilah
I received a check from Shale Research Center a division od mysteryshoponline.com. HEAD OFFICE P.O. Box 405 Leduc,AB Canada
1-514-692-9357;1-902-482-482-3424fax.
check was for 4260.00 to shop Walmart, shop $60.00 then to 2 money grams. My bank informed me it was a scam! Thanks
I received one yesterday for $4260.00 from The MFG Research Center “A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com. I called the number and no one answered. I found the bank in Iowa and will call them to notify them of the situation and to verify the company. I will also call the FBI and police to make them aware.
I received a check the other day for $4260. It was from a company called Borden Milk Products, LP-Austin. It was drawn on an account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, Colmbus, OH. I took it to the local Chase branch and they checked in their system and told me it looked like a legitimate account. There was a phone number for me to call (514) 574-8623. I called the number and no answer.
There was also a letter attached from Borded Research Center
A division of MysteryShopOnline.com, Head Office, Winkler, MB Canada. The letter wanted me to be a mystery shopper and had two forms, one for me to sign and another for a report on my Wal Mart shopping assignment. More details below on what they told me the $4260 was for.
Salary and training pay $400
Make a Wal Mart Purchase-$60
Send a money gram $1860
Send another money gram $1860
Service charge for money grams $140
I will notify the WI AG office, the FBI and the FTC.
If only it was this easy to make a buck!
I have also received a letter and a check for $4,260.00 drawn on Washington Mutual Bank in Irving Tx. Sent to me by “Dr.Towers Research Center” supposedly a Division of “MysteryShopOnline.com. The account holder was AIRPORT FRWY CHIROPRACTIC $ INJURY REHAB. CLINIC, IN IRVING TX., Which I am sure is not a legitimate business. My instructions were also to shop at Wal-Mart for $60.00, send 2 money-grams, one for $1800.00 and one for $1860.00, the check also includes the $140.00 fee to send the money grams and $400. for my salary and training pay. What struck my to be odd from the get-go, was the fact that the check was from a Chiropractic office in Irving, TX and the Research company was located somewhere in Canada. The phone number I am to callto accept this job, of course, does not answer. I really was skeptical, so I called the bank in which the check was drawn and they stated that they do not verify check funds over the phone any more. I explained the situation and they stated that they have had several calls about such checks and that it is most definately a scam. Thank you so much for verifying this for me. Just goes to show, “If it sounds to good to be true, IT REALLY IS” I would like to report this to the proper authorities, but where do I start? I am afraid that I will be the target of an investigation as they may feel that I am part of this as well. I have read that this can happen as well.
I got a check today from The Taylor Design & Research center for $3,998.00 dollars and it has 3 tasks listed on there for me. At first I couldn’t beleive that someone would actually send me a check for that much money but then I looked at the back of the check and realized that it was real. Thank God I went online to see what other people say about it. I would have cashed it asap and would have fallen right into the scamming traps. I will report this asap!
Thanks to all of you that sent in your scam traps. I
too was sent a letter form Braewood Research Center.
It told me to fell out this questionaire and send it back to
them before I submitted the check to be cashed.
Salary and Training Pay $400.00 Wal-Mart Purchase $60.00
1st Money Gram Transaction $1,860 2nd Money Gram transaction $1,860
Service charge by Money Gram $140.00 Total $4260.00 .
It was just to good to be true!
I hope someone catch them. I have turned the last letter into the police department.
Hi,
I also got a check for $ 3998.00 in the mail today Dec. 5th dated November 10th. The check is from FLORIDA POP LLC and the letter is from Orange Grove Research Center in NS Canada. The number says the person I am trying to reach is not available at this time. My check too looks very legitimate and I was instructed to do 3 transactions, Wal Mart, Money Gram & Money Gram with $ 400.00 for my training fee and an offer of $ 650.00 per week as a salary. Thanks for your info or I would too have become a victim. If anyone actually knows how to get into this mystery shopping business I would love to do it LEGITIMATELY of course. Thanks to all!
I received a check from Braewood Research Center ” a division of MysteryShopOnlinecom.”
Address: PO Box 187 Chester, NS Canada
Number: 514-576-7041 Fax: 780-6697-902
I looked up the address and it was the address to a community center in Canada.
Wal-Mart Purchase $400
Money Gram $1700 to Sandra Brisco (Melfort, SK, Canada)
Money Gram $1700 to David Carey (Chester, NS, Canada)
Service Charge by Money Gram $138
Total $3998
It was from Point Bank in Little Elm, Texas which is a real bank.
The check had Braewood Commercial LP at 105 E. Eldorado Pkwy. Little Elm, Texas 75068 which is actually Braewood Custom Homes. I called the Canada number and spoke to Sarah Willis. I told Sarah I was going to research the company and she told me to look under mysteryshoponline.com.
SCAM!!!! Thanks for this website. We are already struggling. This check will help light our fire.
I also got a letter and check yesterday for $4260.00……with 3 transactions 1.Walmart $60.00 2.money gram to Julie Green human resource in city Nelson,state BC and country Canada or to Tom Freeman
Director of Operations. 1st MG $1860.00 2nd $1800.00 service charge $140.00 and $400.00 salary Rep.ID 58769875 the check is from NOrth Dallas Bank & Trust Co. (Jim Bowman Construction Company LP) The letter says from Bowman Research Center a Division of Mystery Shop Online (head office PO Box 187 St. Ledue, AB Canada Tel.1-514-651-3353 Fax 1-780-669-7902) I’m glad I checked this site out first before I cashed it…WHY do people try to take money from people that don’t have the money in the first place. I was just wanting to make some extra money for X-mas and to pay my bills….I work hard for the
money I do make just like alot of you……..and it’s not fair for these bogus companies to steal it from us…..I hope they find them!
I have recieved an e-mail from this perosn, I got an offer as a Mystery Shopper after putting my resume on Monster.com and Carreerbuilders.com althouth it did not referance either site.. I’d never received anything like this before.
VACANT POST AS A MYSTERY SHOPPER @ Top Consult Co.,Inc. (WORLDWIDE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE)
Brian Richardson
Top Consult Co., Inc.
230 W 26th St,
New York, NY 10001
Tel:917-285-9182
servicerecruit@gmail.com
Should I assume that this is bogus after everything I have just read on your site… Thank you for the heads up! This site is a great source of information.
Mrs. T
I recieved one of these today. The company is supposedly Timberglen Research Center-A division of MysteryShopOnline.com. I did not and have no intention on depositing the 4260.00 check they sent. I live in Newport News VA. Once again the old antage of if its too good to be true it usually is comes to mind. I am keeping the letters and check in case they are needed. Who should I notify if anyone. i didn’t lose anything but if I can help stop this I am willing to.
There still at it …..i got one today.
I have also recieved a check of $3,998 and it is from Timberglen research center and i don’t know what to do. should I go for it or i don’t can anyone help me.
HI just got a letter in the mail yesterday. I was soo excited about this but I am glad that I slept on it first. I kept thinking that this was too good to be true, and you know if it is too good, it must not be true.
I got a check fpr $3,998.00 from Northwood Research center saying they are division of http://www.Mysteryshoponline.com. All I need todo is fill out the questionaire, If you need more info, please contact me.
This is what I received recently…I found their other company (Apex Consult Co., Inc) online.
***Apex consult Co.,Inc
220 W 26th St, Apt 711
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 585-861-3321
VACANT POST AS A MYSTERY SHOPPER @ Apex consult Co.,Inc (WORLDWIDE > RECRUITMENT EXERCISE)
Hello and how are you doing, This is an awareness to let the public know that we have a vacancy position of a mystery shopper in our company and we would like to know your interest in working for Apex consult Co.,Inc. Your job as a mystery shopper would be quite effective and we would provide more details on the job as soon as you get back to us with the details requested indicating your Interest in working with us.
Kindly provide the below information for assessment and registration of the company.
Full Legal Name :
Address:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Country:usa
Nationality:
Home and Cell #:
Send the Information requested above to the E-mail address given below :
Paul Walter
pwaltersoffice@aol.com
Tel: 585-861-3321
Other Countries: (E-mail Only)
As a mystery shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $400 weekly on Part time basis, you only work 2-3hours twice in a week. Do get back to the recruiting department of Apex consult Co.,Inc
Your response would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul Walter.***
I responded with information they requested then got this response. I googled their phone number and found your blog!!!
***Top Consult Co., Inc.
U.S OFFICE: 230 W 26th St,
New York, NY 10001
Tel:917-285-9182
paulwalter@live.co.uk
Attn: Esteemed Mystery Shopper,
My Name is Paul Walter and I am your group regional Instructor from within the USA.Henceforth you will be working with me on the completion of your Mystery Shopper’s Position application.We have received your Information (Mailing address,contact telephone Number,Nationality) your Information as submitted to us have been forwarded to our head office for assessment and approval, once approved I will notify you and provide you with funds for your first assignment which I will also provide you with details of sometime next week. Like you already know, your weekly wage is $400:00 Flat for working with us and will come in two bi-weekly payments of $200 each.
PAYMENT TERMS:
Your payment would be sent weekly ($400) weekly, Also the company is in charge of providing you with all expense money for the shopping and other expenses incurred during the course of your assignment.All the tools you will needing would be provided to you with details every week you have an assignment.
JOB DESCRIPTION :
1} When an assignment is given to you,You would be provided with details to execute the assignment and in a timely fashion.
2} You would be asked to visit a company or store in your area and they are mostly our competitors as a secret shopper and shop with them to know more about their sales and stock , cost sales and more details as provided by the company then report back to us with details of whatever transpired at the store. But anything you buy at the shop belongs to you,all we want is an effective/quick job and reports.
ASSIGNMENT PACKET :
Before any assignment we would provide you with the resources needed {cash}Mostly our company would send you a check which you can cash and use for the assignment. Included to the check would be your assignment packet .Then we would be providing you details on here. But you follow every single information given to you as a secret shopper .You can earn more which involves nothing more than shopping at a number of selected retailers and assessing their customer service and reporting back . We tried reaching you on phone but it wasn’t responding , So i want you to get back to me with confirmation of your interest and commitment in working with us ,Mostly we need your phone number for contact purposes which is most Important- should you need to speak to someone from my company from within the USA I can be reached at any time during working hours on 917-285-9182 if I’m unable to speak to you,leave me a message and I will return your call at my earliest convenience.
KINDLY RECONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION BELOW IS CORRECT FOR ASSESSMENT
Full Legal Name :
Address :
City :
State :
Zip code :
Country :
Age:
Nationality :
Home and Cell # :
I will await your prompt response.
Best Wishes and Regards .
Paul Walter.
Top Consult Co., Inc.
230 W 26th St,
New York, NY 10001
Tel:917-285-9182
paulwalter@live.co.uk**
Hope this helps anyone out there…
Michael-ji
WELL, READING ALL THIS REALLY HAS ME WORRIED NOW. BUT THE AGENCY I CONTACTED HAS LEGITIMATE INFORMATION THUS FAR. IM A SINGLE MOM THAT REALLY NEEDED THAT $400. IT WAS FROM HIGHLANDS CREEK IN CRANBROOK,BC. IM PRAYING THAT THEY ARE LEGAL. I CANNOT AFFORD A SETBACK.
I wish that I had encountered this site before I entered into this. The letterhead is Timberglen Research Center A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
The check was for $4260. The instructions stated that I was to put $1860 in one money gram transfer, $1800 in another, make a $60.00 walmart purchase and keep $400 for myself.
I was stupid and actually did it. However, it was a very close friend of mine that drew the check for me. Now, she is over $4000 in the hole. Due to this, we may be out of a place to live since she pays half the rent each month.
You can be assured that I will be contacting people. I have a copy of the check that was cashed, so I can do that much at least.
I received a letter in mail from Timberglen Research Center
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
HEAD OFFICE: P.O. BOX 187 EMERSON,MB CANADA
TEL: 1-438-275-8549 FAX: 1-780-669-7902
With a check for $4,260. Along with a copy of the survey and directions that included the details of the job and how much money I would be making.
Basically was too good to be even close to true.
thanks, I hope this helps and prevents someone from cashing the check.
Thank you all very much for your insights and I am sorry for the ones who got taken. I will be contacting the authorities in my state.
Man what releaf I am not the only one that got one an looked online first to see if they were what they say they are? 1/2/09 I reseved a check for 3998.00 man thought I had it till I notest the spelling of the web site on my foarm it was spelled mystershoponline.com the check was from peoples bank in austin,TX. With a phone number of 1-514-625-1747 an Head office @ p.o. box 187 st. calmar,AB canada ?????
O an they didn’t even spell my name right!
Thank’s Again
Nick J. Fulton,MO.
I received one of the Northwood Research Center mailings last Friday, Jan. 2nd. It states the head office is in St. Edison, AB, Canada and is a division of MysteryShopOnline.com. The check they sent is for $3998.00. I was skeptical because the letter is dated “December 15th 2008″ and has some misspellings in the body text. On the other hand, I had actually been a mystery shopper in the past so I wondered if my name had just circulated to another list. Thank God, when I showed my husband, he remembered an acquaintenance who had been in a similiar situation; who had deposited the check and done the “assignments” of sending large amounts of money by telegram, only to have his bank tell him that the check had bounced. As did several of his own after giving away several thousand dollars in money grams to con artists. BEWARE! Many of us are financially uncomfortable right now, but the old adage of “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” rings truer now than ever before. Any offer that requires you to act within a short length of time should be very carefully examined, especially if it requires a transfer of funds. I do like the idea of reporting this operation to the authorities. Hopefully, others will be saved the disappointment and heartbreak of being conned out of their money.
yes recived a check 3,988 put in my bank account after i talked to jason portman assured me it was legitmate but of course it was not now my bank account is all messed up over 600 dollars over drawen is their any way to get my money back?
I just received a cheque for $4,260.00 from JIM BOWMAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, L.P. 1111 Simmit Avenue – Suite 1, PLANO, TEXAS 75074 drawn on a North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. from Dallas, Texas. The letter I received claimed to be from the BOWMAN Research Center ( A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com). Teir Head Office is a PO Box 187 St. LEDUC, Alberta Canada. I was suspicious since the amount was so much and yet their phone # to contact is 1-514-651-3352 FAX# is 1-780-669-7902. The 780 prefix is Alberta but the 514 is NOT. I was instructed to call the 514 # get my paid assignment which is to spend $60 at Wal-mart then to go to 2 different Money Mart outlets and send a cheque for $1860.00 to Julie Green (their Human Resource Mngr. in the city of NELSON, in the state of BC and the country of CANADA and another for the same amount to the Director of Operations a Tom Freeman at the Head Office in Leduc, AB Canada address. Upon completion of the tasks ( I was to assess each of the companies via their Customer Service Evaluation Tool CSET) I would receive further training so that I could advance and attain a higher level of payment. Iwas leary when I noticed that the phone numbers didn’t correspond to the stated province but until I checked out this official site I was not sure. Had I lived closer to Wal-Mart or even to town, I might have followed the instructions and carried out the training. Perhaps it is a good thing that when I tried to call the phone number to get further instructions I only got a message that the customer service agent was away from their desk and to call back later. Instead I showed the letter to my husband and he advised me that it sounded to good to be true and not to go ahead. So I went online and checked you out and read all the others comments. My questions to anyone out there are: #1 – should I report this letter and cheque to the RCMP and file an official complaint, OR should I just tear up the cheque and be glad that I didn’t get scammed? Seems a little scary that they can be scamming on both sides of the border though. I appreciate anyone who can give me any further advice or anyone else in BC or Canada who has received these types of letters.
What happens if you cash the check?? Not knowing anything we foolishly cashed the check this morning and now i see all this stuff on the web.. what will happen to me since i cashed it?? Should I take the money back to the bank??
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Jacob, I just recieved a check for $3995.00 from Northwood research center, a division of mysteryshoponline.com. I was very very excited at first since i am really struggling financially. But today i went to the internet because ive been trying to call them for a couple of days and an answering machine speaking french answers all the time. So i started to get doubts, i googled northwood company and i cannot find any company under that name. Unfortunately out of my excitement i have already deposited the check in my account! I am very scared because i dont want to go trhoug a legal issue. I have not spent 1 dollar of the money however. What should i do next?? thank you.
To those of you that have either deposited or cashed the bogus checks yet have not spent any of it.
Take the money back to the bank!! Do not spend one penny of it. You will lose in the end. You cannot get the debt removed if you take and actually do what the scam artists say to do. Trust me. If you scroll back and look for my name, you’ll see the result.
I just got this email this morning. I had signed up for something similar but, I know that if it looks too good to be true…it always is. I want to assist in putting these types out of business. Here it is:
*Top Consult Co., is a consultant company based in New york.
We are actually looking for a Mystery Shopper who will be working for our
company. Working with us won’t affect your present job.
* EARN NO LESS THAN $400.00 USD A WEEK* NEED EXTRA INCOME! * BECOME OUR [
MYSTERY SHOPPER]:
Earn [ NO LESS THAN $200.00 ] PER VENTURE: *IT IS VERY EASY AND VERY SIMPLE:
*NO APPLICATION FEES:
*Mystery shopping is a valuable customer service tool that has gained
widespread acceptance in the retail, financial services and
restaurant industries, and proves highly valuable to companies that use it
to gain customer experience metrics
*Your job as a mystery shopper would be quite effective and we would
provide more details on the job as soon as you get back to us with the
details requested.
*WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO ENCLOSE YOUR DETAILS:
*Kindly provide the below information for assessment and registration of
the company.
Full Legal Name :
Address :
City :
State :
Zip code :
Country :
Nationality :
Age:
Present occupation:
Home and Cell # :
Thanks in this regards
Brian Richardson
I just got one in the mail today for at&t in nthe amount of 3998.00
I called the bank and of course it fake but they where not very helpful. So if you want all of the info tell me where to send it and it is all yours. Other wise I will tear it up.
Hi there. I just received this notification and check today in the sum of $4260.00. I just moved to a new state and don’t really know who to contact about it. I will hold onto it though in case you have some information for me. Thanks
I received this email. Is this Legitimate?
from David Cole
date Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 6:23 AM
subject Instructions on first assignment… PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS
mailed-by hotmail.com
Top Consult Co., Inc.
U.S OFFICE: 230 W 26th St,
New York, NY 10001
Tel:917-285-9182
Attn: Representatives,
This e-mail is to notify you that we have an assignment for you for this week. The company has issued out a payment to you for this week’s assignment meaning that part of your weekly payment of $200 has been issued to you with some funds which you will use in executing this Assignment.
Read and make sure you understand all that is stated below to avoid any mistakes. You should receive a check today and this is part of your assignment.
The package will be delivered to you by USPS.
Payment was issued to cover the project bills and also part of your weekly wages and Assignment:-
Once you receive the check, you should take the payment to your bank and cash the payment today then deduct $200 as part off your weekly wage. The other $200 will be sent with the next instructions and next assignment which should be sent tomorrow if you get this first assignment done. Also deduct $200 as cost allowance.
IMPORTANT: THE PAYMENT WILL BE IN FORM OF MONEY ORDERS CHECK AND CAN BE CASHED INSTANTLY AT ANY BANK WITHIN THE COUNTRY.
The remaining balance should be used for the below assignment. Follow these instructions below.
1ST ASSIGNMENT: Your first assignment is to go to any close western union store close to you and check out and use their western union services.
As a secret shopper, you should go there and study how to send money and memorize all you see at the outlet. We want you to report back to us with the following information:
-Name of the Store/Outlet
-Procedure of attendance:
-How many attendants were at the outlet:
-How many minutes it took for them to attend to you and process transfer:
-Information that you think would be helpful
-Your comments and impressions.
As a secret shopper your job is to observe any thing useful going on in the outlet. Make sure you observe everything you see in there because you may be asked some other questions when you return. So then you would go ahead and make a western union money transfer to another mystery shopper for another assignment.
We want you to deduct part of your weekly payment of $200 and deduct $200 as cost allowance then have the remainder funds sent to the information below for proper preparation of our next Mystery Shopper.
TRANSFER THE REST OF THE FUNDS THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO THE BELOW INFORMATION:
RECEIVER NAME: Amy Nansel
CITY: Tulalip
STATE: WA
ZIP CODE: 98271
Text Question: In God?
Text Answer: We Trust
Our Finance department has just established a new system which you might have never heard of and it is called Alert Pay. And this service is been Privately owned and established under our management since 2004 with many competitors we have a very low rating and few customers and we want to develop and upgrade our service to the best and fullest. So we only need the report you provide so we can work on our service.
Please try as much to be discrete when doing your work as a mystery shopper, just observe all you see and report back when you get back home. Your next assignment this week would be immediately after this one, we would provide you with the details and address and your balance weekly payment
Also to further finalize this Assignment, you have to get back to us with the below western union transfer information for the money you sent to the other mystery shopper:
1. Senders Name and Address
2. 10 Digit Money Transfer Control Number {M.T.C.N}
3. The amount transferred after deducting western union charges.
This project shouldn’t take you more than a couple of hours to execute and the time limit matters to us, with that we can also determine your efficiency and the commitment you show towards working with us. Do get back to me with the Reports and Transfer information.
Looking forward to work with you on this project and remember to pretend to be a client who wants to send money so they wont detect you are a secret shopper. Should you have any other questions or need more Instructions as to your first assignment, you can easily reach me at 585-861-3497
Kind Regards,
David Cole
Top Consult Co., Inc.
U.S OFFICE: 230 W 26th St,
New York, NY 10001
Tel:917-285-9182
payment for the evaluation of Money Gram services has been mailed out and will be delivered via FedEx . You are to cash the Check of $3,800 at your bank and head to any MoneyGram location in your area. You are expected to Evaluate any MoneyGram Location in your area and send your report immediately.
HOW TO CARRY OUT THE TASK
After cashing the payment you will deduct your $250 commission, after which you will be left with $3,550 , You are now expected to head to your location with $3,550. MoneyGram will charge you about $120 for the transfer. We expect you to bargain with the operator concerning the charges to see if it can be reduced or not . After all deductions you are expected to transfer about $3,420. The funds should be sent to Astoria, New York, the name of our Receiving agent in New York is below
Receivers Name : Jessica Aurecchione
Address : 30-24 31st Street
City : Astoria
State : NY
Zip Code : 11102
NB :
We expect you to be very vigilant and time cautious while you carry out your task. The following should be put into consideration the following
(1.) Overall time duration of the transfer
(2.) Exact time the funds was transferred
(3.) Customer service performance and customer friendliness
Every activity of Mystery Shoppers remains a secret between you and Mystery Shoppers. As as the company reserves the right to every documentation and information which you gather on behalf of the company.
YOU ARE TO GET BACK WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS
(a) the 8 digit transfer code or Reference number and the exact amount sent after the transfer was made (this should be to the nearest cent)
(b) a comprehensive and detailed report should be sent my email immediately you evaluate the location. additional remarks or comments will be appreciated in your final report.
(c) the name and address of the locations should be added along with the name of the attendant .
We expect you to get it done immediately, so we can file our report to meet our deadline. I will be looking forward to your report.
Warren Robinson
Mystery Shoppers
http://www.mystery-shopper.com
I just recieved One Today From Berk Research Center. Claiming to be a division of MysteryShopOnline.com
Their Head Office is P.O. Box 306 Hamilton, ON Canada
TEL 514-621-3974
The Address for the Company on the Check is in Austin TX, at 71 Strandman. The interesting thing is the only address close to that in Austin TX is 71 Strandman Cove, but they aren’t there, Borden Milk Products is. The bank is First Union National Bank in Bloomfield NJ.
Check is for $3,998. My Name is right, but there is no address just my Apt# and City. Was very suspicious right off the bat, seeing 3 different Cities, One being in Canada. That and the letter that accompanied the Check was FULL of Spelling errors. MYSTRY Shopper, part time BASES. Also on the Second page the PO Box for the Headquarters is different from the First page. PO Box 306, then PO Box 308. Was supposed to send the Money Grams to “Davia Willfoed” and call 514-625-1747 to confirm receipt of the check. Most legitimate companies have the same prefix for all their office numbers. So changing from 621- to 625- seemed weird as well. It also states that Davia Willfoed is the Director of Operations, and then an the end it is signed by Steve Klein “Director of Operations”!!! That and they call Ontario a State, when in Canada they aren’t states they are Provinces and Territories. The Check was Signed by Jeff Smith.
New this looked waaay to good to be true, but I figured I would check to make sure. It looks like I was right. Darn Con Artists, maybe they should learn to use spell check before they try to rip people off.
I recieved the exact same letter yesterday(ver batum of what David has). I was almost about to cash the check; but my wife stopped me. I too, also noticed the numerous spelling errors. The way that this is set up, to me, looks like money laundering. I will be contacting the FBI later today and hopefully mail them the letter and the envelope that it was sent in. the return address on my envelope was cut off (the company name was missing). Just a few days ago I had watched the movie “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DeCapreo. To anybody reading this/these blog(s) PLEASE
I recieved the exact same letter yesterday(ver batum of what David has). I was almost about to cash the check; but my wife stopped me. I too, also noticed the numerous spelling errors. The way that this is set up, to me, looks like money laundering. I will be contacting the FBI later today and hopefully mail them the letter and the envelope that it was sent in. the return address on my envelope was cut off (the company name was missing). Just a few days ago I had watched the movie “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DeCapreo. To anybody reading this/these blog(s) PLEASE watch this movie. Also, hopefully this summer I plan on going to school to become a cop. I have vowed to myself (before this letter incident) that am going to try and bring as much of this BS to a screeching halt.
I am sorry that I am on here twice saying the same thing my fingers got punchy and submited the blog while I was in the middle of typing.
i got a check for $3852.75 cashed the check an went to jail for 1 day my fiance bailed me out ive been trying to be a mystery shopper for about 2 years i should of known sumthing was wrong but everything in the paper work was so good. 22yrs living ive neva seen a fake check until that day iam a stay home mother of three an just wont a stay home job that way i dont have to leave my kids with anybody so when this check came in the mail i was thanking god i tho this was it but i see u cant trust the internet the police think i made the check and like i told them i have three kids to live for i have a licence as a pharmacy tech i have a high school diploma neva been in trouble with the law why start now the company was MG services multi-group services in NY but when i go on line it is a webmail site but sum how it was sent from canada i go to court tomorrow to see what they are going to do i just cant believe sumbodys that money hurgry to get other people in trouble and i wish i would have known about your website before i got that check in the mail i wish i would have just throw it in trash i hope u guys find the stupid people that made me go to jail and leave my 4 yr old 3yr old and 15 day old
the address is
1270 Broadway, New York,
New York 10007
tel/faxs
1514-562-6850
1888-446-3572
1516-706-0466
hope u find them and put a stop to it
I just received a check for $4,260 from Home Care Research Center: A Division of Mystery ShopOnline.com. I will contact the police and better business bureau regarding the letter and check.
I recieved a check today from Albertsons MoneyGram, in the amount of 952.00, the check came by itself via UPS. I recieved the instructions via e-mail copied below, I looked up Alberstons MoneyGram on line and found this link, http://fraudwar.blogspot.com/2008/06/fraudsters-mutate-counterfeit-moneygram.html
they discuss the way’s these checks are sent, and the smaller dollar amounts to fall below the banks radar.. I’ve not had time to take this check to the bank, but sure it’s a fraud…
Attn: Annette,
We have another assignment for you today, and we have sent funding for this assignment by Ups.The tracking Number for this Ups delivery is 1Z70E5572110001271
First you should deduct $200 as part of your weekly wage, the balance $200 will be sent with your next assignment, with the balance left you should now proceed to carry out the Mystery Shopping assignment below- remember that any expenses incurred (such as gas and cost of transfer) should be deducted from the balance funds not from your weekly wage
FIRST ASSIGNMENT :
Your first assignment is to go to the store below and check out and use their western union services.
SHOPRITE
14600 MONETA RD
Moneta, VA 24121-5741
540-297-6000
Their Contact Telephone Number is 540-297-6000
As a secret shopper , You should should go there and study how to send money and memorize all you see at the outlet . We want you to report back to us with the following information.
-Procedure of attendance :
-How many attendance in the outlet :
-How many minutes it took for them to attend to you and process transfer :
As a secret shopper your job is to observe any thing useful going on in the outlet. Make sure you observe everything you see in there because you would be asked some other questions when you return . So then you would go ahead and make a western union money transfer to another mystery shopper for another assignment.
We want you to deduct part of your weekly payment of $200 and have the remainder funds sent to the information below :
TRANSFER THE REST OF THE FUNDS THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO THE BELOW INFORMATION:
Name: Blake Johnson
Address:1281 Sheppard Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30301
Our Finance department has just established a new system which you might have never heard of and it is called Alert pay. And this service is been Privately owned and established under our management since 2004 With many competitors we have a very low rating and few customers and we want to develop and upgrade our service to the best and fullest. So we only need the report you provide so we can work on our service.That why we want you to send the balance western union in minutes so that we can test the service if it is working properly.
Please try as much to be discrete while doing your work as a mystery shopper,Just observe all you see and report back when you get back home . Your next assignment this week We would provide you with the details and address and your balance payment
Also to further finalize this Assignment, you have to get back to us with the below western union transfer information for the money you sent:
1. Senders Name and Address
2. 10 Digit Money Transfer Control Number {M.T.C.N}
3. The amount transferred after deducting western union charges.
This project Shouldn’t take you more than a couple of hours to execute and the time limit matters to us , With that we can also determine your efficiency and commitment you show in working with us. Do get back to me with the Reports and Transfer information.
Looking forward to work with you on this project .And remember to pretend to be a client who wants to send money so they wont detect you are a secret shopper.If you have any questions you can always reach me by e-mail 24hrs of the day.
Thanks in this regards
Brian Richardson
Don’t let these guys get you.. I just wanted to follow through to see how aggressive they are,I have been very vague and slow at returning responding to them, and never gave complete information…
Mrs. T
I just got a letter and check same type of thing. I just emailed the bank and the actual company the check has on it which I think is a actual check that can be cashed but wrong company then who sent it to me. I just wanted to make sure this company know they have there info and to keep a look out for these checks. Is there anyone I can hand this over to so I do not have to deal with it. I was going to throw it away but I want to make sure if they can catch these guys then I would like them to. please comment to this.
thanks all
I just got one of those large PHONY checks from MysteryShopOnline.com.I hope someone can catch and prosecute these
crooks!
Received letter from Smith Tool Research Center from P.O. box 187, Chester, NS Canada Ph 1-514-436-4172.
Check was from The American National bank in P.O. Box 1268 Wyile Texas, from Smith Tool & Mfg., 116 Regency Drive, Wylis, TX 75098 signed by a Melina Waldren for $4,260.00.
I will check out the check if it is real.
I took the check to one bank yesterday they can’t tell me if it good or bad with out depositing it and putting a hold on it.. I am taking it to another bank I deal with today and have them look at it.. I was advised from Top Consultant to go ahead and deposit it and wait on the funds to clean and complete the assignement.. I’ll let you know what happens.. Mrs. T
GO TO IC3.gov, that is the federal site for the F B I, and thats where you go with these check deals, have had 3 myself….
ATTENTION;Beware of ACCESS MARKETING RESEARCH INC. 75 9th Avenue suite 5B, P.O. Box 400, NEW YORK,NY 11226, 1-514-569-0794 and 1-514-568-5172, fax 1-866-365-7721, and the two names i have manged to come up with are,Solange Lesner & Barbara R. Moelle, they are as phony as they come, Believe me, i learned the hard way, also i got a check last week for $3,860.00, got in touch with the real company and found out the checks were stolen, the company called me to inform me of this.because i had left a message on Saturday afternoon at their company. SO Please beware all
well i received a check too from Smith Tool Research Center PO Box 3874, Tulsa, OK,USA..a check of $3,998.00 like David in Hawaii did..
the check was from the American National Bank..David or any1 plz lemme know if you get contacted from bank or anywhere..and if you find any information about this company..i dont know what to do??plz help me figure this out..
I got one of those checks in the mail thursday. No return address, postmarked from canada. The company name is Best-Buy Customer Service( A Division Of MysteryShopOnline.com). I am going to call them now and ask them if this is a real thing, then why does the check say VOID All over it. Thanks for the heads up everyone.
WOW !!!!i can’t belive this ,the same checks keep coming to me .i’m lucky ,i went to my bank & asked if this check is cashable . tbhey did there check up and told medon’t waste your time and money. i made phone calls to police in dallas texas ,& to banks in dallas ,columbus ohioeven tried to bring the companies on line . this makes a person think ” why didn’t ithink of that ,ha ha just kidding.!!! i hope someone will get to these people !!!!
yes i did sign up to be a mysery shopper. maybe that is how they got my e-mail address !!! with these hard times most of us can’t afford this !!!
I received an assignment and a check for $4,260.00. The Head Office is located in Canada. I spoke with a Jason Portman on the phone @ 514-436-4172. They wanted money grams sent to a Cristina Rice and Blake Willis. The fax number is 514-656-3882. The bank told me it was a fraud. So people beware. I will turn them in to all the appropriate authorities. I hope these people rot in jail for a long time.
I too, received a check today in the amount of $4,260.00. They wanted to to shop at WalMart and to send 2 money grams to a Alicia Miller in Bathurst, NB and one to Adam Davis at their Head Office in Winkler, MB, Canada. The $400 left over would be my pay for this. I called the number but with the time difference, no one answered. I thought I would wait till Monday and have the bank look into this, but if you all say this is fraud, maybe I’ll just call the police. The letter is from ALPHA Research Center, a Division of MysteryShopOnline.com.
I got a letter with the following contact information:
The Ledbetter Research Center
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 38704
Goodland, KS, USA
TEL 1-514-436-6289
FAX 1-514-656-3882
Steve Portman, Director of Operations
I got this same letter today.
SEELYE RESEARCH CENTER
A DIVISION OF MYSTERY SHOPONLINE.COM
HEAD OFFICE
POBOX 310 SELKIRK, MB CANADA
1-514-716-5334
CHECK CAME IN THE NAME OF: SEELYE CONSTRUCTION
POBOX 1554
CELINA, TX 75009
BANK NAME: TEXAS STAR BANK
I got mine today, labeled Customer 1st Research Center, for $3998, pretty much the same scenario. Did anyone else notice the many grammatical and spelling errors? This smacks of possibly the Russian mob at work. I almost missed the note about not cashing/depositing the check before spending the money, LOL. Would really like to get these ***** in a small room with a Taser
Just like Brenda G my Daughter received a check from Alpha Research Center(division of mysteryshoponline.com. it seems there is a common thread to al of these Canada and Texas.Maybe Bush has a new retirement scam going now? We are turning this over to the FBI and let them figure it out. Hope they slam these scammers in the pokey forever.
Still at it as:
The Ledbetter Research Center, with a check for 4260.00 drawn from Benchmark Bank, Plano, TX.
Yes,
I just received a letter with check included for the sum of 4,260.00 to complete a mystery shop assignment. The company is operating under the name TACTICAL RESEARCH CENTER. P.O BOX 8240 C
To continue with last post. The address if this supposed company is P.O. Box 8249 Cranbrook, BC Canada Number 1-514-432-5838 fax 1-514-656-3882. The are claiming to be an affiliate of Mystershoponline. I have tried to look them up on the www to no avail.
Feb. 25, 2009,I received one from Kichler Home Research Center, a Division of MysteryShopOnline.com. Head Office in Selkirk, MB Canada. A check for 4,260.00 from Bank One, Circleville, OH, and the home center is in Independence OH. Same deal, Wal-Mart purchase and 2 Money Gram transactions. I googleed Kichler and they appear to be a reputable lighting store, so it is confusing how they can use that name. I agree the spelling is poor, but so is the writing, very non-professional.
Thanks all for all the info about this scam.
HB
Wow, I am so glad I took the time to research this MysteryShopOnLine.com outfit. I just received a check in the amount of $4,260 asking me to go shopping at Wal Mart and then go to Western Union and do a couple of Money Grams. The check is real, but it just seemed to easy to put $400 (my pay for doing as asked). ANy way I will take the letter and the check to the police dept tomorrow and hopefully they can catch these people and stop their scam
I received a check today from Seelye Research Center in the amount of $4260.00. IT was also asking me to go shop at Walmart and complete a two money gram transaction. I am glad that I researched this company and bank before I cashed it.. It came at a time when I really need money. I am take the letter and check to my local police dept. I am so glad that this website exist.
I recieved a check in the mail today for 2975.00. I went to a couple of places trying to cash it. and the only thing that i ws told was that they could not cash it because they never heard of the bank. It is drawn from The Bank Of New York Mellon on Philidelphia PA. From Northam Employment Assurance Company.The address is 399 Market ST. Philidelphia PA,19106 and the director is Doris Forman.I am to contact account manager Angela Collins at 1-289-892-3526. The banks number to contact them is 1-877-228-4767.I still am in posession of the check and would like to know what do I do with the check? do i take it to the Little Rock Police Department? please let me know what to do.
I just surrently got 2 money grams of $977 each from brian richardson, for a mystrey shopper. My first assignment is to go into a back and watch the process of how they cash the money gram, how long it took, and basically how many people were working. How do I know if this is a fake??
I received one from Kichler Home Research Center, a Division of MysteryShopOnline.com. Head Office in Canada. A check for 4,260.00 from Bank One, Circleville, OH, and the home center is in Independence OH. Same deal, Wal-Mart purchase and 2 Money Gram transactions.
Thanks all for all the info about this scam.
HB
i received a letter in the mail from customer 1st research a division of mysteryshoponline.com. a check was included in the amount of 3998.00 dollars. the letter instructed me to make purchases in wal mart and then send a money gram. leaving me 400 dollars as salary. reading all your previous posts, i know this is a scam. what should i do with the letter and the check? i would like to help to shut down these people.
I just recieve a letter this morning, and when i opened it, i instantly thought SCAM. Nobody give away $4,260 to anybody…especially when you really really need it. I wish it was real, but im glad that i found this web site. Please contact me, and let me know who i need to contact to get this guy caught and punished. The wierd thing is, it matches all the stories above, but it came from canada.
Hi i’m glad i found this website also, just received mail from Dynamic Research Group and a check for 4,260.00 also wanting me to shop at walmart and send money gram’s It’s also a canadian based company, so please tell me what i need to do now? I will be more than happy help put fraudulant people where they belong
My wife got one of these. She IS a mystery shopper and they pay a small fee per shop, not a weekly salary. It took her about 3 seconds to see this for the scam that it is.
i just received the Dynamic research group. (mysteryshoponline.com). check for 3,998.00 spend 40.00 at wal-mart 400.00 for my salary & training.send 3,430.00 to Laura Clinch at GOODLAND KS. it also came whith a evaluation sheet and acceptance form. banks name Amegy bank,NA PO BOX 27459 Houston,TX 77227-7459.addreas for DRS,inc Farmers Branch,TX 75244 IJust notised the name on the check is not the same on check is Dynamic Recovery Services,inc i hope we can put these guys out of bisness.director of ops.Steve Harris
I got one for 4260 dollars from a valley creek research center in canada. I took the check to the bank and deposited it. Am i going to be in some serious trouble or something? ummmmm please can someone help me.
me to man, thats so wierd
I received a letter from Transplatinum Research Group from Selkirk, MB Canada for $4260. There is a legitimate company from TN with that name. The check is drawn on SunTrust Bank. I checked out the phone number and it is a cell. Several things about this one that bothered me. No addresses for the shops. And you deposit the check AFTER you fax in your acceptance form which looks like it is a questionaire on a company.
I would like to be a mystery shopper, but not at this place.
I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $3998 FROM JW PARTNERS,LTD. THEY WANT ME TO FILL OUT SOME PAPERWORK AND FAX IT BACK THEN CASH THE CHECK AND SPEND 40 AT WAL MART AND SEND 3430 BACK ON MONEYGRAM AND KEEP 400 FOR MY SALARY..IS THIS A SCAM TOO??
I recived notification by e mail and signed up for a mystery shopping assignment. they sent me 2 checks totaling $2000, I was to keep $200 and take the cato the westernunion establishment and rate the attedant on 7 different things!! When I asked that they contact me within 15 minutes at the number I provided, which by the way they said they had tried to do, I got no reply!! The checks were delivered today by fed express in overnight priority mail!! When I tried to check the address through online bbb they had no record!! My husband took the checks to the credit union and asked if they were legit and was told probably not, that they could be deposited, but it would take 10 days to check to see if they were bogusor not andthe money could not be withdrawn before that!! we need to alert public websites, the post office tv stations and wherever else we can think of to put a stop to this !!! Thank you for the place to voice a complaint and air my feelings!!
My father just received a check for $2975.00 from Manpower the other day to have him shop at Wal-Mart,send a money gram of $2665.00 back to who ever sent the letter and keep $200.00 for him. It sounded too good to be true so I researched the internet to see if there was any scams and I found this web page, I’m glad that I did! The letter and check arrived in a plain envelope with his name hand written on it with no return address. The letter has the correct address for Manpower but, the area code for the phone number is listed in Ontario, Canada. BEWARE of letters arriving in the mail from Manpower!!!!
Scott
I recieved a check for 3998.00 from Dymanic research group asking me to do two assignments, one shop at walmart spend 40.00 dollars and than send Laura Clinch 3430.00 thru money gram. It also said that I could keep 400.00 for my salary and training. I knew it was a scam. I will take it to the police station.
I recieved a scam letter also and thought maybe it was a legit thing. However after finding this sight online I am increadably thankful that this website took the action that it did. Im goin g to list the names and companies and names listed in the leter and on the check in hopes that someone else getting a check from this company will not fall into this trap. Thank you Jacob for taking action against people trying to use your ligitamite buisness to try and scam people out of what are usualy tight budgets anyway. If theres anyway that I can help (i have all the documents sent to me still) dont hesitate to let me know. Jone G.
The letterhead is Crown Research Group. “a division of Mysteryshoponline.com. The head office is listed as P.O. 13874, Fresno Ca. Tel; 1-514-436-827 Fax; 1-514-656-3882
The companies i was supposed to shop at were WalMart and (you guessed it) MoneyGram. I was supposed 2 contact a JUDY HANES and the letter was signed by a FRANK MORGAN as director of operations. The check amount was for 3,998.00 from First National Bank and issued from Crown Commodities, llc. thanks again Jacob!! your a life saver!
I got a job offer and a check in the mail.
I figured he was ot asking me to send him any money first.
He spent money UPS to over night a check.
I took it to the bank 2 days later and the check turns out to be fake.
I am glad I did not lose any money.
His name is Fernando Tores, company name is Top Consult Co., Inc. 230 W 26th St. New York, NY 10001
The check was issued from a CIB Insurance Company.
Does any know how this affects the innocent people.
I just received a job offer and check today (4/20/09) in the amount of $4,260.00 claiming to be from Frederick J Duffy Marketing Group, PO Box 8240 Cranbrook, BC, Canada claiming to be a division of MysteryShopOnline.com with my 1st assignment being a Wal-Mart purchase. They also claim that all future payments would be made by Crown Research Group which does not exist either. The letter contains several capitalization, grammatical and type errors which would not be consistent with legitimate companies and was signed by Barry Martin, Director of Operations at phone# 514-716-3961.
When my husband and I did a reverse phone number search on white pages, it came up as a cell phone from Montreal, QC. I will be contacting the authorites on this.
Recieved the same letter as Jone, from Crown Research Group. The contact is Judy Hanes @ 1-514-436-8271 and signed by Frank Morgan.
Check total was $3998. $40 was to tbe spent at Walmart and $3430 was to be sent in a money Gram. Check # 10553.
I hope these people are caught.
G-day to you this fine day.I did receive a large check(4260.00)I did deposit it into my bank,The people who sent it to me is Frederic J. Duffy(A division of MysteryShopOnline.com)my contact is Joey Anderson.Tel’1-514-716-3961,out of Cranbrook,BC,Canada.I am to make a purchase at walmart,and then purchase a couple on money grams.I would love to hear from you to let me Know if it is a scam or not.
My supposed position is as Customer Service Evaluator,Rep#6214454399.Thankyou for you assistance in this matter.Do I get to be a secret shopper or do I get to turn all my info over to my local Polive so we try and put an end to these SCAMS.
Thank you David H. Moye
I received a Letter in the mail today with a check from a marketing group claiming to be a Division of Mysteryshoponline.com. I applied for a part-time job as a Mystery Shopper more than a week ago through Snagajob.com. The check I received is in the amount $4,260.00. The letter ask that I make a purchase at Walmart and send two Money Grams. I get to keep the purchase from Walmart as a bonus. The breakdown is as follows:
Wal-Mart Purchase $60.00
1st Money Gram $1860.00
2nd Money Gram $1800.00
Service charge by Money Gram $140.00
You Keep $400.00
Upon receiving the letter, of course I immediately became excited but then that old saying kicked in…If it seems to good to be true; it probably is. I immediately got on my computer to Google the company’s name. The name did not come up. I then Googled “MysterShopOnline.com”, that’s when a link popped up with the word SCAM on it. This is the link I selected and that’s how I found this blog. I will be taking this information to my bank with the letter so that they may investigate. The fake company’s information will follow this message. For all of you out there remember… There are some cruel people in this world…try not to fall victim to that cruelty. Bless all of you and beware.
The OSX Marketing Group
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
PO Box 1887 Chester, NS Canada
Tel.: 1-514-436-6896
Fax: 1-514-315-6405
The check reads…
OSX Energy Corp.
PO Box 339
Rockwell, TX 75087
The Bank is…
Southwest Securities, FSB
2302 Guthrie Rd., Ste. 100
Garland, Tx 75043
I have a cheque in front of me for 3000$, this look legit, it even has water mark paper and tons of both infra-red and light sensitive marks in uniform for most patterns and others looks like the dots on a canadian 20$ bill, random…ANYWAYS, the back, the ink is like a brown-maroon shade and the water mark says *DOCUCHECK* within a pattern, has anyone actually examined/looked at theirs they got?
leave a message on here if your still keeping track
The following message was received by me. I questioned its validity and just began a brief verification beginning with the phone # in Google and found the other peoples negative comments. I won’t go any further.
======= ===============
Attn:- Esteemed Mystery Shopper,
I say Congratulations to you, haven’t processed your application as submitted to us to be one of our esteemed Mystery Shoppers from within 1-20 Miles of your address as submitted to us,we are pleased to Inform you that your application has been approved and that you will start working with us henceforth. Your first assignment has been planned and scheduled to take place this week, we have also made arrangement to cover all costs of your first mystery shopper’s assignment Including your wages. From your rating, we decided to provide you with a high-tasking assignment which will determine how your future pay rating will growwith us.
This Week you will be performing a major assignment, We will be sending you Funds to cover all necessary funding required to complete
your first assignment (Including gas costs) by Ups courier, your assignment Instructions will be sent to you tomorrow by e-mail.
Please Confirm receipt of this confirmation e-mail, and Indicate your readiness to carry out your first assignment tomorrow.
I anticipate your sincere response,should you need to reach me at anytime please feel free to call 917-285-9182
Thanks
Brian Prudencio
Flash Concepts Co
–
This Message Is Intended for Flash Concepts Mystery Shopper’s Only.
I received a Letter in the mail several days ago with a check from a marketing group claiming to be a Division of Mysteryshoponline.com. I never applied for a part-time job as a Mystery Shopper, so I was sure this was not legitimate. The check I received is in the amount $3,998.00. The letter ask that I make a purchase at Walmart and purchase a Money Gram. I get to keep the purchase from Walmart as a bonus. The breakdown is as follows:
Wal-Mart Purchase $40.00
Money Gram: $3,430.00
Service charge by Money Gram $128.00
You Keep $400.00
Upon receiving the letter, of course I immediately became suspicious because that old saying kicked in…If it seems to good to be true; it probably is. I immediately got on my computer to Google the company’s name. There were pages and pages of OSX Marketing Group, OSX Energy Corp., but they were certainly not for Mystery Shoppers. I even Googled the bank that the check was supposedly drawn on, the bank is legitimate, but I am sure the account is not. I then Googled “MysterShopOnline.com”, that’s when a link popped up with the word SCAM on it. This is the link I selected and that’s how I found this blog. I will be taking this information to my bank with the letter so that they may investigate. The fake company’s information is below, BEWARE FOR FAST, EASY MONEY. I had a friend that spent over $150,000.00 on quick rich scams. She died from a heart attack after pawning and selling everything she could get her hands on. For all of you out there remember… In this day and age, with the economy the way it is, we all need money and this sounds good, but unfortunately people can be cruel and if there is a way to scam people someone will come up with a way…try not to fall victim to that cruelty. God bless all of you and beware.
The OSX Marketing Group
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
PO Box 13874, Parma. OH USA,
Jim Bell, Director of Operations
Tel.: 1-868-363-0318
Fax: 1-514-315-6405
The check reads…
OSX Energy Corp.
PO Box 339
Rockwell, TX 75087
The Bank is…
Southwest Securities, FSB
2302 Guthrie Rd., Ste. 100
Garland, Tx 75043
Bank tracking and account number: 25178 300993149:7000308632
I will be sending this to the FBI, The FTC, The Attorney General and even Snopes.com., I may even contact my local new station to get this information out to the public. I pray people will check this out and stay informed.
I was sent a HUGE check from Incline Marketing Group out of Richmond CA. The check was for 4,998.00 I was very suspicious of this so started looking for them thru the BBB But there was no record of them. I hope no one else has fell for this and lost a lot of money.
I to got a check in the mail from a Wells Fargo bank for the amount of $3500 I was to go do a Mystery shop at WalMart and then Send a money gram back to this person and keep the rest. Beware of an email from Frankmysteryshopagent4005@gmail.com. He use to be frankmysteryshopagent77@gmail.com. This is aslo one big scam i have also contacted the police and the bank so do not believe this person he caught on after i emailed him back and told him i knew he was a scammer so like i said he will keep changing his email adress so be aware everyone out there.
Today I received a check for $4998 from Incline Marketing Group. I knew it was a scam and will be reporting it to the NC Attorney General’s Office.
received a check on may 26 for 3975.00 dollars from myster shoppers also it had manpoweron the letter top i call the bank and the recording said that the check could not be cashed at this moment
the number to call was 1-289-987-1155 agent id is p20656on the cheque was the name s.w 6011 west courtyard drive austin tx 78730 i believe that i will take it to my police department so they can see it i live in ky
payment for the evaluation of Money Gram services has been mailed out and will be delivered via UPS today. You are to cash the Check of $3,800 at your bank and head to any MoneyGram location in your area. You are expected to Evaluate any MoneyGram Location in your area and send your report immediately.
HOW TO CARRY OUT THE TASK
After cashing the payment you will deduct your $300 commission, after which you will be left with $3,500 , You are now expected to split the funds into two parts of $1750 and transfer to two of our agents at two diffrerent MoneyGram locations. MoneyGram will charge you about $50 for each the transfer. We expect you to bargain with the operator concerning the charges to see if it can be reduced or not . After all deductions you are expected to transfer about $1700 to each of the agents. The names of the agents are below
Receiver Name : Marcel Muchnik
Receiver Address : 278 Nassau St,
City : Westbury
State : New York
Zip Code : 11590
Receiver Name : ANTONIO FERMAINT
Receiver Address : 7728 MOUNT ZION BOULEVARD
City : JONESBORO,
State : GEORGIA,
Zip Code : 30236
NB :
We expect you to be very vigilant and time cautious while you carry out your task. The following should be put into consideration the following
(1.) Overall time duration of the transfer
(2.) Exact time the funds was transferred
(3.) Customer service performance and customer friendliness
Every activity of Mystery Shoppers remains a secret between you and Mystery Shoppers. As as the company reserves the right to every documentation and information which you gather on behalf of the company.
YOU ARE TO GET BACK WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS
(a) the 8 digit transfer code or Reference number and the exact amount sent after the transfer was made (this should be to the nearest cent)
(b) a comprehensive and detailed report should be sent my email immediately you evaluate the location. Additional remarks or comments will be appreciated in your final report.
(c) the name and address of the locations should be added along with the name of the attendant .
We expect you to get it done immediately, so we can file our report to meet our deadline. I will be looking forward to your report.
James Bruzon
Mystery Shoppers
Received a check for $3875 today. Check was dated yesterday. Braewood Commercial LP, 105 E. Eldorado PKWY, Little Elm, TX 75068 (BANK INFO): Point Bank Little Elm, TX 75068. The letter was from Braewood Research Center, 5427 Feddick Rd., Boston, NY 14025. $3340 via Western Union to Natasha (My Last Name) in Boston New York. Forms to fill out upon evaluating Western Union. Letter was signed by Jessica Netz, Research Coorinator. Glad I looked this up.
I just got the check in the mail on June 5th. I called the bank in TX to see if the check was good and they new who I was calling on before I even said the name. They must have sent a bunch of these out again. My came form braewood research cener and the check said braewood commercial lp. They put two different address from the letter to the check which is one reason I figured this was fake. Hopefully they will find out who is doing this and stop them.
I just recieved an offer this morning on the 400.00 to shop at walmart and send money Western Union to another mystery shopper. The telephone number listed is 917-285-9182. Whenever I asked the name of the company it was never provided. Thanks so much for this site and for saving be the hastle of a bad mystery shop!!
—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Dr. CHARLES JACKSON
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 7:21:01 AM
Subject: GOOD DAY, MYSTERY SHOPPER POSITION
Hello Prospective Shopper,
How are you? I thank you for your swift e-mail response , You
information has been accepted and imputed into our database and it is
now Pending approval from the Recruiting department. Upon
approval,your job as mystery shopper would begin next week and this
would result to us providing you with more information.
PAYMENT TERMS:
Your payment would be sent weekly,($400) weekly, Also the company is
in charge of providing you with all expense money for the shopping and
other expenses involved incurred during the course of your assignment
. All the tools you will needing would be provided to you with
details every week you have an assignment.
JOB DESCRIPTION :
1} When an assignment is given to you , You would be provided details
to execute the assignment and in a timely fashion.
2} You would be asked to visit a company or store in your area and
they are mostly our competitors as a secret shopper and shop with them
to know more about their sales and stock , cost sales and more details
as provided by the company then report back to us with report . But
anything you buy at the shop belongs to you . All we want is an
effective/quick job and reports.
ASSIGNMENT PACKET :
Before any assignment we would provide you with the resources needed
{cash}Mostly our company would send you a check which you can cash and
use for the assignment. Included to the check would be your assignment
packet .Then we would be providing you details on here. But you follow
every single information given to you as a secret shopper .
You can earn more which involves nothing more than shopping at a
number of selected retailers and assessing their customer service and
reporting back . We tried reaching you on phone but it wasn’t
responding , So i want you to get back to me with confirmation of your
interest and commitment in working with us ,Mostly we need your phone
number for contact purposes.
KINDLY RECONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION BELOW IS CORRECT FOR ASSESSMENT
Full Legal Name :
Address :
City :
State :
Zip code :
Country :
Nationality :
Home and Cell # :
I will await your prompt response.
Best Wishes and Regards .
Dr.Charles Jackson
Apex consult Co.,Inc
220 W 26th St, Apt 711
New York, NY 10001
5167408873
I received an e-mail from Smart Concepts, Inc., Mark Jones, 917.285.9182, asking for my contact information and stating that they will be sending a first assignment. Is this a scam?
i get so many of these scam checks that i started collecting them.
i have a wall close to being papered with bogus checks that range from 300 to 8000 dollars.
scams from shopping such as what this site reads to simply cashing the checks and sending 90% back to the overseas scam artist.
here’s the most recent emial I received along the same lines except it is regarding a “drivers position” that was originally posted on craigslist
“as regards your drivers job, this is to notify you that I will be still arriving the US by monday the 31st of August and I need you to come and pick me up from the airport,the parent company who is responsible for my flight expenses has made a check out to you for your salary but there was a little error as they mistakenly included the travel agent’s pay in the check that was made out to you..it’s a cashiers check for $3,800 and you will recieve it today via FEDEX, so once you recieve it you take it to your bank for cashing and then deduct your salary of $700 and send the balance $3,100 through MoneyGram to the travel agent who is going to handle my flight booking and Ticket purchase(EVERY WALMART STORE HAS A MONEYGRAM SERVICE IN IT),I know there will be a charge of about $100 for sending the money so the travel agent should receive about $3,000 and don’t forget to get back to me with the refrence number as soon as you send it ..here is the travel agent’s info:
NAME: ANTONIO FERMAINT
ADDRESS: 610 W Lanier Ave
CITY:Fayetteville
STATE: GA
ZIPCODE:30214
I will inform you on where to pick up the vehicle from ok and I will also send you my flight itenary as soon as the travel agent receives the money and does the booking ok..and I hope you are punctual and neatly dressed..thanks
Thomas
+447 035 955 182″
Hey People this has happened to me twice but I ripped and shredded both checks and I think another is on the way which I MOST DEF will be reporting. I learned that you should always check the bank that the check is written from and if it says New York, just look at the address. Most business in New York central, will have the address such as 1234 w45th st, Ny Ny or if the location has a street name the name will be listed but it will always be New York, New York, zipcode, USA. I hope nobody gets scammed again. I know how it can feel.
To KD
I just received an email to send some money to him because he is a travel agent. WOW i guess he is on a roll today. I will be reporting him tonight.
Antonio is a busy man. I’m so glad I did a web search. I responded to a personal assistant ad posted on Craigslist, the poster is supposedly disabled and arriving from Dublin, Ireland on 9/12. Yesterday I got a check, and today these instructions:
I instructed a client of mine owing me $3900 in NY to send you a check via FEDEX Express delivery envelope, you are to deduct your payment of $700 (payment for a week)and also send $2600 via Money-Gram to my traveling agent in Georgia.below is the name of the receiver, you are to get back to me the transfer information (8 digit transfer code or Reference number and the exact amount sent). You are to keep the remaining $600 with you till i come around. You are to deduct the transfer chargers from the remaining $600 left with you. Please have this done latest by today so that my flight booking won’t be delayed, i will give you a call as soon as you have it done. I believe i can trust you on this fund.
FULL NAME: Antonio Fermaint
CONTACT ADDRESS: 7105 Hania Dr.
Fairburn, GEORGIA. 30213
Needless to say, I will be going to the authorities, and not cashing this check.
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A BOGUS OFFER. FROM CRAIGS LIST ?????? IS THIS WHAT YOU GOT IN THE BEGINNING ?? SCAMMERS
Thanks for the interest!
About Us .
We are a company that conducts surveys and evaluate other companies. We get hired to go to other people’s 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 products or required 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 the services requested.
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 why they get tensed .
We turn these information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving their services.
Most companies employ our assistance when people give complains 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/mystery shopper) you would be paid $200 for every duty 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.
Our Email:. evaluationteam102@rogers.com
If think you have what it takes to join a fast-pace, professional environment, then please apply immediately as soon as possible via e-mail as this position will be filled quickly but before you fill the list below make sure you read the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT attached to this mail.
FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS (no P.O.Box please):
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
CELL PHONE:
HOME PHONE:
GENDER:
PRESENT JOB STATUS/POSITION:
EMAIL:
As soon as you respond, we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service into, and your address would also be need for your
payments.
Thanks For Your Total Understanding and Moral Cooperation and we hope to read from you soon .
Warmest Regards,
Walter Thomas.
-Hiring Manager
MYSTERY SHOPPER INC
just recieved a similar check as what you guys are talking about and its valid, i applied for a company last month and you deposit the funds and do what it ask, like western-union, the money that you pay them is not really going to be sent, you have to call the agency back after you complete the task and they will inform western-union and other tellers, and will say it was a mystery shop and they get the money back. its not a scam
i received a check for $2,950 it says its from OMNI PRO ELECTRONICS. the letter says they are from a division of mysteryshoponline.com.as soon as i read the letter i thought it was a scam.the name signed at the bottom seemed to weird for me lol. Don Smooth?? i mean come on!! i have never done this type of job even though i am interested how can i get started on a job like this?
I just received an email from this person Ben Richmond, he is sending me a check……..i will not cash it cause i see that its a scam, i mean who would let me cash a check for $1900, i would be dumb to cash it. This is what he sent me:
Hello Amanda ,
The money order payment in the amount of $1900 has been issued out to you and will be delivered via UPS. here is the UPS tracking number to confirm the status 1ZAV18970191770820. As soon as you receive the money order from them, you are required to proceed to your bank to have it cashed . Afterward withdraw out the amount needed to be transferred via western union , after deducting your $200 as your own commission for the duty being rendered .
Below this message , i have stated the name and address of the western union outlet where the funds should be transferred from . Note : You are anonymous on this mission , for accurate report on the service rendered by the western union attendant. These are some of the information we shall need from you , so take note :
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 why they get tensed.
NAME AND ADDRESS TO SEND MONEY TO :
Receiver first name: KARL
Receiver last name: SIMONS
Address: 16 Old Oxford Road
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
WESTERN UNION LOCATION TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM :
FOODARAMA #04 ELLA
1805 ELLA BLVD
Houston, TX 77008
Send Money to be available in Minutes .
Once you get the transfer done you are to send me the details of the transfer (MTCN And Amount of money sent) as well as the evaluation report on the assessment.
Regards,
Ben Richmond.
TERSYLBRAN is a legitimate company whose name has been hijacked by third parties to commit fraud. We are not in the mystery shopper business.
If anyone using our name asks you send them money, DON’T DO IT, and DON’T ATTEMPT TO CASH ANY CHECK YOU RECEIVE BECAUSE IT’S BOGUS. You should report that entity to the local authorities. Obviously, this is an old issue, but we have just recently become aware of the extent of the fraudulent activity associated with our company.
I EVEN ASKED MY BANK THAT I THOUGHT THE CHECK MAY NOT BE REAL….THEN THE PROCESSING DEPARTMENT WILL FOCUS ON YOU LIKE YOUR A CRIMINAL. THE BANKS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORT AND IT TIES YOUR ACCOUNT UP AND IT A PAIN IN THE ASS. DON’T TAKE A BOGUS CHECK AND DEPOSIT IN YOUR ACCOUNT. NIGHTMARE TRUST ME. I EVEN TOLD THE TELLER BEFORE I DEPOSITED IT ( SHE OBVIOUSLY KNEW NOTHING)
I just received this email. This is the third time I have received such junk mail. The first two of course were letters and checks to my home. Please, people don’t fall for this scam. I did report the first two to the FTC and I even reported it to my local TV station, but no response. I know they have a lot of complaints to sort through, but we need to continue to bombard them with complaints about these criminals. I will, again, send a complaint to the federal authorities. I had a friend who actually deposited a check similar to his (her’s was for contests), but the bank actually accused her of contributing to Alchida (I know that isn’t spelled correctly). Who knows what these criminals are doing with the money they get from unsuspecting people.
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:39 AM
From: Shawn Brown Add to Addresses Block Sender
To:
Subject: MYSTERY SHOPPER ASSIGNMENT
Size: 4 KB
Dear Sir/Madam,
“We have a mystery shopping assignment in your area and we would like you to
participate”
Secret Shopper® is accepting applications for qualified individuals to become
mystery shoppers. It’s fun and rewarding, and you choose when and where you want
to shop. You are never obligated to accept an assignment. There is no charge to
become a shopper and you do not need previous experience. After you sign up, you
will have access to training materials via e-mail, fax or postal mail.
ABOUT US
Secret Shopper® is the premier mystery shopping company, serving clients across
America and Canada with over 500,000 shoppers available and ready to help
businesses better serve their customers. Continual investment in the latest
internet and communication technologies coupled with over 16 years of know-how
means working with Secret Shopper® is a satisfying and rewarding experience.
Secret shopping as seen on ABC NEWS, NBC NEWS, L.A.TIMES.
Stores and organizations such as The Gap, Walmart, Pizza Hut, and Banks. One
amongst many others pay for Secret Shoppers to shop in their establishments and
report their experiences. On top of being paid for shopping you are also allowed
to keep purchases for free. Secret Shopper® NEVER charge fees to the shopper.
Training, tips for improvement, and shopping opportunities are provided free to
registered shoppers. Mystery shoppers are either paid a
pre-arranged fee for a particular shop, a reimbursement for a purchase or a
combination of both.Secret Shopper® has available for immediate assignment an
inspection of the customer service of any walmart in your area. You are to shop
secretly and invest just a token. This fee will be paid upfront. During this
shop you will visit the location and make several observations as regards the
customer service.
You will be required to interact with the shop clerk.
You may conduct the shop alone or as a couple.
The assignment will pay 10% per duty
Kindly Fill Out the application form below and we will get back to you shortly
with the assignment:
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
First Name…………………………………….
Middle Name………………………….
Last Name……………………………
Street Address ……………………………………..
City, State, Zip Code ………………………………….
Cell Phone Number ………………………..
Home Phone Number ………………………..
Age……………
Current Occupation……………………………………
Alternate Email Address …………………………..
Reply to:(shawnbrwnshoper77@yahoo.com} or {shpershawnbrn77@yahoo.com}
We await your urgent response.
Thank you for your help.
We look forward to working with you
I received a cashiers check yesterday for $1,996.12 issued from PNC Bank, Maryland. The letter sent along with it is from High Tower Research & Marketing Corp. 600 5th Ave New York, NY 50024. Regional Office 90 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. Suite 1504 Mississauga ON L5B 3C3. Fax 1-303-479-9163. Phone 1-289-887-4361. The letter congratulates me on becoming a secret shopper and tells me to complete the probation assignment within 48 hours. I have to go to the Gap and Walmart, spend $50 at each location on any item of my choice. Then I wire $1,480.00 thru Western union and pay the service charge of $116.12. I keep the balance of the check $300 for my fee. The letter states that I am to call 1-289-887-4361 and speak to Johnson Smith before cashing the check. The letter is from Kim Shapiro. I called and can barely understand Johnson Smith. He says they received my name through an internet listing. He didn’t say anything when I mentioned that I thought it was a scam. I’m glad that I did research and found this website before cashing the check.
It pains me that there are still people out there that would get far a long into this type of scam. Here are the emails my sister sent me. She apparently did put the check in the bank before realizing it was a scam. Then Mr. Antonion threatens her. Good stuff, huh?
________________________________
From: Harris Stratyner [harris.strat555@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:54 PM
To:
Subject: RE: REPLY ASAP
wht do u mean by false check if u dont get back to me with my money i will get rid of u and remmber that i have all ue info with me so get back to me and send the money to the agent i told u today
— On Thu, 10/29/09,
wrote:
From:
Subject: RE: REPLY ASAP
To: “Harris Stratyner”
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10:35 PM
the check you sent me was false. it had no money. i
________________________________
From: Harris Stratyner [harris.strat555@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thu rsday, October 29, 2009 3:55 PM
To:
Subject: REPLY ASAP
wht do u mean get back to me wht happen to the check cos i need my money to be send to our agent today
— On Thu, 10/29/09,
From:
Subject: RE: PAYMENT DELIVER AND TRACKING NUMBER VIA FEDEX #…8709 2689 6847
To: “Harris Stratyner” <harris.strat555@yahoo..com>
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 6:47 PM
the check you sent me was fraud
________________________________
From: Harris Stratyner [harris.strat555@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:45 AM
To:
Subject: RE: PAYMENT DELIVER AND TRACKING NUMBER VIA FEDEX #…8709 2689 6847
we shall give u a call but make the payment out as soon u send the remaining fund to out agent in Georgia email me the confirmation receipt so i can get it for them as soon as possible
looking forward to hear from u soonest
— On Tue, 10/27/09,
> wrote:
From
>
Subject: RE: PAYMENT DELIVER AND TRACKING NUMBER VIA FEDEX #…8709 2689 6847
To: “Harris Stratyner” <harris.strat555@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 1:31 PM
Mr. Statyner
I would like some phone numbers please for refrences before I do anything. I will be calling them first.
________________________________
From: Harris Stratyner [harris.strat555@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:50 AM
To:
Subject: PAYMENT DELIVER AND TRACKING NUMBER VIA FEDEX #…8709 2689 6847
Hello
How are u today and hope all is well with u sorry for the late in respond im kind of busy here and need some paper works done,and i can see it in u that u will be a good (PERSONAL ASSISTANT)to me and i will be paying u for this week payment.as soon u get the package of payment deliver to u today via fedex. Here’s the tracking #…8709 2689 6847of the check take it to the bank to cashed and deduct the amount of $500 and send the balance to our branch office in GEORGIA cos they need to funds to got some materials for the orphanage homes over there cos they call and made it clear to them that they will get the remaining funds today.
Here is the information to send the remaining funds via Western Union to:
Name:Antonio Fermaint
Address..7105 Hania Dr..
Fairburn, GEORGIA. 30213
After funds have been transferred via Western Union Transfer email me the wiring info’s below.
1.10 DIGIT MTCN#(MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER)
2.SENDERS FIRST AND LAST NAME AND ADDRESS
3.TOTAL AMOUNT SENT
I await your response
Thanks
I am extremely grateful for reading this. I have just experienced THE SAME situation “Big Brother” just wrote about above me. Luckily I picked up on some red flags and “googled” the “travel agents” name I was to money grahm the money to. Thank you all for posting, you saved me one hell of a headache. I’m sorry to those who have been dealing with this. I contacted the FBI who told me to contact the Federal Trade Commission at 977-438-4338
I received one of these checks today too, mine was from:
R.A.B. Mystery Shoppers, Inc
P.O. Box 2001
Secaucus, NJ 07094
The check was for $3490.00 and I was assigned to shop at WalMart and send a moneygram. Such jackasses, like I wouldn’t google them! I feel sorry for the people who have been taken buy these bottomfeeders! I was thinking of taking this scam paperwork to my District Attorney’s Office just so they would be aware this was going on in this area.
Carol