July 16, I received a letter from CEG Research International, P.O. Box 877569, Plano, TX 75086. It was mailed from Canada without a return address. The letter enclosed a bank check made out to me for $4,180.00, and instructions to call Michael Ota, 1-514-690-5952, Fax 1-514-372-1918, the principal owner of CEG Research before depositing the check. I did, and the voicemail box was full.
The letter states the breakdown of the check.
I get paid $500 for acting as a mystery shopper. I am supposed to spend $150 at Wal-Mart, spend $3,350 at Western Union or Money Gram, plus the $180 fee for wire service, and send #3,350 Western Union money to Cecilia Smouni in New York City, along with my mystery shopper evaluation sheet.
The letter was signed by L. Jan Baumby (looks like that), but the name typed under the signature is Dr. Jennifer Smith, Director, Human Resources.
I called the company named on the $4,180.00 check. They stated that it is a fraudulent check and that someone stole their bank account number to run this scam. They told me that several attempts have been made to cash these checks, but the bank will not honor them.
Warning to anyone that gets a letter like this. It is a total scam. If you deposit the check, and then send money to this guy, the check will bounce and the wired money you paid is your loss. Don't do it.
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