I received an e-mail in early January telling how I could earn up to $200.00 per assignment being a mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers are hired by different companies to check out customer service of different type of businesses.instructed, if interested, to send my name, address and phone number for more informtion. Signed by Mr. Larry Smith
I sent back the information, to which I received a letter that my application, after an extensive background search (???) was approved for employment with their company. My first assignment would be:
A cashiers check would be mailed to me. I was to go to my bank and document who cashed the check and how long it took them. I would be instructed in a later e-mail of the more details.
I was to go to a local convenience store who was an agent for Western Union. Once there I was to wire an amount of money to another mystery shopper (To be revealed later in an e-mail) keep $200.00 for myself, and of course pay the wire transfer fee from the rest of the money. Their reasoning behind this was that this Western Union agent was being investigated for their poor customer service. Signed Mr. Larry Smith
I responded back to Mr. Smith that I needed a way to check to see if their comany was legit.
His response back to me that they were a totally honest and legitimate company; not including a way to check them out. Signed Mr. Larry Smith
A week later 2 days in a row I had a large envelope left on my doorstep, via UPS from a name and address in Marietta Georgia. The envelopes contained only checks: each one in the amount of $2600.00, with no instructions, letter, etc. The check# were 17 sequence numbers apart. Issued on Horicon Bank in Wisconsin. I tried thru long distance information, using the remitters address to get a phone number for the lady, and call her about the check. Of course the operator did not have any record of anyone with that last name at that address in Georgia.
Upon receiving the first check I opened my PC to check e-mails for the day and had a letter instructing me of the name and address (another mystery shopper?) to wire the money to and to complete my assignment ASAP. The 2nd check that I received was again on my doorstep, address to my address, but had a different name (they did not live there, nor did I even know them).
After doing a search, I found the address in Marrieta Georgia to be of an apartment duplex that was sold in July but nothing more than that.
The money was to be wired to an address and individual in Ocala Florida. Google search revealed that address to be of a Pawn Shop in Ocala, with a phone number too.
I called the pawn shop asking for the person who was to receive the funds, to see if they were aware of the e-mail scam and that their address was being used in it. The gentleman there assured me that they were just a pawn shop operated by he and his wife, and they did not know anything about it.
I called the bank that the checks were issued on and faxed them a copy of everything. Oddly, there was actual watermarks, routing and account numbers on the blank checks, and a signature in blue ink, the name of an actual employee at the bank.
I get 2 phone calls (voice messages) telling me that I had to complete my assignments, and to e-mail the information about the transactions back to them. One of the numbers was 1-800-222-2323, the other call was blocked. When I tried to call the toll free number back I never got a connection.
Needless to say I had never even considered cashing the checks. I know what happens at the bank when you cash a worthless check.
I e-mailed Mr. Smith and told him that my bank would not cash the checks as they had told me that they were countierfeit.
I then had 2 threating e-mails from Mr. Smith shameing me for trying to accuse them of fraud and trying to steal their money. He threatened that within 24 hours if I did not cash the checks and confirm that I had done so, that the FBI would be notified, along with their local agent and that I would be arrested, prosecuted, my assets would be frozen, and my family would suffer. He said that I would be hunted, traced and prosecuted, and that I would be linked with "terrorism and other heinous crimes."
My response to him was that I took this as a threat, that I had no intentions of cashing the fake checks, that I knew that was a scam and that law enforcement were already investigating them. I also instructed him not to e-mail me any more or I would get him for harrassment too.
It's sad that individuals are being scammed with this type of garbage. The bank said that saddly people get these checks and think of the bills that they can pay with them. People are struggeling to make ends meet and sometimes don't even have grocery money left. They see an opportunity to make a little extra money and end up in jail. These sorry and no good scammers need to be caught, and punished to the max!!!
Anne
Crossville, Tennessee
U.S.A.
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