I received a letter on Friday, January 16 from Astral Research Services Inc. Telling me that I have been selected to participate in a paid Consumer Research Program as a Secret Shopper. They say this research program is a fully paid program and would become a permanent part-time position for a selected few who are able to distinguish themselves in the course of the program. After the enclosed "training assignment" my "salary" would be increased to $400.00 per week after the first three months. Enclosed with the letter was a check in the amount of $3,000.00. The name on the Check was Capacity and Service Solutions (A Division of Tranzact Technologies, Inc., PO Box 9262, Oak Brook, IL 60522.
Further instructions say that after I accept this offer I must keep this offer "confidential" and that my self-training would begin immediately. I was to deposit the check then send a Money Gram to three different people totaling $2600.00. The "Receiving Agents" are: Bella Sanders in New York City, NY 14320, Cheri Porter in Plano, TX 76009 and Luis Rios in San Jose, CA 95134. I was then to fill out the "Customer Service Evaluation Form (CSEF) rating the service I received at Money Gram. Next, I was supposed to shop at Walmart and spend $100.00. The remaining $300.00 was my pay for participated in this "Research".
I was not to cash the check until I called 514-659-4945 to confirm my receipt of the invitation.
Thinking that this had to be too good to be true I decided to do a research of my own on the internet.
First, I looked up the Bank in Blue Island, IL where the check is drawn and it does exist. The routing number of the check is XXXXX43 - 071911XXX - 0201083XXX supposedly signed by Lori Kueter (an officer for Tranzact Technologies, Inc.)
Second, I looked up Capacity and Service Solutions in Oak Brook, IL through the Yellow Pages and they did not exist. Then I looked up their "parent" company Tranzact Technologies, Inc.in Oak Brook, IL and they also did not exist.
Third, I looked up Astral Research Services, Inc.in Irving, TX and they did not exist.
Fourth, I did a google search on these company names and came upon consumer complaints of these companies pulling this scam in the past.
On Saturday, January 17 I called the Great Lakes Bank in Blue Island, told them I received a check for $3000.00 that I believed to be a fraud and asked them to check the account. The service representative verified that the check was counterfeit.
I knew this seemed shady when there were no street addresses anywhere, three different company names, all with PO Boxes. And the fact that I had to deposit the check and then send money somewhere else.
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