On Saturday, June 20 I received in the mail from a return address P.O. Box 3109, Houston, TX 77253-3109 and post-marked North Metro GA 300, letter dated 11 Jun PM 2 T. I opened the letter from Augmentity Marketing, Mystery Shopping, Customer Surveys, Market Intelligence & Research Consultacy, 110 Arnold Mill Park, Suite 100, Woodstock, Georgia, 30188 addressed to me as being chosen to be a Customer Service Evaluator:
"You are hereby selected to participate in a paid Consumer Research Program in your area of residence as a Mystery Shopper. As one of the Research personnel selected under this progam, you will be a Consumer Service Evaluator of selected retail stores, restaurants and various establishments, making predetermined purchases and evaluating the Consumer Service level of the stores and service providers."
The letter went on to say that the research program would be a permanent part-time position for a selected few who would be able to distinguish themselves in the course of this program, offering after the training assignment, $500.00 per week for the first three months—additional increments of $600.00 per week will follow after another three months, should I decide to stay with them. And then "Upon acceptance of this offer, your paid training assignment begins immediately...
"This self-training assignment is designed to equip you with the right information necessary to effectively carry our your assignment as Research Personnel under this progam. This assignment has been put together to be completed in two different locations. The first evaluation will take place in one of these Locations: Wal-mart. K-Mart, Macy's, JC PENN, McDonald's, Sears or Target.
"The second evaluation will take place in one of the Westen Union/Money Gram locations. The objective of this assignment will be to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the payment system called Money Gram or any specified Financial institution.
"Enclosed are the required funds to cover your assignment. Below is a breakdown of the enclosed check.
"Probation training first week pay...$320.00
Western Union/Money Gram including fees...$2,516.00
Required funds for shopping Wal-Mart...$90.00
Sears...$30.00
McDonald...$10.00
Total...$2,966.00
Okay, I'm unemployed right now; in fact, the Unemployment Office denied my claim today, June 23. I was in need of income! On Saturday, when I got the mail, I looked up "Augmentity Marketing" on the internet and even checked out usacomplaints.com to see if it was a scam.
The check for $2,966.00 was from Fire King. I looked on the internet to check out Fire King. They seemed to be a reputable company that made fire-proof linings for safes.
I know about scams. I did some internet research into all of this and didn't see any red flags. I called Patrick Mills on Saturday, June 20 and confirmed the receipt of this check.
He told me I had applied online to be a Mystery Shopper back in November. They didn't need me back then, but now was the time they needed me to be a Customer Service Evaluator, Representative ID: MS-323. If anyone was unemployed, wouldn't they jump at the chance?!?
I deposited the check on Saturday, June 20 and checked on Tuesday, June 23 to see if the check had cleared. At that time, my bank informed me that all my accounts were closed—that the check from Fire King was fraudulent. When I called Patrick Mills and told him of this, he said that his people would get back to me Wednesday, June 24th, in the morning.
When I told him he needed to put all his other calls on hold, and that he and I needed to talk, he suddenly disconnected the call. This mailing came with not only the check and the breakdown of the check, but an evaluation form to be used at all of the stores listed above, including Western Union.
I was duped and screwed. If you receive a check from Augmentity Marketing please tear it up and put it in your cylinder file.
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