I was told (by an email) I'd been "hired" to be a "Mystery Shopper". I was laid off March 1 (after being employed with the company since July) and had been applying online for jobs, responding to job offers and posting my resume on different job sites looking for another job! The email said that I was now one of their U.S. "agents" and I'd receive my first "assignment" in the mail. What I received was a money order... An "International Money Gram" for $980.00... Along with a sheet of instructions. They said I was to cash the "Money Gram" at MY bank... Which I felt suspicious and uncomfortable about, but it looked very authentic, realistic & legitimate... Even the employees of my bank thought so, as they cashed it (even after I'd ASKED them if they thought it could be counterfeit, because I was concerned about it) They both said it looked legitimate, but that counterfeit forgeries can look very authentic and it's difficult to tell... Until they're returned to the bank unpaid because they're "fake"! I was then supposed to deduct 10% for my "commission" (as their "agent") and wire the balance to their "client" in the Philippines (minus the wire charge) through Western Union.
As I feared, the "Money Gram" turned out to be counterfeit! So it basically "bounced" to the tune of $980.00... Which I am now responsible for paying back to my bank... Since I foolishly wired the $868.97 to the Philippines... As I was instructed to do. Because of this, my bank account is now overdrawn, I must PAY over $800.00 to my bank & I am unable to use my checking account, and/or debit card until it is paid back! I was hoping to earn money... Not lose it!
Ordinarily, I probably wouldn't have fallen for something like this, but I could not even pay the rent (on my one bedroom apartment) on Unemployment, and I was really hoping this was legitimate! Now I'm in even more debt that I was before! At least I had a bank account that was open and I could USE!
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