I received via USPS a letter with a check enclosed. The postmark was from an automated Canadian service: "www.postescanada.ca M4L 1A5". My name and address were on a mailing list sticker.
Because of these peculiarities, I was immediately skeptical. The letter claimed to be a recruitment for a "Mystery Shopper Survey". The check was supposed to be deposited into my bank account. I was then to take $3500 to a Western Union Office and send the money to a location to be arranged.
The exact information was to be given to me by an "assigned training coordinator. I was to contact him by phone at (905) 781-0234.instructions would be given after I had cashed the check and was ready to participate. I would be allowed to keep $200 for my fee for submitting a 'Mystery Shopper Report'.
The check was real - from a bank in Albuquerque, NM. This was a big tip-off, because the Letter-Head cited a business address in Stamford, CN, but the postage indicated it was from in Toronto, Canada.
So, I notified the bank and it confirmed that the indicated account number was to a closed account.
Then I called the (905) 781-0234 number to speak to the trainer. To my surprise, a man actually answered the phone saying, "Global Test Market". I told him I wanted to know where to send the money. He asked if I deposited the check, to which I responded in the affirmative.
He asked which bank I used. I told him the letter specified that I was NOT to give that information. He replied, "Oh, yes - that's quite right. Please hold". I waited several minutes, but he never came back. I hung up and redialed. This time, and several attempts since, I only receive a 'busy' signal.
In addition to submitting this report here, I also took the letter, envelope, and check to the Post Office and submitted them along with a Postal Fraud Report.
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