Okay, I have not lost anything yet because I just received a letter in the mail today, 11/12. I received a letter from Market Surveys Inc., address 412 W. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91204, Tel: 888-854-4215; Fax 877-409-5754, email: [email protected]. The letter dated 11/4, Batch #: MLB181019. The letter was an invitation to participate in a paid survey as a customer service evaluator. The surveys were to evaluate a Western Union transfer service at Best Buy, K-Mart, or Walmart and to evaluate the shopping experience at the same stores. The letter has the name Peter Beardsley, VP Operations.
Enclosed with the letter was a check for $2,400.00. There is a $300 participation wage, for "helping" them out, $1,800.00 for the Western Union Transfer, $150.00 Western Union service charge, $150. To purchase "whatever I wanted" from the retail store.
Several things wrong here. The letterhead is for a CA address, the check I received appears to be drawn on a personal account in AZ, and the postage is from Canada!
Well, people, I do not take scams lightly! I have done the following things so far to rectify this situation:
1) looked up the company Market Surveys Inc. On the internet and I sent them an inquiry on their website about this survey and check./
2) looked up the address on the letterhead. There are businesses in that building; there is also vacant space. I emailed a contact at the realty co. That has the vacant space requesting information on businesses that ACTUALLY occupy space in that building.
3) The check is drawn on an account at First Credit Union, Devonshire Office, 803 E. Devonshire, Phoenix, AZ. The account holder on the check is Lorin Lerner Boswell. I emailed the bank to inform them of the potential scam, using the bank information of one of their supposed clients. I asked the bank to look into the matter to either stop the scam or rescue their client from identity theft.
4) The persona lorin Lerner Boswell has a Facebook page and a Linked In profile and she does live in AZ. Is she a real person? I have no idea. I was going to try and email her but decided against at this point.
5) On Monday, I am taking the check to my bank to see what they can do. Perhaps they can verify the validity of the check or contact the bank in AZ and work with them on this issue.
I work hard for my money, and there is no way that some dishonest swindler is going to take advantage. Wish me luck!
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