I received a letter with the return address on the envelope:
P.O. Box 4600 Concord
Ontario L4K 5E2
The letterhead stated that it was from The Ledbetter Research Center, a division of MysteryShopOnline.com. There was a check enclosed as well for $3,998.00. The letter itself and accompanying documentation looking fairly legit and the check seemed to be real.
Here's what the letter had to say:
The Ledbetter Research Center
A Division of MysteryShopOnline.com
Head Office: P.O. Box 38704, Goodland, KS, USA
Tel: 1-514-436-6289 Fax: 1-514-656-3882
February 24
Position: Customer Service Evaluator
Rep ID$#: 5823769875
Dear %,
This is to inform you that based on previous survey by our affiliate Consumer survey specialist you indicated to be interested in an additional income on part-time basis. 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 program, you will be a Consumer Service Evaluator of the selected merchant outlets and service providers. This research program is fully paid and would become a permanent part time position for a selected few who are able to distinguish themselves in the course of this program. After this training assignment, your salary will be increased to $650.00 per week the first three months (3), and additional increase to $800.00 per week after six months of working for The Ledbetter Research Center.
If you accept this offer, you will be requested to complete a paid assignment withing (1) week of your acceptance. This self-training is designed to equip you with the right tools necessary for you to effectively carry out your assignment as experienced research personnel under this program. This assignment has been put together to be completed in two different locations The first evaluation will take place in WAL-MART and the second evaluation will take place in a MONEY GRAM location. The objective of this assignment is to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of a paying/sending system called MONEY GRAM.
On the first step of your assignment you will pose as a potential customer shopping and spending $40.00 at any Wal-Mart location of your choice. Secondly, you will be trained in a financial transaction by sending a Money Gram to Daniel Harris our Human resource manager in the city of: GOODLAND, the state: KS and the country of: USA. This is an official means of evaluation these outlets competencies and good customer relations. As part of your training the merchandise you buy is yours as a bonus and the funds needed to complete the transaction assignment has been arranged and enclosed with this letter. For our verification of assignment completion, please contact your assignment coordinator @ 1-514-436-6289 to confirm receipt of this check. It is important that when filling out the Customer Service Evaluation Tool (CSET), you maintain a fair and unbiased opinion. Upon completion of the assignment, please fax the CSET form and all receipts back to our office. NOTE: Please fax ONLY your completed acceptance form before cashing/depositing check for payment!
Below is a breakdown of the enclosed check:
SALARY AND TRAINING PAY $400.00
Your tasks are as follows:
Wal-Mart Purchase $40.00
Money Gram transaction $3,430.00
Service charge by Money Gram $128.00
Total $3,998.00
We appreciate your participation in this program and we assure you of the total confidentiality of information you have submitted in the course of your participation.
Sincerely,
Steve Portman
Director of Operations.
An acceptance form and company evaluation sheet were also included with the letter and bank draft.
I have since contacted Benchmark Bank in Plano, Texas where the bank draft was drawn from and inquired as to the authenticity of the check. As it turned out, it was bogus as I suspected. However, the individuals' name and address on the check was for real. This was a well-respected individual in the Plano, Texas community, but not part of this fraudulent effort. The bank suggested I turn the letter over to my local police department. I'm also sharing this information here and with my local bank.
Hopefully, the information I am sharing here will help to ward off and deter this con. I surely hope no one has to fall victim to this scam.
K
Burke, Virginia
U.S.A.
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