Counterfeit Checks
Common scams include sending counterfeit checks to shoppers. Shoppers are directed to deposit the money in their bank account, and wire the funds to another party, or purchase pre-paid visa gift cards. They claim they are performing surveys on the company that performs the wire, the bank, or both. DON’T FALL FOR THIS SCAM.
If you receive a package or envelope containing money orders or checks with a request to cash, this is a scam. Scammers have been utilizing Craig's List emails, and mailings in this way to scam unsuspecting shoppers into cashing bad checks, then depositing the money into another account. If you receive anything like this, even if it has the name of a valid mystery shopping company on it, notify the company, the US Postal Service fraud department, and your local authorities.
If you encounter a scammer impersonating a mystery shopping company, please help to stop them by reporting to the following agencies:
- If you have received a check in the mail, report to the Post Office
- For Internet & email scams, report to FBI
- If you are contacted by Facebook, LinkedIn or other social media, report the scammer directly to the social media outlet so they will remove them.
These agencies have successfully caught and prosecuted scammers performing this scam before, so reporting them does help!
