Master Research Inc: The Secret Shopper Scam
Photo by: Uqbar
Secret shopper scams try to cash in on the popularity of genuine “Mystery Shopper” services. Such help is often availed of by some companies to check on the services provided by their retailers. The checks are done by people who agree to play the part of a dummy customer for a small per-transaction fee. These individuals would try to ascertain the quality of service provided by retailers on specific issues like their handling of fraud checks or credit cards.
But of late, some fraudsters have used general awareness of this concept to pitch a scam. Their victims are mostly people who only vaguely know about such a service in the market. Fraudsters bank on their ignorance and use them to commit a crime. One such scam that was recently uncovered was run by Master Research Inc.
The scams ape legitimate companies and flood the internet or offline media with recruitment ads. Their bait would be a $500 or there-about fee for every transaction that you agree to enact.
It is an open invitation to mires and mires of trouble. The fraudsters send you counterfeit checks and ask you to use them as payment after buying from specific retailer locations. You can buy anything you want. If the transaction falls through, you are asked to keep some part of the original check amount as your commission and to send the balance as a return check to the fraudsters. Ah! Yes, you also get to keep everything you bought at the store!
However this is not how the script usually plays out. After initially being overwhelmed, retailers have now become wary of such frauds and make special arrangements. They would have police presence very near the counter. Chances are, the moment you present the check at the counter, waiting police personnel would be motioned to come hither and handle you!
You are left with an impossible situation of explaining how you came to have the fraudulent check. Circumstantial evidence would damningly accuse you of forgery and fraud. There would be no way of getting at the people behind the ads you responded to. All phone calls and emails are bound to go unanswered. The real criminals would remain untraceable.
On the other hand, in the event that you manage to get past the counters undetected, you are asked to keep a commission from the original amount and send back the rest as a return check. But here you are playing a gamble with loaded dice against you and your luck would run out sooner than later.
Master Research Inc., a company that swindled people by the hundreds with one such scam, was recently exposed in Canada leaving behind victims older but wiser.
Related posts:
March 29th, 2008 at 12:05 am
The Market Research Inc. has another location for the scam it is being published in the Cedar Rapids Gazzette. My girlfriend replied to the add and the check is sitting on her desk. Of course it will go unanswered but there has be a way to track down these cons.
SSG Allen Hoskins
March 29th, 2008 at 12:34 am
I am sure some folks in the FBI and RCMP would be keen to know this. Best to let loose these agencies behind the scamsters!
April 15th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I have informed the FBI as Master Research Inc. is still scamming consumers all across the US. Also several state attorney General’s Offices have been alerted. I even had the Associated Press distribute an article nationwide but still they operate. They are now using another name Secret Research Inc but they are the same scam outfit. Consumers BEWARE! Thank you for posting this information.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
These people are still on the loose!! Just last week I received a check from the “Secret Research Inc”. I went and cashed the check but luckily I thought about it before I sent the money, and I had my mother check them out on the Better Business Bureau. She informed me that they were scammers, and she immediatley went down to the bank. We gave the money back, but these people need to be caught! This is causing a real problem!!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I forgot, they place ads in local news papers as well. In the paper they had Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, Gap, McDonald’s, Sears, Bell, and Budget car rentals!! Also the bank number on the check is actually the scammers!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:42 am
@Harold:
Thank YOU for your extraordinary initiative!
@Holly:
Great! You actually escaped falling for the scam! These folks are so good not many people believe at first sight they are a scam!
May 13th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I am telling you right now do not get into this mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so pissed right now and if I am able to talk to one of those A**H**ES they are not going to like me!!!!!!!!! I am a single mother and if I would have got stuck with a bounced check of 2990.00 I would be so scroued!!!!!!! You guys are so cold hearted and I can’t wait until the day you get busted!!!!!!!!!!!
I F***ING HATE YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I just wanted to say thank you. I just got a check from secret research inc today for 2990.00 and i’m so glad that i looked them up first. Thank you!
May 28th, 2008 at 1:37 am
@ Tiffany:
You are Welcome!
Thank YOU for taking the time out to leave a comment!
Best Wishes!
June 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am
This is scary!!! I’m glad I looked up Secret Research Inc before I went to the bank with my “cashier check” of $2990.00.
Please pass this on…
June 6th, 2008 at 8:18 am
From Minnesota. Got my check on May 29,2008. “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” I looked up “Secret Research Inc.” also and came upon this sight. Thanks for putting in the info about them! If I were to have gone with this scam, S.R.I. wanted me to complete my assignment at any Wal-Mart location. If I were Wal-mart or any other of the companies that they listed, I would be pissed!
June 9th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I too received a check from secret research inc on June 3rd asking me to go to Walmart to evaluate Money gram, they wanted me to deposit the check and keep my fee for the evalutaion and send them back over $2000.00..That was weird to me..So I am thinking I would of been out of $2000.00 because the cashiers check would of been cleared in my account.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I am so happy like everyone else that I looked up Secret Research INC. I received a letter on June 10,2008 with a cashiers check of $2,990.00. They wanted me to pose as a potential customer in send a money gram payment to someone in Canada . I knew this was a scam I just googled Secret Research INC. I wouldn’t want to deal with liers in scamers for a job anyways thankyou so much for this website.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:22 am
@ Fritz, Judy, Brittany, Reese:
It’s our pleasure, Judy and Reese!
Thank You all for dropping by and taking the time out to post a comment!
Best Wishes!
June 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
These m****r f****rs did the same to me. I responded to an ad in the local paper, they sent me a letter and a 2,990 check drawn from a credit union in Indiana. The letter said 300 was mine and to Money Gram 2,585 to a supposed relative of mine in Canada, and to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of Wal-Marts Money Gram service. Although my check was a VALID CHECK!!! I called to verify…..ripped up check and threw it in the garbage!!!
June 19th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I too am another victim just got my check today and like the rest of you thought it sounded to go to be true. So thanks to this website for the 411.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
@ Jen:
Glad to have been of help!
Thank You Jen for taking the time out to leave a comment!
Best Wishes!
June 21st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Thanks, for the info. i just about went to the bank on monday to deposit my check. My check came fro regional gederal credit union hammond,IN. They were also asking my to send a money gram to canada for wal-mart. Thank You!
June 24th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I just went to my mailbox and got a letter from “Secret Research Inc.” and a check along with it for $2990.00. I am soooo happy I looked them up too because I would have been out of so much money! Ugh and Im pissed because I have been looking for a job and found this “employer” on a classifieds sight in my local newspaper. How can that be allowed! Some people should get together and send them some monopoly money.
THANK YOU for your information on this site!
June 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
my brother got the same check with the same bullshit letter and cashed it. now he is facing federal charges, along with others from south carolina. i hope who ever is doing this shit get aids of the a** and dies
June 24th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Yeah! These sorry sons of b*****s sent one to my husband and now he is facing f****n criminal time for something that was sent to him in his name!! It’s b***s**t because hard working people like us strugging to make our way through life and then we have c**k s**king idiots like these people f**king us over!! They need to be put on death row for this b**s**t and should have to pay every thing back!!! Catch those sorry f****rs!!
June 25th, 2008 at 3:34 am
@ Ashley…
Thank You for dropping by and taking the time out to comment!
@ Peanut Parker & Tina…
I feel extremely sorry…
These guys sure deserve everything that befalls them after this!
I wonder whether they realize the hardships they force on others!
Best Regards…
June 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thank you for this site. My sister just called me and asked me to check this out for her. When I did a Google search, your site was the first to come up. I read her the information posted here and told her to shred anything she had from this CO.
Thank you for the information.
Granny
June 27th, 2008 at 3:27 am
@ Granny…
You are Welcome!
Thank You for dropping by & taking the time out to leave a comment!
My Best Wishes!
June 28th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
WHO EVER IS SENIDING THESE FAKE A** CHECKS TO PEOPLE I HOPE YALL BURN IN HELL FOR THE S**T YALL DOING…TRIED TO GET MA SISTA BUT SHE DIDN’T FALL FOR YALL F***ING SCAMS
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I just got a check in the mail for 2990.00. I had the same instructions about checking out moneygrams service and keeping 300.00 dollars for me. I am 19 years old and i thought this was too good to be true, i asked my mother about it and she said i better google it first, and i did i came up on this site. I just want to say thank you for everyone who posted their comments because if i wouldnt of come across this, i’d probably bein some trouble. i ripped up the check and those assoles need to be jailed for this.
When something seems to good to be true it usually is.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I too saw an ad in a newspaper about employment a couple of days ago. I have the check and letter that came with it in my hand. The letter states to call 1-905-598-6248 as soon as I receive the check and letter for further instructions. Now, I am not stupid because who would want to send a check then receive money back? From the online sources that have used, this number comes from Bethesda Ontario CANADA. I wonder if anyone has tried to reverse phone this online or track this number. Why isn’t the FBI or INTERPOL doing this?
July 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I received one in June 08 from a company called International Consumer Evaluation Services and the check was from Tarantino Foods llc in New York. The envelope was mailed from Canada. The check is for $4,205.00 and was told to keep $400.00 for the first week of training and then I would get paid $500.00 a week. What fricken b***s**t is this. I was told to money gram or western union $3250.00 of it.
I will be giving everything including the envelope to the FBI. Let them deal with these crooks.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I recieved a check in th e mail for 2890.00 and was given the bull crap scam to take it to wal mart i am going to post this all over my home town so these pricks dont get anyone else here i think everyone else should do the same.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I got one from Solution Market research, I have not cashed the check nor plan on it, though I had faxed name and address to them before I got smart. Any thing I should worry about?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
My daughter called for a job and received a check for $2990 for research in a Wal-Mart. They listed their address in South Carolina. I didn’t like the concept and googled it and found your very helpful info. I told her and she will not respond to them and destroy the check. Like the saying goes: If it smells like S**t it probably is. If its too good to be true then it is.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I received a letter and cashier check in the mail to for 2890.00 it request i respond as soon as I get it so I did they told me to go to a local check cashing place or my bank and cash the check then follow the instruction on the letter send 2585.00 to a Ashkt Hamm in Canada I was to keep $ 200.00 for my self I was not too sure so I took it to a local check cashing place and the confirm it was fraud. They kept the check and all the information to follow and said they will report them to police… Hope they catch them, times are hard out here now, I was just trying to get a second job with flexible hours not get a arrested Damn
July 24th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Yea these lames tried to get me and did i deposited it and i’m wondering what i should watch for ?
ps someone needs to put them out for good
July 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
i recieved a check in the mail for 2890.00 i called my husband and told him he says okay tomorrow we will go cash it so we went to a few liquor stores and check cashing places they said they wouldnt cash it but no one would say why finally i called the number on the check and the guy cursed me out and now i know why its alright cause i got cousins and uncles in sc dont them find out where they live out
August 9th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I just received a chashier’s check for $4992.00 from Service Probe, Inc. The check is drawn on Garfield County Bank, Jordan, MT. The address of Service Probe shows as Ashley, ND. The listed phone number is from Ontario, Canada. Wal-Mart, Gap, Western Union and Moneygram. Beware they use many names.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Service Prob Inc. Yeah there fake too, me and my girl just got one of those so called assignment! Luckly we researched it on this site and found out this is a scam thank you!!! As 4 Service Probe Inc all i gotta say is I got and assignment for you scammers It’s called Let’s See How Many Punches To The Nutz You Can Take!!!!!
August 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I also received a check for the amount of $4992.00 from the company Service Probe, Inc. to be a so called “Mystery Customer” ITS A SCAM SCAM SCAM….I called the number listed on the letter enclosed (905-559-7380) they told me to deposit the check it will clear within a week then do as directed by purchasing from Wal-Mart, Gap, make a Western Union x-fer and also a Moneygram x-fer leaving me with a $350 salary….I contacted the FBI in my state to make a complaint after doing research on the web about this scandle, they said that this has been pouring in like no other…I went a step further by contacting the bank the check was issued by with the number provided on the bottom of the check (866-403-7522) the rep. connected me with a manager whom said the FBI has been tracking it down and also asked for me to copy all doc’s, send the originals to his office and that millions of people are getting ripped off by this scam!!!
DO NOT CASH THIS CHECK IT WILL RUIN YOUR CREDIT AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS, CHECKS ARE FAKE, FRAUD, AND AGAINST THE LAW!!!!!!
Anyone who is reading this, you obviously have had the same letter of some sort PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact your state FBI and STOP these CRIMINALS right away
Good luck
August 12th, 2008 at 3:21 am
@ Mary, Damien, and Nate…
Thanks for the headsup against Service Probe Inc.
Readers, here’s one more scam to stay away from!
Best Wishes!
August 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
To All You Unfortuneate people:
I too have had a letter and form sent to me from Secret Research, Inc. I too had a check for 2890.00. These scammers make you thing you have an important mission to accomplish and I too, was almost caught up in it. I took the check first to a Bank, then to a check cashing company, they looked the company up for the internet and guess what? The company is definately a scam. With so many of them going out to people you would think that the FBI or some other Agency would be taking a hard look at this company. In fact, they probably are by now and I hope these scammers get exactly what they deserve. Even if they are out of the U.S. and in Canada.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:59 am
my name is cynthia, i recived 3 checks in the mail. 1 check was for 2,800.00 dollers another for 3,200.00 dollars and the last one for 4,800.00 dollers. i was told to deposite these checks in to my bank account, the checks came with letters of witch all said thay came from shadow shoppers.com so i checked out the web site and everything looked ligite. so i belived it and i deposited them, i was arrested on the spot at the bank i was locked up in the preicent untill 1.30 in the morning and then sent down 2 central bookings in lower manhatten, i was charger with grand larcity and fraud .. i seen the judge and my bail was set at 5,000.00 dollers i was released on obo thank god, my next court date to further review the case is on dec 18. i hope everything goes well because eaven the distrect atturny dosnt wanna belive me im realy scaird and im only 17 with a record. my bank account was frozen and now closed. thay might find me guilty in dec ant then ill have to do 1 and a half yrs to 3 yrs in prison i need help… any with anything that can help me please comment - New York NY Cynthia AUG-17
Cynthia Michel 1:43 AM
August 19th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
i recvice a check from the same company i didn’t check this company out .i cash check at a liquor store the check was return br the bank . the liquor store is taking me to court or go to jail i need help. i have one child i just don’t know want do.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:03 am
I just got an e-mail today from a company called USMA and here’s the e-mail:
It also had an attachment which included:
After sending this back filled out with false information I got this back from a seperate e-mail address:
I quickly sent an e-mail back saying this:
The two e-mail addresses that were used are: da_strung@yahoo.com AND dart.strung@gmail.com. If anyone can help track down these idiots do now…I hope I can help any gullible person out there.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:12 am
We really need to get these people stopped. Is there anyway or any connection anyone has to the FBI on here? I just don’t like people being scammed, this is the second time something like this has come upon me…I’m only 19 and I know that money doesn’t come that easy…NOTHING IS FREE ANYMORE!!!
I know the USA has Internet Police, let’s get them working on this. So if anyone has any relatives that are in the FBI please mention this to them same with any federal jobs Secret Service, US Marshals…
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I have received a letter from Goldenwise Shopper’s Inc with an address from New York,but the check is from Sterling, Ma for 4250.00. It tells me to spend 200.00 at any one of the stores listed such as wal-mart, gap , etc and send the rest by Western union or Money gram to evaluate the effectiveness and effieciency of a payment system to either of three names that is listed all from New York.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Hey all,
look out for the Shoppers Research, Inc. check. Ours was for $4992.00 from the Bank of Gower. All the services are the same, probably the same people everybody else has mentioned above. Just thought I’d let you know.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
received an check for 4250 to perform as a mystery shopper. We were supposed to deposit the check into our bank. 300 of it was probation training period of 3 hours. There was a service charge of 190.00. Funds for shopping 200.00. Then we were supposed to send the rest 3560 by Western Union to check the efficiency of Western Union Money Gram. Instead of depositing the check we called the Federal Trade Commission. They took the info and said it was definitely a scam and they will be looking into this matter.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I received a letter from Goldenwise Shoppers Inc. that stated to deposit the money into my account then take $200.00 of my $3,500.00 check and pose as a consumer in Wal-Mart and as for the rest send it Western Union to someone I don’t even know.
Yeah…it sounded good…especially to someone that desperately needs the money…but I am not stupid. I decided to check it out on google and THANK GOD came across this website. I figured it was a scam anyways but it’s always good to make sure right.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
kcdonald16@gmail.com wrote to me as well yesterday. I replied for him to be more specific about the job, thinking, noone pays $500 for a mystery shopper, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I received the following answer:
I want to say thank you for this website. I am so glad I didn’t trust this guy and went and did my research about this USMA company. There has got to be a way to stop these scamming thieves and put them all away for a very long time. They are hurting poor innocent people who really need to work and all I can say to everyone is “IF I LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT ALWAYS IS.”
PLEASE, PLEASE BE OVERLY CAUTIOUS AND DON’T GIVE OUT YOUR INFOMATION TO ANYONE YOU DON’T KNOW.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Oh My Gosh!
I nearly applied for Mystery Shopper with all of my information and everything. The thing that alerted me was the FORMS THEMSELVES! I am a many years experienced Executive Administrative Secretary then Former Business Owner of several years and these forms had errors in them. Obvious typos, and the lines of the forms MOVED! You couldn’t do TYPEOVER, you couldn’t just type your info. in. That is clue number One that there is something wrong. This same thing applies to Lottery forms.
Any reputable company can afford to complete their forms in professional type rather than the above (all Italics) is rarely used in business forms! it costs extra! All Business forms are going to be set in PDF Format or some such format so that you can type directly on to the form with the typeover unless they are done by an amateur.
And as previously stated, “Anything that sounds too good to be true, likely is too good to be true!” Those things are what alerted me and made me STOP!
Please remember to use GOOD COMMON SENSE while using the Internet. NEVER give personal information, banking information, or confidential information over the internet to anyone especially in a PUBLIC EMAIL, all EMAIL IS PUBLIC!
With warm regards,
Judi
September 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Just another quick note from Judi: For people interested in further investigating these firms and testing their legitimacy:
If you want to do a search string on all the outfits that do this kind of practice you can Google, Yahoo, or whatever search engine you prefer or even use them all:
You can go to jobs, search for secret shoppers, mystery shoppers, csshoppers, cishoppers, private shoppers, incognito shoppers, 007 shoppers, etcetra, use spaces and then try without spaces between the words. That should keep you going for a while. Continue to add different variations of the words and you can do this numerically and alphabetically to stay organized. For those of you who have information on known companies, you can use the company names you know, date you know and variations of the information you know to find alternate information of the same information.
Being able to do research and investigate are skills that will serve a person well throughout their whole lives. If this web site inspires you do take further action, then do that! Let everyone know that Master Research, Inc. inspired you, I am just a lowly visitor. Smile!
Enjoy your search and reap the benefits of what you learn through your own efforts.
Warmly,
Judi
September 20th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I would like to say thank you for your website. I recieved a check on the 21st of Sept o8 mailed out on the 11th. It was for the amount of $3,960.00 with a stamp from canada.I honestly believed it was real and nearly trusted it. My mind said research and ask questions thats when I came across your website.I have written void on the check and showed it and your website to the members in my household.
I believe, however, I have located the theif, his name is on my letter as Ben Olsen, his address he is located @ 12425 Krug Ave, Apt # 110 Omaha, NE 68144-6012. He is 29 years of age and Have many addresses Washington State area and in Vancouver Cananda and he also have connection with a 78 year old woman named Christina Ace possibily the owner of Ace Corporation Ltd.which was also on my letter she lives in Blaine, Wa and Birch Bay, Wa. There is another clue of the insurance company Agfa Corporation Ltd. which he keeps his mutual funds in Mutual of Omaha bank a real bank. That is revealed on the check as well. Mr. Olsen is on the move a lot. Please someone investigate sincere Bee Bee
October 9th, 2008 at 9:35 am
OMG…I just received a letter and check from Ben Olsen, only the business is named MSTC SURTY LTD.
The address listed on the letter is 107 W. Oakland Ave., Austin, MN 55915…telephone 647-928-4050. The funds sent were the same as Bee Bee’s (posting above) for $3,960.00. I’m so glad I was suspicious enough to research the internet and found this website.
I called Mr. Olsen right before researching the internet, and was going to deposit this check on my lunch hour. He told me to deposit the check, then call them back and I would be assigned an account manager. Check is very legit, Mutual of Omaha Bank. I’m going to contact the bank right away, and see what they want me to do. Sharon
October 11th, 2008 at 2:09 am
i recieved a letter from “allied marketing solutions, inc.“, stating they were giving me a 2,865.00 check. As I was supposed to deposit it into my bank, and spend certain amounts at various stores, along with doing a money transfer. I knew it was too good to be true. I kept everything and I am going to report it to the F.B.I. this morning.
What tipped me off was I looked at the letter, which says it’s a marketing group, and the check was from an engineering company ( legit, i looked online). What I’ve been reading is the names on these letters. For those of you that don’t know, Ben Olsen is a soccer player in the US and plays for the US team! On my check, it was Michael Scott! Which is the character’s name in ‘The Office‘!
If you want to know if the letter/check you recieve is legit, research ALL buisness names AND google the names on the letter.
Good luck!
October 12th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hello,
As the owner of a legitimate mystery shopping company, I wanted to leave my two cents worth. Please do not limit your caution to the company names listed in this forum. Scammers have no hesitation in using the name of a legitimate company. They have used ours twice now. Once for a cashier’s check scam and one where they have you fill out an application and then go into a cashier’s check scam.
Some rules of thumb:
- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - legitimate companies will not contact you out of the blue unless you are registered with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association or with another legitimate company
- most shops will pay from $5 to $40. Higher paying jobs are generally much more complicated and reserved for experienced shoppers with a solid track record with the company. New shoppers would NEVER be offered such a job.
- no legitimate company would pay you BEFORE you did the job.
- no legitimate company would request money from you to be a shopper.
Also, if you ever have any questions, locate the company yourself and try to contact them. Never assume the contact information they provide you is a legitimate number of the company name they are using. When they used our name, their material had a Texas address and a Canadian phone number - we are located in Omaha, NE.
You can find contact information for most companies through the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (http://www.mysteryshop.org). They thoroughly check all their members to ensure they are legitimate.
If you find something is a scam, be sure to report it to the FBI. If the scammers are out of the country, the FBI can work with foreign officials to track down the scumbags and get them arrested. The more complaints the get, the easier it is for the FBI to get cooperation from the foreign authorities. I believe one of the two scammers who used our name has been arrested in Canada.
Good luck and happy mystery shopping!
Cory Jensen, Owner
I-Spy Mystery Shoppers
Omaha, NE
http://www.ispymysteryshoppers.com
October 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I was sent a letter and a check the other day about this whole mystery shopper thing and because i knew i filled something out a while ago to do something like this i thought everything was okay. I guessed wrong. I deposited the check and now i have no money, no bank and a whole lot confusion going on. Now that i’ve read all your stories i feel foolish. it was ALLIED MARKETING SOLUTIONS INC. what a scam. i hope i don’t go to jail. and it sucks really bad because now i have to put my trust in another bank. I loved BOA and now i’m NEVER allowed to bank with them ever. Again, I PRAY I DON’T GO TO JAIL. single mom with two kids-not a good situation……
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I received a letter in June but never opened the letter. My grandson bought it to me the other day. I opened it and did try to call number and first time it had a recording in Spanish repeating the same thing over and over again. The next time it said for me to leave my number. I started getting suspicious when my call wasn’t returned. I told my daughter in-law about it and she told me that my son had a bad experience by depositing the check in his account and his account got messed up. (Naturally, kids never tell Mama all of their goof-ups) Since he didn’t tell me about it, I guess he was able to get a solution to his problem. I am glad I decided to check into this matter.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I received a letter in the mail the other day and with it was a check for $2,865.00 from the company Allied Marketing Solutions.
The guy I spoke to told me to deposit the check into my bank and i go to wal-mart and jc penny and to get a money gram in the amount of $2,250.00 plus the $95 fee. I talked to my fiance and he had concerns about it being legit but I didnt.
The next day we deposited the check into the account. Before we did that I called the guy by the name of John Arkin whom is some kind of expert author, and I said to him ” How do I know this isnt some sort of scam?” He says to me no maam this isnt a scam.
WOW! The only reason I decided to look into this being a scam is because my sister told me to check it out because her friend was also scammed this way. I am so hurt right now. Thank You all very much because if it wasnt for your comments I probably would have spent that money and been screwed.
First thing in the morning I am calling the FBI in my state and giving them everything I know and all the doc. that I have. Im so glad that I caught this before the check cleared and the bank coming after me as if I was trying to scam them. Thank you so much all of you. Please if someone sends you a check in the mail and you don’t know anything about that company, check it out. It took me all of 2hours to find out this was a fraud which is better than 3yrs in prison.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Received one of these letters from Advantage Mkg. Services LLC, P.O. Box 8836, State College, PA 16808-7308. 1-647-928-4050. The letter was from Ben Olsen, but the “signature” was something completely different.
They also sent a check for $3,960, said to deposit the check, keep $592, spend $260 at Gap, Walmart, KMart, Macy’s, JC Penney, or Target, and call them to find out where to send the remaining balance via MoneyGram. When I googled the company, I found nothing, same thing when I googled the phone number. When we googled the bank, (Omega Bank), we found one with a different name for the address listed on the check, First National Bank. While my daughter was reading the letter, she noticed that the letter was not written very well. The grammar was horrible.
This is a scam and we are calling the bank and the FBI. DO NOT CASH THESE CHECKS!!!!!!!!!!!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
MYSTERY SHOPPERS - USMA
DO NOT ACCEPT ANY E-MAILS FROM Dart Strung - da_strung@yahoo.com
I received the same e-mail regarding Mystery Shoppers from USMA, with an application attached. Had I not found your site, I may have been as gullable as the next person.
Thanks again.
DO NOT ACCEPT ANY E-MAILS FROM Dart Strung - da_strung@yahoo.com
THIS IS A HOAX - DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION TO THEM.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I received a letter & a check in the amt. of $2865.00..its the same thing—do secret shopping at different dept. stores etc…get some money out of it and so on…I’ve been trying to find this place on the internet…I must be doing something wrong…I’m coming up with some porn sites!!!!
Anyway, the letter head reads:ALLIED MARKETING SOULTIONS,INC. (Best Source for Secret Shoppers Employment). the letter is from 255 Main Street, Hamilton, Ontario. The check is from “Telecare Corporation” 1080 Marin aVillage Parkway, Suite 100 Alameda, Ca 94501, for the amt. of $2865.00. Comerica BAnk & Trust.
Everything looks SO REAL. I did however find a little mistake…In the letter it says to call my “Research Associate, Mr. John Akin, “She will guide you……” All of a sudden a woman named JOHN!!!???? This is a FAKE!!!!!!! Has anyone else received this letter and check?? Its dated Oct.27,2008.
In Sept,26,2008, I also received a letter from another SCAMMER. “LIBERTY FINANCIAL CORPORATION“. I had won $125,000.00. Briefly, it was about numbers getting mixed up so whoever decided that I would be the lucky winner!!! I was also instructed to keep this “CONFIDENTIAL”. This was from: 530 5th Ave New York, Ny. The check was from “HIRSCH” P.O> Box 196 Thayer, MO 65791.. Simmons First National Bank Mammoth Springs, Arkansas–for the amt. of $3,950.75!!! (can’t forget the 75 cents).
These people have balls…I hope to god that someone is watching out for their elders, it would be such a shame for them to get ripped off like this.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:01 am
i just received a letter in the mail couple days back. it 3,970 dollars. i was told to depposite these check in to my account. i call them to make sure and they told me to depposite the check and read the letter and follow it. and sent them back the information. i didn’t know so i follow the letter and do it. the next a day i went to but foods to eat and my back card is decline. and i went to check at the back it -3,870. i went to tlak to the backer and they told me that i have a bonce check and i needed to pay up. i alots of reseach on to this secret shopper. i have been fraud and sram. i will work on, what ever it’s take to take down this system and pay back all the victims as myself. if you rececived a check in the letter, call the fbi or report to the banks. i will talk to my lawyer and file a law sure agian this company.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
i just wanted to inform people of another company that is scamming people is called market visions, i received a check for $4820, it was a cashiers check and it looked so real. not to mention that i went through this with another secret shopper company about a year ago, that check was for $3900, and i was to shop at several stores and do the moneygrams by sending them $2000 of it.
i went to my bank, not thinking about a scam or anything, and i must have went to a teller that was new. with no questions she cashed the check right there, no holds, no waits. i thought that was too easy. i was going through rough financial times at that moment, so i decided to pay some bills with it.
then a week later after i had done spent all the money, i get a call from my bank saying that the check that was cashed was fake, there were no funds to cover that check. so i was screwed. i now owed my bank that money back, which i didn’t have. so they sent it to a collection agency and now i can’t have a bank account anywhere.
now back to the check i got yesterday. i called the # on the check which was supposed to be the # of the bank to verify that the funds were available, and they said that they were. no problem. then i went to a place that cashes checks and the lady said that it was a fake check. then i went home and started doing some investigating.
i pulled up the bank web site and i noticed that the # of the bank and the # on the check was a different one. so i called that # and they did verify that it was a fake check and that was not there # on the check. that the company had set up a fake customer service rep for the bank to pose for them just to say the funds were there.
i just wanted to voice my opinion. and i have learned that, if it seems to good to be true. it probably is. and both of the companies were out of canada. my daughter said they do it out of canada because you can not track mail that comes out of there. so beware of anything that comes out of canada!!!!
November 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I almost failed for this guy. I’m thinking this is a real job and he just sent me an assignment for walmart. To shop and to do a money gram I’m mad as hell because I really thought I found and second source of income.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Until this week my husband was a banker with Wells Fargo. A bank customer brought in one of these scam checks for $4,000. He followed bank policies in accepting it for deposit … but now the check has turned out to be a fraud, Wells Fargo has fired him.
So he’s lost his job and probably his career too, our family is in financial disaster, and Wells Fargo is also pursuing the customer for the $3,500 she sent the scammers.
If you get one of these checks, you should burn it before it burns you … and innocent bank employees too.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
ok so this is so outa hand im only 17 and have a job at one of the storest that they listed. i never signed up for this “mystery shopper” thing and receved a check for 4380.00 from MERCHAND SHOPPERS SYSTEMS INC. the postage stamp was from canada and is so not where the letter said it was from… it said it was located at 3002 Rockway parkway brooklyn, NY 11236. i went to my mom and told her and we are going to the police department and giving it to them because this is so wrong. thans everyone for their comments on here they helped me convince my mom to take me down there.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
My company’s name is WALTIN RESEARCH GROUP. If the previous scammers did not get caught, I would assume they changed their name. Go here to see my mail….
http://fakechecksecretshopper.blogspot.com/
November 24th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I just Want to thank you for having a site like this to help people who are being taking advantage of.. my wife just goe a check from them for $3,865.00 but it’s not the first time these type of company have try taking us for our hard earned money.. so thanks again to your site and the people who watch out for others..
November 25th, 2008 at 2:33 am
To All,
Thank You, Everyone, for coming here and making an effort to leave useful info!
Best Wishes!
November 29th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
i just got a check too for 4,995.00 dollars from Vertebron survey pro Inc. Should i RIP it.. damn i wish it were real. i wouldnt send them shit back.. im not going to cash it. its not worth it. its a scam prob bc the adresses dont match up.
December 1st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I received a check today for over $4000. It was just a part of my winnings. I was to western union a lady in Canada that was supposedly my tax agent $2960 after I deposited my check. Then I would recieve the rest of my $125,000. When I called the number to find out what to do to get my winnings, I got a guy with a foreign accent and I could not understand all of what he was telling me. I asked to talk to someone else. He put me on hold told me that everyone else was on the phone and for me to call back. I waited and called again. The same man anwered and got mad at me because I could not understand him. I had my cousin who was here call the number at the same time to see if someone else would answer. If this guy is on the phone with someone else you will get a recording saying all lines are busy and it is this same guy voice on the recording. Thank-you for this site. I was suspious and looked this company up and came across this site. Thank-you so much. Cheryl
December 4th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
o my god you people have no idea how happy and lucky i am to stumble upon this site! just yesterday i recieved a sercret shopper letter from a organization called shoppers survey inc and its basically saying to go shop and tranfer money to them the check they sent me is 4,998 but i spoke to someone from my old job about this letter and she told me to contact the better buisness bureau to make sure its not a scam i wont have to do that now that i done my research on this shoppers scamming thing and i know its a scam because many sites say the scammers send checks that look real for large sums of money but the thing that caught my eyes were this talk about a big scamming agency in canada and guess what kind of post stamp was on the front of the letter? a canadian stamp? then they said if you see that they want to you to make a money gram or western union tranfer that its a scam as well and mine has those exact two places on it!!! another thing that i noticed is that the lady who i spoke to gave me her extenion but when i called back minutes later to ask her some questions that she was unavailable?and the guy i spoke to didnt sound like someone who could convince you into something so that made me very weary of the whole thing and im happy to announce that i never left my house with that check to go cash it! this is very out ragegous people are losing jobs and homes because of this economy problem and you got foold like thease trying to make you worst off than you already were? thats to this site and another site called (fakechecks.org)please check it out!!i was one less vitim thankyou very much!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
My daughter received one of these letters from Advantage Mkg. Services LLC, P.O. Box 8836, State College, PA 16808-7308. 1-647-219-1858. The letter was from Jon Bill, but the “signature” was something completely different.
They sent a check for $4875, stating this was for a Partial Settlement 2007 Sweepstakes Draws. The letter stated this was her share of the total winning amount of $125k and to call to activate her account.
When I googled the company, I found nothing, same thing when I googled the phone number. When we googled the bank, (Omega Bank), we found one with a different name for the address listed on the check, First National Bank. Then we came across this website.
I am so grateful my daughter did not cash the check. I hope these people get caught by the FBI soon. You have no idea how happy and lucky we are also to stumble upon this website. Thank you.
December 6th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I also receive a letter and a check for 4,995 from Vertebron Survey Pro, they told me to deposit the check which I did, I check my account, the bank told me the check is clear, please somebody tell me what to do now?I am desperate!
December 8th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Thank you all for your site and everyone who posted a reply.
I too received a check today from Vertebron Survey Pro for $4,995.00 today 12/08/08. Thank God I researched this before it caused great pain for my family. I’m sorry to those of you who fell victim and it angers me that they haven’t been stopped!! I will report this and pray they get whats coming to them.
Message to “Desperate”, go talk to your bank and get it straight before they come to get you! I don’t know when you received your check but I don’t think it has had time to completely CLEAR. Tell them you think you have fallen victim to a scam! I don’t think you want to get caught up in this.
December 9th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Did everyone hear the good news?
A couple days ago the US Federal Trade Commission ordered several individuals that had been using mystery shopping to scam hundreds of people out of money to pay in upwards of $20 million.
Big win for the fight on mystery shopping scams and a powerful message to those who are currently running similar scams.
December 10th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Thank GOD 4 REALI late mail…
Three days ago my niece had given me a bunch of my mail that had come 2 her box and one of the letters just happened 2 be from Vertebron Survey Pro Inc and a check for $4995.00.
I almost fell for it too but thankfully I got it when I did cuz it said that their offer expired by Dec. 2nd and it was already the 6th. PHEW!!! That was a close one. Thank you for the info on this page and THANK GOD I have too bad of credit to even open or have a bank account!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
We recived a scam letter today from Shoppers Market Research.
Its the same form letter as I have read from above. So as to not go over the above again, A few things:
1. Their check is perforated now and have added a bank name(Great Lakes Bank, Blue Island, IL.) with no addres or info.
2. Stamp is from Canada and I will report it to the FBI.
3. The check is from Capacity and Service Solutions, A Division of Tranzact Tech. Inc. (who by the way make printers and check processing paper)
4. As stated by you highly detailed people, I also noticed the form letter. The type is offset and not centered. Not even the product of a basic form letter.
5. Shoppers Market Research is on the form letter 9362 East 42nd St. New York, NY. 10014 (google it) 403)401 9234 tel, fax 516)208-4809. My form did however state that they wanted you to Money Gram them money to Natsha Dennis in Bronx NY or Chantelle Lomax Queens NY.
6. My letter was dated the 8 of December 2008 and expires the 22 and was signed by Bolton Phillips, Director of Operations (employment) No signature on the letter.
7. Routing info on check is: 032999 071911788 0201083597.
These people blow my blood pressure to the limit.
Hope this helps.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
my neice recieve a similar letter with a check for 4980 dollars to cash, 100 dollars to shop at walmart, keep the goods.
keep 300 for her payment , send the rest back via money gram for a company called Bowman Research Center. is company legitimate and had any one been scamed by this company.
thanks,
linda.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I just got scammed by a company called Research Union Inc.
What makes it worse is that I deposited the check for $990 instead of cashing it (what the letter instructed me to do) and then several days later called my bank to ask if the check had cleared. I was told “the funds are available”.
That gave me the reassurance that this was a legitimate operation. Of course, the website, researchunion.com was working last week - it isn’t now.
So I went to Wal-Mart and purchased the money gram and addressed it to Jane Wolff, Camrose, Alberta, Canada and was on my way thinking I’m a mystery shopper now.
Yesterday, the check was returned to me by my bank saying the New York account count not be found. I’m out $884!!!
This is despicable and here I thought I covered myself by calling my bank, Citizens Bank, to make sure it cleared.
My bank is telling me now, “Oh no, we can tell if the funds clear your account, we have no way of knowing that, we make the funds available from bank funds”.
The bank lady never said any such thing to me when I expressly asked if the check cleared and that I wanted to draw on the check.
Internet Crime Complaint Centernumber 1-800-251-7581.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I to come to find one of these letters in my mailbox.. but I in turned called information and found out who was the name on the check and turnes out to be a storage place in Northfield IL.
the phone numbers are traced back to Alberta Cananda and is a prepayed cell, and the fax number is traced to New York.
So make sure you keep your eyes out for this new one I just got it yesterday…
If you do get one of these letters from SHOPPERS RESEARCH, contact your local athorities right away.. and contact your local FBI representative and turn it over right away…
December 16th, 2008 at 10:39 am
my check stated it was from fifth third bank also.
December 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Recd a check and letter in the mail…$990.00, the same scenario as most on this post. Using moneygram and walmart as their exchange.
Damn shame, it’s Christmas and certainly would come in handy. In any case this is from Researchunion.com…no such website.
The Check appears to be from Ontario. A secret shopper scam. In reading these posts, I thank you all as I would be inclined to take the money and run but…i’ll contact the authorities as anyone else reading this should as well.
It would be great to see the results of the efforts by those who are reporting this to the authorities..does anyone know this.
Happy Holidays!
December 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Just received Check with same letter for the amount of $2,940
At the top it says JP MORGAN CHASE BANK Dallas TX.
If you go to 411.com and type in the Telephone number it comes up as Location: Calgary, Ab, AB ………..and it’s a cell phone.
I called and asked “Bolton Philips” if their based out of NY then why am I talking to someone in Canada on a cell phone? Then he hung up.
So if anyone is dumb enough to fall for this scam im sorry, but ya gotta remember this is America and nothing is free, especially money.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hello every one, I live in Idaho.
Yesterday I recieved a letter from Shoppers Market Research. My check is for $3,760.00 Name on the check Capacity and Service Solutions A Division of Tranzact Technologies, Inc. Po Box 9262 Oak Brook, IL 60522.
Bank: Great Lakes Bank Blue Island, Il Check # 034011. The letter was from Bolton Phillips.
Has anyone else in Idaho Received this check? Does anyone have any information as to what the FBI is doing to help catch this person?
I look forward to hearing from you…
December 31st, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Yesterday i got a check from Red Hat Inc and it was supposedly from the JP Morgan Chase Bank. It was a part of the Vintage Marketing LLC.
The weird thing is the UPS letter is from a place in Arizona, but the check is “from” North Carolina. Yeah.. TOTALLY SCAM written all over it!
I’ve researched on the internet for the addresses to these supposed companies and they are actually apartments in their respective states.
These F**kers are getting bored. So, I hope this has info adds to all the awesome people out there to ensure nobody else gets in trouble!!!
Tootles and happy new year folks!
December 31st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I forgot to put the addresses just in case someone else ran into these scammers! I caught them off of craigslist! so becareful world!!!
Vintage Marketing LLC
1316 east state ave
Phoenix, AZ 85002
Red Hat Inc
1801 varsity dr
Releigh, NC 27606
Check amount for $3,000
check number 3269
00003269 02100021 719532764
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE folks… don’t fall for this.. Easy money may seem like the way, but it’s definitely NOT this. You’ll have better luck with lotto scratchers!
January 6th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
OMG!!!!!!! THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR POSTINGS!!!
I just received a check from High Temp Metals 12910 San Fernando Road Sylmar, CA 91342-3601 for 3000 from Citibank, but it was mailed from aNY!
Everything about the check seems fishy!!
PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR ANYTHING FROM VINTAGE MARKETING LLC OR FROM ANY OF THE PEOPLE ABOVE!!! MONEY IS HARD TO COME BY BUT THIS REALL IS MORE THAN WHAT U BARGAIN FOR!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I received a letter from Surplus Financial Services along with a post-dated check for $1810.00. A number to Canada was included and listed two people to ask for when calling.
The letter had an company address in West Babylon, NY and a Quebec address at the bottom of the letter. The check was from a PNC Bank in Cincinnati, OH with the company name Skip’s Bageldeli, Inc. which also had a Cincinnati address.
I called Skip’s Bageldeli and was told that the check was fake. I am taking this letter and check to the local police and plan to call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to report this fraudulent scam.
I’m so glad I checked this out before cashing this check. God knows I cannot afford to be charged with criminal charges, etc. And thank God I was smart enough to check out this company online first.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Got a check for $3000, was told to take my fee of $200 and western union the rest to one person in the first email then to a second person all the way across the country in the second…
I’d like to thank this website for bringing to light this scam. i looked into the companies before i went to cash it, contacted the police departments in the respective compamies’ cities. then did one final search & found this site!
watch out for Vintage Marketing LLC, Jake Donald,in Pheonix AZ and Red Hat Inc. from Raleigh (the city printed on the check… i’m guessing to avoid being caught by the REAL red hat inc.) (not Raleigh) NC.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
OMG with the economy in a Recession I could just imagine the Scams that are about to be put out.
I just received a letter in the mail today. The check is for $4940.00 to be a secret shopper. I called the number like it said, ( 1-289-888-3023 Ext.200) and someone answered saying “Deposit the check into your account, then call us back for more instructions”.
There was also a letter that came with it instructing me on how and where to spend the money. Oh, and I would get $300.00 bucks off this deal.
After doing my homework, I found this to be a scam out of Ontario, Canada. PEOPLE BE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I too received a check for 3000 from vintage marketing based in phoenix, az. Jake Donald is the name.
it has the city bank logo on it and two different addresses,. One is from citibank in culver city, ca and the other is global trading group in inglewood, ca. It was in a fed ex envelope sent overnight with no instructions or what the check was for.
That same morning, i checked my email and there was instructions to cash the check at my bank, to keep 200 + 120 + other expenses and money gram the rest to someone in NH. I was then to reply to the email with the confirmation number, amount, and person who received it.
Sounded way to good to be true..
So I googled and here i am. So glad i did. I will be ripping up the check
see below for actual e-mail:
January 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
i received a Fed Ex envelope, opened it and there was a check for 3,000…only there was no instructions, no paper work, nothing.
So i called the phone number listed on the postage receipt and this guy tells me he’s been receiving calls all over the state from people asking for a Jake Donald from Vintage Marketing LLC.
When i googled it, this website popped up. Thanks everyone. Yall saved a sistah from making a grave mistake.
I get checks in the mail all the time from banks for personal loans so i thought since the check stated Citibank that it was legit. But those prescreened offers usually have paperwork from the bank explaining it is a loan and how to apply for it with the bank…
The fake check, dated 01/07/09 also has written on the front:
Global Trading Group
4233 W. Century Blvd Suite #002
Inglewood, CA 90304.
And
Citibank 5700 S. Supulveda Blvd
Culver City , CA 90230
January 13th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I was contacted by Jake Donald, supposedly from a Craigslist inquiry. Here is the first email he sent me:
It sounded legit, so I responded with the information he required, saying I was interested. Next, I received the following:
And since I did not know ‘Money Gram’ outlets, I did a search on that. I came up with sites listing this whole thing as a scam.
I am very glad you are here!!! I will be much more careful in future.
Thank you!!!
January 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Whew!!! I received my first letter last August (2008) and second letter September (2008) from a Mystery Shopper who used banks in MA and CT (both had websites which made them look legit.)
When I telephoned the number to verify the check numbers, I was told both checks had been issued by the respective banks. So I deposited one (wrote checks against it totalling $400); the bank’s policy was to place a 7 day hold on check so on day 8 I go to the bank to find out my account now has a negative balance.
To make a long story short I ended up having to repay the bank immediately and decided to close my account.
About two weeks later I get this phone call from the bank’s security investigator asking me to come in and bring in any other information I have about this mystery shopping company out of Hitchcock, SD (by this time, I’ve accumulated a whole folder filled with information, which I turned over to the bank’s security investigator along with the 2nd check (I held on to it after the first one was FAKE).
This bank investigator asked me what I did with the money from the check, I showed him all my bank statements and he shut up fast!!. So be aware of these type of scams and don’t fall for them !!!
January 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
i just got a letter from SHOPPERS MARKET RESEARCH from New York and a check came with it for 3,770.00 and the bank was out of Houston TX.
I was to spend $100 at walmart and keep the stuff I buy and then send somone $3200 to a person by money gram.
I have contacted local police about this, I live in northern IL and I see it is all over the US.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
These people are still at it. I received emails from Frank James from Secret Shopper (R). I followed them to see how it played out, and of course they want me to spend money at Walmart and also send money to them via Western Union after receiving their check. Don’t fall for this. As soon as the check gets here I am going to take the package along with the emails to my Local Police Dept, in Memphis, TN.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Thank goodness I did a search for this company, or i would really be in a mess.
I got a check yesterday for $340, i’m so glad I didn’t fall for this scam.
Too bad we can’t turn the tables on them, and get them busted..
February 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am
oops, i posted i got a check for $340, it was actually $3400…
so glad i found this site, or i’d be in a mess of trouble..
February 12th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I got a check by ups and I would like some info on how to double check to see if it is legit. came from a .gmail account and then a .yahoo account this guy wanted me to do the western union thing and keep 300 so i told him that the bank is holding the check for fund availablity… then he wants a money gram and me to keep 500 and so i told him that the bank is holding the check for 7 to 10 days and now he wants to give me 1000 and send the rest. any ideas what to do with this???
February 12th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I just received a letter from SHOPPERS MARKET RESEARCH from New York. The check was for $3,880 from VyStar Credit Union (issued by MoneyGram payment systems). Same BS as above
February 15th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Rec’d letter and check today from Shoppers Market Research. Mystery shopper scam, same as above,but check for $3,880.00 Check says: MCU Financial Center Credit Union
1462 South Green Bay Road
PO Box 085300
Racine, Wisconsin 53406
Bank Name: Wisoncon Corporate Central Credit Union
Hales Corners, WI 53130
Address on Letter Head: 9362 East 42nd St.
New York, NY 10014
Telephone: 403-400-3558
Fax: 646-736-0200
Mailed from : Canada
February 17th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I also received a letter and check a while back, similar to the ones mentioned above, but I took the check to my bank and asked them if it was fake or real. They made some calls and found that the check was phony as H***, so the bank kept it for the FBI to checkout. Always check with the bank before cashing or handling these type of phonies.
February 18th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I rec’d a check yesterday for $4,998.00. I called the number on it and they said to cash it, then they will give me specific instructions on what to do with it and on the letter it states that some will be part of a money gram, Walmart purchace, Gap Purchase, and a Western Union. And I can keep $300. IT was from Shoppers Anonymous, INC. I ALMOST cashed it, but good thing I looked it up first. and they do not even have a legit website. thanks for the info
February 25th, 2009 at 1:11 am
I just got a check in the mail along with forms from a secret shopping company called: Shoppers Market Research 9362 East 422d St. NewYork, NewYork 10014. Telephone #: 1-403-918-3177 Fax: 1-716-376-4804. Enclosed was forms and instructions. This letter has a canadian post mark. The check enclosed is for 2, 940.00. This sounds like the same company committing fraud. Am I right?
February 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Here’s another scammer: Marketrends Monitoring and Research Group. The letterhead says it’s address is in N.Y. but the postage stamp is Canada. Please, please beware, these people are so elusive once they got your money. I regret posting my resume in the net. Now it makes me vulnerable to this irritating, scams who think they can insult my intelligence. Please catch them already!!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I too received a check from Shopper’s Market Research out of New York for $2940.00. Same secret shopper scam spend $100.00, keep $300.00, send $2400.00 with $140.00 in service charges. The funny thing is (and there is more than one funny thing), all the different states on the check! The bank is Webster Bank (legitimate) out of Conneticut, Issued by Moneygram Payment Systems out of Minnesota, Drawee: First Interstate Bank out of Montana. I wish it were real (single mom, two kids, unemployed) but alas, as mentioned many, many times on this site ‘If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!!!). Oh, the last funny thing, the remitter (or the person who has drafted the check) is not only DEAD!!!! and lived in Utah, but is not the same person who signed the check (obviously, duh, a dead person can’t write…..as far as I know). Thank you, thank you for this site. Sorry to all those who fell for it. And congratulations to all those who have the insight to check BEFORE making a life changing mistake!!! God day
March 5th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
From California.
I just got a check today. I got an e-mail explaining my “duties” but thought it was kind of suspicious. I called my husband that told me furiously that is was probably a fraud he had heard about that in the past, I am in shock! Then I came here to search about that I found all these people in the same situation. Thank you guys for this help… My husband told me do not open the package… it is here sitting on my desk.
The name they used to me was A & M Shadow Shoppers Inc.
What can we do to make them stop???
Just go to the Police???
March 10th, 2009 at 7:25 am
I have from Charleston, Mississippi. I received a letter for 4,995. I took mines and cashed it. I thought that the check was real because it was verified and so did the bank. I was arrested and charged with bad checks. I had a 10,000 bond and had to pay 1050 to get out. What should I do. I hadn’t heard of the scam until now.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Our company recently had our checks scammed and a lot of letters were sent out to people in our company name. Unfortunatley some people fell for the scam. The letters referred people to a telephone number that we were able to call and talk to the scammers who assured us that the deal was legit. We contacted the FBI and local police department. The FBI said that unless the loss was over $500,000, they couldn’t help. Our local police department didn’t even want to take a report. With this reaction from law enforcement, these types of scams will continue. Be careful out there! Scott
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Just got a scam letter with 4,350 check from “Agent Research and Evaluation Inc.” With a bogus address and same description of letter.
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I cannot believe this shit I just got one of those checks for $2500 and I was confused on the process after I googled some info I came across this How can these people keep getting away with this stuff
April 7th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I just received a check for 4,500.00 from UPS. I had signed up on Craig’s List to be a secret shopper. I first got a phone call stating that they would be sending me to Western Union to monitor the customer service skills of WU employees. I was to receive money to pay for my gas and time and then would send the rest of the funds to a certain address. The check I received was from Verisign Inc. signed by the global account director. The signature looked like that of 4th grader and the handwriting on the outside envelope matched that of the singed check. Anyway just a heads up to all of you Craigs List secret shoppers.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:33 am
I just got a check for $37500.00 from Service Integrity. Company address 1001 Mary Drive Iowa Park ,TX 79510.The envelope showed it was mailed from Canada. The company on the check is EPE Packaging,Inc. 1121 California Ave. Corona, CA 92881. This has no be a Scam. Be aware
May 8th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I have received 4 checks totalling $8ooo.oo today alone! I did not ask for these, If it looks to good to be reall then it probably is.