Secret Shoppers Inc still going strong!
Photo by: Sebastian Fritzon
Sometime back I had written about a scam called Master Research Inc., a company that swindled money from people by promising them employment. Those who fell for the scam were given to understand that they would be working as secret shoppers testing the payment mechanisms of large shopping malls.
They had gone underground, it was believed, when the going got too hot. Now, it seems, they have resurfaced after a name-change as Secret Shoppers Inc.
Sign that the scam was alive and kicking were received last week. Nancy Timmerman, after responding to an employment ad in the local paper, received a job offer from a company calling itself Secret Shoppers Inc.
Part of the job, she was told was to check the effectiveness and efficiency of Wal-Mart’s money gram facility. For this, the company sent her a check for nearly $2,700 drawn on Pioneer Federal Credit Union, Nampa Branch.
She was told to cash the check and then send part of the money using Wal-Mart money grams back to the company.
Nancy confessed, for a moment she was almost taken in by the scam. She was out of work and desperately looking for a job. Under such circumstances, the company and its job offer looked so legitimate. Then, she had heard about such scams operating in the internet world. It took time for her to realize such scams can and were being run in the ‘real’ (read offline) world too.
She took the check to the Nampa Branch of the bank. They told her the check was a fraud. In fact, over a week they had collected three more such checks, two of them very similar to what Nancy had on hand.
Nancy wished others will be alerted by the incident:
“I just want people to know about this because I don’t want some else to be suckered by it that’s as desperate for work as I am,”
she said.
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June 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I thought something was fishy! I did work legitimately years ago as a gualified secret shopper but I did not make nowhere near a $150.00 an hour! The light went off in my head on this secret research inc! So glad I researched the web before falling into the trap! That saying is so true…if it is too good to be true it probably is! I know everyday people are hurting for money but they really gotta step back and say wait a minute! thanks for your important website! sharon from Cape Cod!
June 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
@ Sharon…
This is what makes our efforts worthwhile!
Thank You for dropping by and taking time out to comment!
Best Wishes!
June 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I just got my check from these guys. And I thought this all seem real fishy as they send a check and a so called evaluation form and want me to do the Money Gram thing and I get paid $300.00 to do this. I’m thinking to myself yeah I put this into my checking account it comes back a fake and these guys are getting $2700.00 of my money. Not……….I’m heading straight to the police department. I came out on line just to see if this was a legit company and your information proved my suspisions. Thanks so much.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
@ Jen:
Glad to have been of help!
Thank You Jen for dropping by and taking the time out to leave a comment!
Best Wishes!
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Well, i just recieved a check in the mail for 2,990.00. The name of this company is called “secret research inc”.
Well, after reading your story, I know that this is deffinately a fraud.
Thanks a bunch
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I cashed it, what do i do now? am i reliable and what can happen to me please respond asap
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
@ Jesse…
1. Pls contact your bank, inform them of the scam and take steps to withdraw your check. They should be sympathetic towards you as they must be aware of the scam.
2. Did you give away any bank account or credit card details. If so, pls contact all 3 credit agencies and get credit account frozen.
3. Report matter to the police.
Best Wishes!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
My little sister called me this afternoon becasue she knows I have dealth with alot of these online and “snail mail” type offers.
At one time I took it so far as to give the scammer my name and address and (I’m sure mistakenly) recieved over $400,000 in fraudulent American Express traveler’s checks. (I sent the checks and the scammers info to American Express)
As soon as she read the intro letter to me I knew it was a scam so I had her call the 800 number on three way. The woman “Christine Nielsen” gave her spiel and I asked her point blank what would happen if the chek wound up being discovered as fraudulent. She commneded me on being cautious and urged me to chekc out the company website. (I was laready logged in to this site so i was loaded for bear.
We waited about 10 minutes and called “Christine” back and told her we had done a little more searching and found out some details aof their shenanigans. she assured me the info was false and out me on hold. She never came back.
They are now issuing checks from Arizon Federal in Phoenix.
I love playing this game. It’s such a nice break in the day.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I just received similiar thing from secret research inc today, along with a 2890.00 check to “test” walmarts money gram also. Only this check is drawn off of Heritage community bank in south carolina. (I am sure its no good also.). Interesting thing thouch is the money was to be wired to a woman in Canada and the postmark was a canadian postmark, not the south carolina where the company is supposed to be located.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Well, this is the third time this canada based “Boiler Room” has sent me a check with no return address. These checks are bogus! there needs to be a way to get these people brought to justice! I can only threaten these people so much…
July 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
My wife responded to an ad in the local paper for a customer service rep. The ad ask her to call a long distance number. Not being sure about the conversation, she asked for more information about the job. She received a check for $2890 and letter. Being the smart lady she is, she recognized a scam and did nothing with the check. Is there something we can do to help stop this garbage?
I searched the Internet for the name of the Bank in South Carolina they were using and notified them of the scam using their name.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Received a check from Secret Research Inc. to get paid training of $200 out of a check for $2890. It is for position: Customer Service Evaluator. And send a moneygram to the person named, in Canada for $2550.
The phone no., stamp and postmark are from Canada. Bank was in South Carolina.
Luckily it looked and sounded fishy, it is now in the wastebasket. Thank heavens I realized it before depositing it.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I just received a check in the exact same amount drawn on the exact same bank ($2890.00 drawn on Heritage Community Bank). Thanks to your wonderful website I will be making a trip to the police station first thing tomorrow.
Thanks again!
mary
August 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Omg, i got a check for $2890.00, and i knew it was to good to be true, but i went to a check place to cash it because i knew they would check it out and see if it was real. And of course it wasn’t they said it was counterfit, and actually called the cops on me and i explained to them what had happened and they decided not to take me to jail..But they did take me down to the station for questioning. Scared me to death…So i got on the internet and found this site, and hopefully no one will try to do what i did…Thanks Brooke
August 6th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I got one of these letters today, with the $2890.00 check, say u are able to get the check cashed, why would anyone send a check for that amount of money and trust that your going to send all of it back but $200.00,
August 6th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
@ Sam…
Precisely!
Best wishes!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
@ Veronika, Mary, Nicole, Wayne, Carol, Mary (burrell58aol.com) Brooke, and Sam…
Thank You for dropping by and taking the time out to leave a comment!
Best Wishes!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
i also rec’d achech for
2890. from Canada, but the bank is south carolina. I am soooo
glad I found this website before doing anything with the check.
thanks again!!
August 7th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I am supposed to receive a check for $2900. I will take it to the police station as soon as I get it. We must put a stop to these people!! Crooks, they are and should be caught… Let us all work together to STOP them… Take all checks to police and if possible notify the banks.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I just recieved a letter and a check for $2,890. I am supposed to send a monygram for 2,585 and keep 200.00 for myself. I brought it straight to the police..The name of the bank was Regional …I just wanted people to beware..
August 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
i received a check today for 4992.00 from Shopper research inc, i knew it was too good to be so, i got on line and did some research. i was so glad to have read the comments that others have made about the scams. I tore the check up but, if i had read comments earlier, i would have taken it to the police station.
August 30th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I received a check via mail on today for 4,992.00 from SHOPPERS RESEARCH. I was told to keep $350.00, make a purchase at Walmart $50.00,Gap $40.00,Western Union $1,558.00,$99.00 fee,and money Gram $2835.00 fee $60.00.I thank God for Jesus because it just didn’t appear to be good in spirit.I was asked to cash the check and call back on ext. 200.Which was an cell phone number in Canada…This didn’t agree with my husband Correctional Officer Daryl Henderson.The following day all money was returnned and reported to Secu in Baltimore,Md. Please be careful…Cry me a river build me bridge and get over it…return the money…Jail does exist…
September 5th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I received mail from Shoppers Research, Inc with a check for $4,992 with instructions to keep $350.00, make a purchase at Walmart $50.00,Gap $40.00,Western Union $1,558.00,$99.00 fee,and money Gram $2835.00 fee $60.00.
It seemed too good to be true so I went to the web to check them out and found this site. Thank you guys so much for letting us know about this scam. The check was written against Bank of Gower of Gower, MO. I called the bank and of course the check was a fraud. I sent the check and letter to them at their request so they could open an investigation. Just think of the brain power it takes keep thinking up scams like this and keeping them going - just think if they put those brain cells and power to good use!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I also received a check fpr 4,992 and I almost cashed it until I just read the comments. now I will be going to the police station.
Thanks you guys
September 12th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Today I received the phony cashiers check on a Kansas bank for $3250 which I was supposed to cash, keep 10% and wire vs Western Union to a person in Kansas.
My husband insisted it was a fraud so we went to the bank to check it out. The check was a photocopy along with the signatures… the amount which should be embossed on a cashiers check was not. The bank reports that they have received several reports like this in the last week alone.
We all know that “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”.
September 12th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Got the same letter and check today. Knew it was a scam right away. No legit compny is going to send out 4992.00. They would be out of business or locked up in an insane asylum. Called them anyway and after listening to the garbage informed them I was going to not only the police but also the post office as this does qualify as mail fraud. The postal inspectors were actually more interested than the local police.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I received the $4992.00 check on the Bank of Gower also. Sent a copy to a policeman friend and to the bank of Gower. Shoppers research was the source.
Also received one for #3850.00 the other day and just tore it up. Don’t remember who it was from
September 15th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Just received letter from Canada, 340 50 Ave SE Vancouver BC T2G 2B1 and check for $2890 today, 9/15/08, from Secret Shoppers, Inc. with no return address on the mailing envelope. The letter indicates it is for the position of Customer Service Evaluator It is the Money Gram WalMart scam stating it was in response to my phone call to an 800# that gave no information except to ask for my mailing address. This cashiers check, are you ready for this…shows Sooper Credit Union in Denver Colorado! Duh, they aren’t too bright and no one gets paid $150/hr for doing a transaction that probably doesn’t take 5 minutes to complete! I really appreciate this website to vent and prevent others from getting scammed.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I received a check for $4,992.00…With the same instructions as the other people from Shoppers Research, Inc…But the bank in Gower, Mo. said the funds were available…My bank advised not to cash it..After reading all the comments I will take it to the police station…Yes, ANYTHING THAT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IS NOT!!!! Thanks for your website
September 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I received a check for $2,890.00 to test walmart’s moneygram as well. The letter says to send $2,535.00 to a “relative” in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. $55.00 was to be for the moneygram fee and then $300.00 was my “2 hour evaluation training” pay. This is a cashier’s check drawn on Sooper Credit Union in Denver, Colorado. The company letterhead indicates “Secret Shoppers Inc.“.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I too received an interesting letter in the mail yesterday afternoon that was post marked from Canada. I received a check for $4,999.00 and a form that was asked to call a
905-599-8549 Ext 102 then I was to press 1. Letter stressed that I had to call right away or a stop payment would be placed on check. Unfortunately for these people I called the bank the Cashier’s Check was drawn on Intercity State Bank in Schofield, WI, the Bank is legit however, the check isn’t. Imagine that…..The remitter on the check is S.R Inc. I have since forwarded all of the documentation including the envelope to the authorities.
This is a great website. I plan to save you on my favorites and check in with you from time to time. REMEMBER IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, THEN THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG….
October 1st, 2008 at 12:31 am
@ Beth, Barbara, Mary, Lou Mcilwain, Charmaine Henderson, Juanita L., Trina, Marcia F, Bob, Jerry, LW, Carolyn, Cheri, Yvonne…
Thank You for dropping by and taking the time out to leave a comment!
Best Wishes!
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Also received a check from Hallmark Resource Group with the address of 4141 Governor’s Row Austin , TX 78744 and 591 Willington Rd Suite 1130 London, ON NC 4R3 the check is for $970 and the address on the check is in Tucson, AZ the bank does exist, it’s Tucson Old Pueblo Credit union. The instructions also say to wire money thru Walmart money gram and just to keep $100 for my services, of course this is a scam, looks to good to be true.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
OMG! They (secret Shoppers inc.) just sent me a check for 2,450$ and I went to dep. it this morning…I had never heard of the scam. The lady on the phone last night was so kind, I fell Hook line and sinker!
I had a funny feeling after sleeping on it though and decided to look up the Pres. of the co. Addy…Well; you’ll NEVER guess where it was! #600-608 East Blvd, Bismarck, ND…Look it up for a laugh! You’ll definitely be able to tell how I knew IMMEDIATELY it was crap! Anyhow, I knew the bank clerk and she was holding the check waiting for the “First Bank Of Asia”(which BTW WAS a REAL bank!) to open, where they then conf. we were right!
October 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
P.S. Don’t forget to put mapquest on Aerial, so you actually SEE the physical address!!
October 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
LOL! P>P>S: I attempted to call back the cust serv. # and for the first time I got a recording say the mach. was full and to leave a mess. it has been 4 hours now, with no return….couldn’t hardly get the phone hung up before it rang,(thier rep. calling back) before this
October 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Hi, this is to alert of a new one. “New Vision Advertising” secret shopper testing, you guessed it, Money Gram/Western Union.
They are getting craftier. The mail was Postmarked Canada, The company is addressed in MA, the pick up people for the transfer are from NY, and the check is from a bank in Texas. Our check looks very real, and the person it’s “from” is also a prominent person from a motor company, of course, I don’t think he banks in Texas. This is an alert because if you google New Vision Advertising, there is nothing about scams.
Oh, it’s the same deal, check for $3895.00 We are supposed to keep $300 and wire the rest.
Taking it to fraud dept tomorrow. Thanks for the site. It looked crafty because if you needed to “test” a money gram place, you could send $20…
October 14th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I got a letter from Mystery Shoppers Inc. No return address on envelope, stamp from Canada. Address on the letter was a legit address in NY, but a phony zip. The web pic of the building looks like a storage facility. The telephone number is Canadian, but the fax number is NY. Doesn’t tell you WHO to contact for more info. Three out of the 4 names listed in the letter (including who the letter was signed by) just happen to be low profile writers or actors from Hollywood. Check was for $4260.00 and was written off Citibank. I’ll be headed to the DA tomorrow.
Thanks for the info.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I just received one of those checks the day before yesterday, for me to be an evaluator for money gram services at any walmart. The amount was 2889.00 and the send fee was 55.00 and I was suppose to keep 300.00. I knew this was too good to be true, and when you call the number the person do not explain any real information to you. He just said, did you read the letter? I said yes, He said did you cash the check, and I said no. He said well call me when you cash the check at your bank tomorrow. Something told me to do my research, and I am glad I did, because I won’t be looking crazy at my bank trying to cash a fraudelent check. This is a sick business, and a waste of time.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I got the same identical envelope and check as Chris and Aryn (#37) with the same “car dealer’s signature” and the Bank in Grand Prairie.
I have contacted the bank and I’m waiting on a reply from them.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I got my paperwork today, from Secret Shoppers, Inc. (mailed from Canada). The cashiers check is drawn on an account at BB&T Bank, supposedly in Englewood, Colorado. The check is for $2885.00.
I got a similar one a few months ago, also out of Canada. For any Canadian ones, you can contact phonebusters.com with the info. It’s through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police website. You can also call the RCMP, they are very nice & helpful.
What should clue people in is, the phone #s on the paperwork they send you never matches the one you initally call.
Also, one piece of advice-KEEP ALL ORIGINAL COPIES OF PAPERWORK YOU RECEIVE!! ESPECIALLY THE CHECK!! Send copies only to whoever you contact.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Well my girlfriend got this so called 2890 check also. we actually called the supposably bank that the check is from and they said that the check is a real check written to her and that the funds are available in that account now what.. … Help with some info please……..
November 10th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Oh yeah forgot to mention that she also called the number provided on the letter from the secret shoppers and the guy named peter johnson told her to cash the check and call her back for step by step details as to what to do…. this is in regards to that 2890.00 check for that secret shopper stuff. has any one really researched or is everyone assuming…….ps we havent done anything yet with the check because yes we are skeptical as well but after making the phone calls to the Sooper credit union with which the check is supposably the account holder they said the check is real…. dont know what to do….advise from the people what do you all think…..?????????????????
November 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Just got confirmation its a fraud ladies and gents it is a fraud. We got touch with the real sooper credit union and they have been dealing with this since may and if any else has a letter from this secret shopper with a check from some bank out of your state get a hold of them asap and they will ask you to send them that letter with that check um um excuse me that fraudulent check to them for their records and ongoing investigation in trying to stop these people from fooling with are hearts and minds and most of all our emotions especially when money is so hard to come by in this slowly deterioration economy…. May God Bless Us All
November 21st, 2008 at 12:43 am
Hi I would like to know if you have heard anything on a Dr. Peter Johnson Secret shopper. They sent me a check for $3500.00 and want me to send $2850.00 back to this lady and spend $200.00 in two Wal-Mart’s and send them a report on them and keep $450.00 fo my Time. Thank You
November 21st, 2008 at 3:05 am
Hi Daniel!
Smells like a scam, even from a distance.
Also, Jose (Comment #’s 42-44) has independently verified the offer as fraudulent. (Thanks, Jose!)
Pls don’t waste your time and money over them.
Best Wishes!
November 24th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Thanks for posting this as a scam. We just opened today’s mail and suspected this to be a scam. It took three tries at typing in search words before your site popped up. I typed in “secret shopper sooper credit union” to find the fraud listing. Fact that it came out of British Columbia was suspect as well. When will the FBI and other U.S. agencies start to crack down on these scams?
Blessings!