HELP -- IS THIS A SCAM?

[Bertha Venation]

I just got this from my sister:

So yesterday, I get this letter and check in the mail. Since I had expressed an interest in extra income (I signed up for some survey-taking thing months ago, and never followed through but I guess my name got on some list), I have been selected as a mystery shopper. I am to use the enclosed check to make purchases and report on the customer service I received. It’s a $2700.00 check, and $300.00 of it is my payment. $80.00 is to spend at Sears, Macy’s, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, or K-Mart. $2150.00 is to be used to evaluate customer service at Western Union, and the remaining $170.00 is the estimated cost of the wire transfer. I am to wire the money to the name and address listed. I must keep my mystery shopper identity secret, so as not to influence the behavior of the person serving me.

SO, sounds pretty simple, right? But all these alarms and red flags are going off. It seems way too scammy, but what is the scam? And to whom would I report it, or do I just leave it alone?

Is it a scam?

Edit: Let me add that this "mystery shopper" thing was unsolicited.

[RebelOne]

1. Definitely a scam. And an old one at that. n/t

[Bertha Venation]

2. But how do they "get you?" n/t

[Richardo]

3. The thing I've heard is that these checks bounce.

You deposit them in your account, spend the money, including sending most of it to a 'mystery' Western Union recipient. Then the deposit check goes NSF, and you're on the hook to reimburse your bank. And you've sent >$2,000 to somebody somewhere.

[TxRider]

18. Precisely.

The check is deposited, it takes a while to go through the fed to the other bank, then to come back as a forged check...

Meanwhile you've sent the money and spent the money and when your bank gets that check back as forged in a couple weeks, they want the money back from you that they gave you.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Could be just a coincidence of course

but it sounds a lot like these fraudsters: http://www.ripoffreport.com/Bad-Check-Writers/Continental-Shopper/continental-shopper-s-inc-cont-44db2.htm If she wants, she can phone the issuing bank, read the account number, and see if there's enough money to cover the $2700. If there is, she can deposit the check, but I know which way I'm betting.

[suninvited]

7. That wouldn't even be an option because these checks

while being totally fraudulent are written off of REAL company bank accounts. They are counting on a very low percentage doing what you said as their verification procedure before proceeding.

[Rosie1223]

5. Scam -- What Richardo said

what shredders are for.

:hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Total scam. That check is gonna bounce like a superball.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Question: "$2150.00 is to be used to evaluate customer service at Western Union" --

does that mean she sends that amount somewhere via Western Union - ostensibly to the company that sent the check?

[suninvited]

11. Right

you are supposed to evaluate their service by sending the $2,150. Okay, you didn't even sign up for this company and they have no employment agreement, and they are trusting you with this much money to mystery evaluate Western Union?????? Of course they want you to keep your identity a secret, western union is fully aware of this scam and would tell you so right away.

Then 10 days later you find out that the check they gave you is bogus, your bank is holding you accountable for the money meanwhile you shipped most of it off never to be seen again.

[Blue Diadem]

12. Yep. They/he/she gets the money and your sis would be left

being responsible for the bounced check.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/employment/shopper.asp

[Iggo]

9. It's the $2150 at Western Union that sets off the alarm.

You'll be wiring money to the thieves, and then you'll be on the hook for it.

[suninvited]

10. My daughter in law got the same thing

after signing up for surveys at home.

Check was from Chase Bank, looked oh so real. The postmark came from Canada.

Of course she didn't fall for it, the check is now in the hands of the local police department, but I doubt there is anything they can do to stop this criminal activity.

[Bertha Venation]

13. So: Who are the proper authorities?

Rather than shredding it, she wants to turn it in, to file a report somewhere.

[suninvited]

17. was it postmarked in Canada, too?

I think thats where most of these are originating. My son turned his wife's check into a detective where he works, because my son is a police officer. The detective said he did not know if he could do anything, but he would do a little research and find out where it should be turned in.

I will let you know after I talk to my son.

[TxRider]

19. Postal service

Mail fraud.

[Hawkeye-X]

27. You might want to try to contact the United States Postal Inspection Service...

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/

Some pretty useful info there..

[old mark]

14. BV, I get this one about every week - it's BS.

I have blocked the sender several times, but it keeps coming back to my junk file along with the email from Canadian Customs who found the package for me containing $24 million in cash and need a few thou to clear the import duty. And the letter from old family members in Nigeria about my inheritance.......

It would be funny, but it's become a PITA just to delete them every week.

mark

[Crabby Appleton]

15. Scam

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/employment/shopper.asp

I'd ignore or sent it to her state Attourney General office.

[billyclem]

16. Mail fraud, contact Postal Service Inspectors

Often overlooked are the Postal Service Inspectors. They are a Federal law enforcement agency and are very tenacious and effective when it comes to crimes that use the mail.

:hi:

[gmoney]

20. Two words: Western Union

While this once vaunted company does provide legitimate services, it's also a favorite of scammers because if you send money, it can be picked up almost anywhere, with minimal ID (I think maybe just a transaction number) and the recipient gets cash and can walk away. Your sister would have to hand WU $2150 in cash probably, so essentially she's cashing a rubber check for $2150.

Wouldn't the customer service be the same on a $21.50 transaction, if it's just for verification purposes?

Also, if the check was any good, why would they count on a nearly unknown person to cash it and then send most of it back? Your sister could just walk away with the money.

This boondoggle has the added insult that if you present this bad check to your bank, you may get soaked for a fee, plus I'm sure some people go ahead and "spend" that money, resulting in more fees.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. SCAM!

Attorney General :)

[TK421]

22. Yup....it's a scam

"$2150.00 is to be used to evaluate customer service at Western Union, and the remaining $170.00 is the estimated cost of the wire transfer." and that did it for me....

[Generic Brad]

23. Money laundering scam

And you will be left holding the bag. Run away. Don't walk. Run!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

24. She really needed to ask?

She already knew.

Shredder................

[triguy46]

25. Scam. Scam. Scam. Scam. Scam. Scam.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

26. Definitely a scam

I'm a member of http://www.419eater.com and we bait these bastards and cause a lot of grief for the scum-sucking shitheads.