Consumers who fell for this scam told BBB they received a letter and check, in the amount of $1922.75, in the mail that indicates the consumer had been “selected to participate in a paid mystery shoppers program….” The letter goes on to state…”you must keep your identity and assignment as a mystery shopper CONFIDENTIAL….” and asks the consumer to log into the company’s website to activate the enclosed check. Once logged in, the consumer is given assignments to pose as a customer for companies like MoneyGram, Walmart, Costco, or Home Depot and asked to deposit the check into their bank account.
Consumers who followed the company’s instructions and cashed the checks later found out that the checks were fraudulent. One consumer indicated she wired over $800 to a recipient in Madrid, Spain as part of her mystery shopping assignment, and that her bank froze her account because the check was fraudulent.
BBB attempted to reach the business at the advertised phone number of 901.942.8310; however, a recorded message indicated the company could not take the call due to a high call volume. BBB notes that the area code for that phone number is a Memphis, TN exchange rather than a LaVergne, TN exchange. BBB also visited the company’s advertised location in LaVergne, TN and found no such business. BBB advises consumers to steer clear of this get-rich-quick mystery-shopping scheme, as it will only lead to empty bank accounts and consumer responsibility of returning the fraudulent funds to the bank.
Source:
Partner station WMSR
