Mystery Shopping Scams Can Cost You An Arm And A Leg

Increasingly, con artists have chosen to take advantage of wire transfers as the

preferred method of payment for numerous consumer scams, such as mystery shopping. The mystery shopper scam uses fraudulent offers, fake checks and wire transfers to convince unsuspecting consumers into sending money to fraudsters who are often located in Canada or other countries.

The scam has its foundation in a legitimate activity. Many retail and service corporations hire evaluators to perform secret or random checks on themselves or their competitors. However, these companies never require applicants to provide funds up front for registration or processing fees. Here is how it works.

The scam artist sends a letter, e-mail solicitation, or places an ad in a newspaper or on an online forum describing a paid, stay-at-home position in which the consumer will evaluate customer service at large retail stores, mainly businesses with familiar names. In reality, these stores have no affiliation with the scam artist placing the ad. After responding to the ad, the consumer receives an employment packet containing a training assignment, a list of products to purchase at different stores and an authentic looking cashier's check, usually between $2,000 and $4,000. The training assignment is to deposit the check into the consumer's bank account, pose as a shopper and then use the wire transfer service indicated in the packet to send the balance of the check's proceeds (minus the cost of any purchases and the consumer's salary) to an address outside the United States, often in Canada.

The problem is that the check is fake, so when it bounces, which occurs after the money is wired, the consumer is accountable to the bank for the entire amount of the fake check, plus additional bank fees. Also, in some instances, consumers are asked for personal bank account information. The company will then deposit money into their account for payment and funds with which to perform their Secret Shopper duties. These consumers often then become victims of identity theft.

Under federal law, banks must make funds available to you from U.S. Treasury checks, official bank checks (cashier's checks, certified checks, and teller's checks), and checks paid by government agencies at the opening of business the day after you deposit the check. For other checks, banks must make the first $100 available the day after you deposit the check. Remaining funds must be made available on the second day after the deposit if payable by a local bank, and within five days if drawn on distant banks.

However, just because funds are available on a check you've deposited doesn't mean the check is good. It's best not to depend on money from any type of check (cashier, business or personal check, or money order) unless you know and trust the person you're dealing with or, better yet, until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. Forgeries can take weeks to be discovered. Until the bank confirms that the check has actually been paid by the other bank, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check. You can protect yourself by:* Not opening or responding to unsolicited e-mails asking you to become a mystery shopper or secret shopper.* Never depositing a check you receive in the mail from any organization or company. No legitimate business will pay in advance and ask you to send back a portion of the money.* Not clicking on or responding to online ads or Web sites offering free gift cards.* If you have posted your resume to an online job site, verify with the site that any job solicitations you receive are authentic.The bottom line is that if you think it seems to good to be true, it is. The best way to protect yourself is recognize the warning signs and run the other way.by: Maureen Vail

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