Secret Shopper Scam

[Trishy]

This was on the news this am.

NBC25 - Pennsylvania's Attorney General is warning consumers about a "secret shopper" scam.

 

 

 

 

 

He said Pennsylvanians have been receiving letters promising a big payoff for shopping at well-known retailers. He also said the letters contain checks which recipients are instructed to deposit into their own bank accounts for start-up costs.

 

 

 

 

 

Consumers are then told to wire a portion of the funds to someone who will evaluate their performance. The attorney general said the checks are bogus, and that you could be held responsible for the full amount.

 

 

 

 

 

They are asking anyone who receives these types of letters to simply disregard them and contact the Attorney General's office of consumer protection.

[onecutemoocow]

Thanks for the warning. I received fraud checks about 2 months ago but it was something totally different.

[DaveL]

As they always say....if it sounds too good to be true....

[erinplus3]

I don't understand why anyone would fall for having to wire money to someone. It doesn't make sense to me. I'm not judging, I just don't get it.

[Marcster]

Just one more example of the "classic" advanced fee scam:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud

 

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileypad/NO/bo40.gif

[hwolf6330]

I don't understand why anyone would fall for having to wire money to someone. It doesn't make sense to me. I'm not judging, I just don't get it.

I don't get it either. I think it was last year that Dateline did a show on Nigerian scams. They showed highly educated people falling for it.

[lori12563]

They fall for it because they are greedy.