Type of Scam: Mystery Shopper

Date: April 27, 2007

Details:

The New York State Consumer Protection Board, or CPB, is alerting job seekers about a letter and a check that offer them employment as a mystery shopper. The scam uses the name of a legitimate mystery shopping company in Canada, “Service Intelligence “or “Service Access.”

The phony letters are accompanied by bogus checks. The victims are told to deposit the check, keep $300 for payment, and return the remaining money to a Canadian address. Victims have lost thousands of dollars to this scheme. The scammers often choose to target people who have posted their resumes on Internet job sites.

There are companies that hire mystery shoppers, but any legitimate company will not require you to send money. Fake checks rip-off consumers in a variety of ways. Be sure a check is real before you deposit it or you could stand to lose your own money!

Good Luck!

CBS 6 News

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