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another newbie

January 23, 2011 11:35PM
I'm a 72 yr old Vietnam Vet who's looking for a way to get some additional income from mystery shopping.
Before Christmas I joined a group who told me that they would pay me $300.00 to go to Wal-Mart and another $300.00 to go to Western Union to shop them.They also told me that they would send me the money up front.
I waited till after the first of the year and hadn't heard anything from them. So I e-mailed them again and got an immediate reply telling me that they were held up because of the holidays. I waited another two weeks, and still nothing. So I e-mailed them and told them that they were obviously frauds and liars.
I never heard another word from them till this morning. I got another e-mail from them apologizing for the delay and that I could expect a check from them soon.
My question to you is; In one of your posts I read that companies don't pay you up front and if they did, to NOT cash the check.
Why? What is their angle?
The only personal info that they have from me is: name, address, and phone number.
I've never been on a mystery shopping assignment and am just learning what it's all about.
I'm puzzled by this.
HELP!
Mustang Willie
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January 23, 2011 11:53PM
They don't want your personal info, they want your money. They'll have you cash the check, and wire some money to them (that's why they have you do Western Union, so part of the "shop" is sending a "test wire"). Within a week or two, the check will come back bad and you'll owe the bank the money.

This is just about the oldest trick in the book. Don't fall for it.
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January 24, 2011 01:51AM
Welcome to the Board! (From a fellow vet).

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
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January 24, 2011 01:53AM
Thanks for the quick response. So what do I do with the check when I get it?
Mustang Willie
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January 24, 2011 01:54AM
Turn it in at your local PD...

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
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January 24, 2011 04:50AM
mrcomputer101 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Turn it in at your local PD...


You can do that if you want, but they won't do much. I just wouldn't do anything if I were you. Don't offer to do anymore work for them, they're not a legit mystery shopping company.

Always avoid cashing a stranger's check and sending money back to them. These check scams come in all sorts of form, but they're all basically the same thing. Somebody gives you a bad check > you go to cash it > bank gives you the money (as they're required to by law) > you wire a portion of that money to the scammer > in a week or two the bank determines that the check was bad and demands the money back > you're out however much money you wired to the scammer.
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January 24, 2011 02:39PM
Nichtoliver, Thanks for the good advice. I'll do it your way, but I'll also give those liars and frauds a piece of my mind.
Mustangwillie
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