Secret Shopper Scam Alert

I thought I had seen everything as far as money-grabbing scams: business opportunities that turn out to be more headache than opportunity, online surveys that are not truly surveys (instead they junk up your e-mail address with "offers"), and everything in between. Yet, this week, I've been reminded just how scandalous some people truly are. The latest eye-opener: a secret shopper scam.

This past Tuesday, May 20, I received a pretty official looking letter, stating that I had been chosen (by virtue of completing a previous online survey) to partipate in a "paid consumer research program in your area of residence" to be a SECRET SHOPPER. Enclosed with this official looking letter were two more official looking forms: a company acceptance form & a "Secret Shopper" evaluation form, as well as a check for $3850.00!

Since I participate and do quite a few online surveys as a means to supplement my disability income, I really did believe that maybe the offer had been legitimate: indeed, I had just recently answered a legitimate survey----through a legitimate research company----stating that I would be interested in participating in a secret shopper program. So, I was conned into believing it was for real based on surveys that I had honestly participated in.

However, when I took the check to my bank----the bank's cashier told me they'd seen these kinds of things before---and told me they believed it was someone trying to fraudulently get a hold of my private information. I asked the cashier if there was any way whatsoever to check it out without harming my account; she had told me the only way I could check to see if the offer was legitimate would be to put an eleven day hold on the check to make sure it cleared before any money could be accessed from it---but, if it turned out that the check was bogus, it would cost me a nominal $6 fee. So, I went ahead and did this.

My story doesn't end here, though. Far from it; after depositing what turned out to be a fraudulent check, I was supposed to fax the "Company Acceptance Form" with a copy of the deposit receipt & a copy of the eleven day hold sheet to this "legitimate" company. Before faxing this information though (which I also handled at the bank), I had the cashier blacken out any account identifiers: this way, if this was a scam to get my personal account number, the people behind it would not succeed in fooling me into all kinds of nasty identity theft problems. The cost of the fax: another $6.

I am so glad that I took every cautious step imaginable while attempting to find out if the offer was legitimate: I received notice from my bank that the check was fraudulent and that I have incurred the original $6 fee. However, compared to the financial RUIN I could have been facing, I'll gladly pay $12 compared to a sum of $3850.00!!!!

This set of people pulling this scam are targeting people at the worst time: our country is in a recession, gas prices never seem to stop skyrocketing, food prices are beginning to hit the stratosphere, and people everywhere are looking for ways to earn the "little extras" that we've all been lucky to have. They're also pulling down a legitimate online market research and analysis group's name with them (I cannot name the legitimate group, since I am a member of their online panel). So, I have decided I am going to take these scammers out by getting the word out to the masses----as well as contacting the US Postal Service, local television stations, the FTC, and anyone else who will listen.

After all, for every person who takes cautious steps, there is another person that doesn't. I'm also going to contact anyone who is associated with these scammers (including the cell phone company they have their service through) and make sure they know that the cell service they are providing are helping criminals bilk honest, decent people. The only way to get rid of scams like this is to alert EVERYONE so NOBODY gets financially hurt except the people who deserve to be hurt---THE CRIMINALS.

I'm not upset in regards to the money---I'll earn money some other way; I'm upset that there are SCANDALOUS people trying to take advantage of JOE Q. PUBLIC without facing any penalties or prison sentences for the fraud that they're committing against honest, decent Americans who are faced with extreme costs each and every day.

I'll be adding updates to this particular article, so, stay tuned----I have a feeling it's going to get QUITE INTERESTING.