Mystery Shopper Scam Active Again

(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County residents need to be aware of a creative scam that has targeted some Huron County residents during the last couple months. This scam surfaced last year in Huron County and it still continues today. It is titled the Mystery Shopper Scam. This scam utilizes a fancy letter and fraudulent cheque.

The scam works as follows:

1. The target receives an unsolicited letter informing them that they have been selected to act as Mystery Shopper. The target will be paid for completing their “assignments”. Along with the letter comes a legitimate looking cheque made payable in the targets name. In most cases, the dollar value of the cheque is around $4,000.

2. For assignment #1 you are requested to pose as a mystery shopper. You are requested to rate your customer service experience at various retail outlets. Assignment #2 requests that you wire funds through popular wire transfer services such as MoneyGram or Western Union. You are requested to evaluate whether these companies follow security protocols in relation to money transfers in excess of $1,000.

3. Once you have completed those assignments you are instructed to keep a specified amount for your “probationary training pay and shopping expenses”. This amount varies but it is generally around $500. The remainder of the money is to be wired to some bogus individuals in on the scam. You are instructed to immediately fax your wire transfer authorization codes to a designated fax number.

4. Once you have wired the money and authorization codes, you have been scammed. You will not get your money back.

Consistent with most scams the scam artist requests you be “discrete and confidential”. The scam is also dependent on you responding immediately. The mystery shopper letter states, “Although this is a training exercise, it should be considered a job interview. An offer of a permanent position will be based on the time it takes you to complete the assignment”. The scam artist wants you to feel pressured and to act quickly before the bank or consumer determines it is a fake cheque.

Don’t get sucked in, be skeptical of any unexpected cheques you receive, especially when it involves wiring funds back to the sender. At first glance it may seem like an opportunity to make some easy money for basically doing nothing. Don’t fall for it!

To learn more about common frauds and how to report a fraud you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501

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