O/T Beware Mystery Shopper

harveypb

I answered an ad online to be a Mystery Shopper. I got an Email from a "Donald Walker" who was sending me a check with instructions. I got a Cashier's check for $2825. I was supposed to purchase $2500 in Greendot MoneyPak cards at Walgreens, send them the card numbers and keep $325 for my "Salary" I went to my bank and asked if the check was good. They told me it was bogus and if I had deposited it, they would have closed my account. Look out for this scam.....

Davideo

Not to be rude or anything, but at any point did you think this was legit?

AMRC

And the part about the bank closing the account would mean they thought you were part of the scam. If peoples accounts were closed every time there was a bogus or bad check we would be in a world of hurt.

291fifth

This is a well known scam.

TopographicOceans

A scam on the Internet?
Wow - Who would have ever thought something like that could happen?

I know I'll be on my toes from now on.

MGLICKER

<< <i>They told me it was bogus and if I had deposited it, they would have closed my account. >>



That part escapes me but bank rules are strange circa 2014.

TomB

People still live under rocks?

BAJJERFAN

When someone sends you a $5000 check for a $100 coin and only wants the coin and $4500 in change doesn't a bell in your head go DING DING DING?

BStrauss3

<< <i>I answered an ad online to be a Mystery Shopper. I got an Email from a "Donald Walker" who was sending me a check with instructions. I got a Cashier's check for $2825. I was supposed to purchase $2500 in Greendot MoneyPak cards at Walgreens, send them the card numbers and keep $325 for my "Salary" I went to my bank and asked if the check was good. They told me it was bogus and if I had deposited it, they would have closed my account. Look out for this scam..... >>



Unfortunately, scams like this - preying on naive seniors - are common on the internet.

If you don't know the person contacting you from the real world OR it seems too good to be true, it's a scam.

jmcu12

And even if it were real this is an awesome way to launder money - so either way it should raise some serious red flags.

Justacommeman

MJ

pennyannie

The only scams you can run are on wall street.

ricko

Although there are 'mystery shoppers', this has become a nation wide scam...Cheers, RickO

LindeDad

Did you know they also exposed the secret of price tags.
Is it a secret if everybody knows it?
Local news had both items last week.

BTW I read both on Facebook last month.

19Lyds

<< <i>I answered an ad online to be a Mystery Shopper. I got an Email from a "Donald Walker" who was sending me a check with instructions. I got a Cashier's check for $2825. I was supposed to purchase $2500 in Greendot MoneyPak cards at Walgreens, send them the card numbers and keep $325 for my "Salary" I went to my bank and asked if the check was good. They told me it was bogus and if I had deposited it, they would have closed my account. Look out for this scam..... >>

I'm quite surprised that you even gave this a second's worth of consideration.

lcoopie

hopefully you notified the secret service in addition to notifying the board here

Nap

I'm surprised your bank would tell you the check was bogus (unless it was an obvious fake check). Usually the bank will process the check, the funds will show up in your balance, and only later the check will bounce and you will be out the money.

More likely, the banker recognized the scam for what it was, and was keen to tell you not to get mixed up in something like that, to avoid not only losing money, but also getting in trouble yourself.

MGLICKER

<< <i>Unfortunately, scams like this - preying on naive seniors - are common on the internet. >>



Great point. A friend, a very sharp guy but getting older and in compromised health got ripped of by one of the talk radio gold hustlers for serious money. ....and inexplicably did it a second time.

LindeDad

I better watch out I'm getting old and might buy some gold.

TwoSides2aCoin

Next time, use it for toilet paper.

WillieBoyd2

Sounds like something J. P. Morgan had.

19Lyds

<< <i>I'm surprised your bank would tell you the check was bogus (unless it was an obvious fake check). Usually the bank will process the check, the funds will show up in your balance, and only later the check will bounce and you will be out the money.

More likely, the banker recognized the scam for what it was, and was keen to tell you not to get mixed up in something like that, to avoid not only losing money, but also getting in trouble yourself. >>

Nope. Banks are well aware of these bogus checks.

We had a 280ZX for sale once and got a response from a fella that was seriously interested in the car. He FedExed a Cashiers Check out to us with a note to let us know when we'd deposited the check so that he could have his shippers come out to pick up the car.

The Check looked authentic and even had microprinting. When the bank examined the check, they said it was bogus. We tore it up and that was that.


ANY deal that "requires" you to pay fee's or where you are instructed to just keep the excess after you've paid something out is a scam that is absolutely no different than if you went down to skid row and just started cashing checks for homeless folks.

Surprisingly, lots of honest (but ignorant) folks fall for this stuff every day.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>I better watch out I'm getting old and might buy some gold.
>>



Keep me searching for a lot gold.

You keep me searching and I'm growing old.

Cubby

"I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold....."

Type2

Ahhhhhhh ya. Thanks any way for the heads up....

lordmarcovan

OK, that's just eerie. I'm at the hotel front desk on a quiet graveyard shift. Reading this thread. I notice the song that was mentioned. Get it stuck in my head. (I don't mind so much- it's a good song- I like the harmonica part.)

So guess what just came on over the muzak system in the lobby.

Spooky.

(Our lobby muzak has improved considerably since they dropped the old jazz and Sinatrafied crooner crap. We get a lot of Neil Young now, Simon & Garfunkel, Talking Heads, Cat Stevens, and even the mellower Led Zep.

TopographicOceans

<< <i>OK, that's just eerie. >>


Synchronicity

lordmarcovan

<< <i>

<< <i>OK, that's just eerie. >>


Synchronicity >>

If the Police's Synchronicity comes on next, I'll be jumping out the window.

(Actually, we do get "Walking on the Moon" sometimes.)