There's a new twist to the now-classic "get a big check and send some of it elsewhere" scam (see my initial article on this) and it involves adding the lure of being a "mystery shopper" to the pitch.
Mystery shoppers are people hired to shop in certain stores and then make a report on the experience. There are legitimate organizations out there that employ people to do this, but there are also crooks who offer pricey Mystery Shopper "certification" courses to those hoping to make a little money. All too often, the "certification" is bogus and the target of the scam is left with an empty pocket.
The current twist is a little different. People who answer "mystery shopper" ads are being sent pleasantly plump checks, with instructions that they cash the check, use some of the money for buying items while they "shop" and keep another chunk as payment for their services. The bulk of the money, though, is to be sent on to someone else, via wire or Moneygram. And hurry...this offer is only good for 48 hours!
The check from the prospective employer, of course, is fake, and the hapless job seeker ends up liable for any money sent elsewhere. It's another sad example of how often desperate people are preyed upon by those who have no scruples at all
So....be very wary of any scheme that tells you to cash any kind of check and forward part of the money . (With modern computers and printers, it's very easy to create a remarkably real-looking cashier or traveler's check.) This basic ploy has already appeared in a half-dozen different versions...keep your eyes open for what's next.
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