Shopping Job Agency Scam
Attached you will find a new scam that is penetrating our area. It is similar to the Canadian Sweepstakes where you receive a notice telling you that you have won thousands of dollars accompanied by a bogus “Cash Advance” check usually in the amount of $3675.00 where they want you to cash the check and then sent them a money order for $2850.00 to pay for the sweepstakes taxes.
This scam is similar where they send you a letter saying that you have been chosen to be a “Secret Shopper” along with a bogus check and instructions on how to spend the money. The scammers then ask you to cash the check and make a few low cost purchases at a few stores, and then send the rest of the money back to them via Western union and Money Grams.
In both cases, the unsuspecting Sweepstakes Winner or Shopper cashes a bogus check that looks very real to the point that a lot of Bank Tellers accept them as genuine, and then send the suspects a real check or money order drawn on their bank. Unfortunately, no one knows that the checks are bad until they are presented to the issuing bank for payment. This could take up to a week to happen, but during that time the suspects have already cashed the victim’s valid checks and fled the area. The victims are now out thousands of dollars.
The attachment consists of the introductory letter, the shopper evaluation form, and a copy of the bogus check. The phone number listed on the introductory letter is located in Toronto, Canada.
If you believe you may have been a victim of such a scam contact the police immediately
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