I just received a check in the mail and it was a pretty big check. A $4,998.00 cashiers check made out in my name and it is a real check! Enclosed with the check is a couple fliers. Main flier says who it's from (no address just a phone number)as follows.

Shopping Jobs Agency
(Best Source For Mystery Shoppers Employment)
Tel/Fax#1-289-259-9276

Main flier says: "We are a mystery customer firm that specializes in the assisting of corporations on how to improve customer service to their clientele; we represent 1500 firms with more to come, we utilize a method known as mystery shopping to achieve this goal."

The letter goes on congratulating you on being selected and then goes on to say:

"Enclosed is a check for $4998.00 to assist you with your assignment; it is imperative that upon receipt of this check that you contact our office immediately, failure to comply will result in the automatic stop payment order of check." "Below is the breakdown of attached funds."

Salary and training pay $400
Wal Mart Purchase $50
Gap Purchase $40
Western Union Transfer $2806
Service charge by Western Union $140
Moneygram transfer $1487
Service charge by Money Gram $75

The second flier is an evaluation form you supposed to fill out after visiting these places.

When I received this I knew it was a scam right away so I decided to do some research on how this scam works.

Apparently you would call them first and some smooth talker on the other end would tell you to go ahead and deposit your check and your first assignment will be to use this money to make your purchases and be a mystery shopper at WalMart, Gap, Western Union and Moneygram. I'm sure on similar scams there might be different businesses but I guarantee you either Western Union or Money Gram will be on there. So $400 is your personal payment for the week (go ahead and enjoy it, it's yours), they say you can do it once a week. Wow! Sounds great right! Who couldn't use an extra $1,600 a month for just spending someone else's money. They also will tell you that you have a couple of days to complete your assignment so it's kind of rush, rush here. So you go deposit your cashiers check and all of a sudden your almost $5000 richer. Your bank will not hold a cashiers check for clearance like a personal check or payroll check so the money is actually there right away. So you think, OK let me spend my $400 salary for the week I will have $400 more coming next week anyways. You then go do your $50 purchase at Walmart and your $40 purchase at the gap, filling out your forms and thinking you are a legit mystery shopper. You now have to visit Western Union and Money Gram, evaluate them and transfer the above amounts to your employers. (You learned where to send it during your conversation with that smooth talking guy you called). So all is good you think and you await your next assignment so you can earn your next $400. Then something happens, your bank tells you that the cashiers check for $4,998 has bounced and you owe them $4,998. What! You think. You might then try to explain what happened to the bank but they don't care, they are only worried about you paying them back the money you owe them. So you just got scammed for $4,293. Can you believe that! You just sent them $4,293 of your own money and they just walk away with it. You actually lose more with the Western Union fees, etc. It is hard for me to believe that people will fall for this. No one just sends you a big check like that in the mail out of no where. Though I hate crooks who rip off other people with these kinds of money making scams I have to say that as far as scams are concerned I was impressed with this scam. That's kind of like me saying Bin Ladin is an intelligent man, he is very wrong in his ways but is doing some heavy thinking ahead just like these scam artist. So, if you ever get one of these mystery shopper letters with the check enclosed. Immediately throw it in the trash or call the number and tell them to **** off. Maybe just mess with them and call and tell them they need to send you a money order instead.