Victim Location 32055
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
I got an email from my college saying they had a opportunity for me. I followed the link filled out the info and waited. I got another email welcoming me to the team. I received my first “job” and a check for $1,380.00. I was to go to Walmart and buy two gift cards and send them a picture of the info on the card and the receipt. I contacted them saying my bank was going to hold the check for 3-5 days to validate it (I never deposited it) he replied with “I’ll contact the issuing bank and have the funds released within 24 hours.” I called my bank it was all crap and a scam just like I thought. Beware.
Victim Location 37087
Type of a scam Employment
I received an email from what appeared to be a legit mtsu.edu domain with a hyperlink to fill out your information on timecodeoutsourcing.com. I did then I received a cashier’s check addressed to me along with a job assignment as a mystery shopper via USPS. When I checked the tracking number on USPS it appeared to be legit. The package left Atlanta Feb 25th and arrived at my house March 9th even though the package has 2 day priority mail. I discovered this package was sent from a Pharmaceutical Company in Atlanta, GA but all the phone numbers are tied to Bedford Hills and White Plains, NY.
Victim Location 34667
Type of a scam Employment
I was contacted via email by this "company" to be a secret shopper. I noticed a few strange things after i filled out their "application". I was contacted within a day and i saw their email was a business email address unrelated to mystery shopping, but for taxes. The name mentioned in the email was Justin Thebodeaux. i messaged them and told them to stop contacting me a few times. they refused and i have reported them for phishing. Today, i received a bogus check in the mail from them to spend on Walmart gift cards. I have done my research already and i know it is fake, and I have thrown away the check. If anyone receives any emails inviting you to be a "mystery shopper" block them immediately, it is nothing but trouble.
Victim Location 45238
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
They sent a letter and a check which I ripped up saying to deposit into my account and take 1000 dollars go to Walmart and buy two gifts cards, 500 on each card. Secret shopper.
Victim Location 19026
Total money lost $600
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
Received an email from the career center at my university regarding an opportunity to become a secret shopper; being from school, I figured it was real. I looked around the internet as much as I could before completing said task and didn’t find anything negative about the company- I proceeded to deposit the money order, set money aside for myself and purchase several gift cards (which they said would be used later). Turns out, after some further digging, someone else got roped into the same scan I would come to learn I did. Luckily I didn’t spend the entire amount but I am going to hopefully reach out to my bank since it was caught early as well as my school. Do not believe this email, regardless who it’s from.
Victim Location 19120
Type of a scam Employment
I received an email on my school email asking if anyone wanted to earn money while in school or working another job. There was s quick and easy application that didn’t require a lot of information. I completed the application only because it looked legit coming from another student fro my college. About 2 weeks later I received 2 envelopes from FED EX that contained 2 "US Postal" money orders for $985.00 each. Instructing me to deposit the money orders into my account and then go and purchase $800.00 in Amazon gift cards. Scratch the back of the gift cards where the gray area with that ID number and take a picture of it and send it to the text only number included on the letter. I was to keep $185.00 as my payment for the job. Why would I send you the purchase numbers on those cares that would end up being no good after I di that? They were blank money orders!!! for 985.00 each. Then I really looked at the money orders and they looked fake. The letters with instructions were clearly run off letters that had been copied over and over and why would I have to fill out the money order with who it was from? And I certainly would not deposit it to my account. A clear scam. Be careful!!!
Victim Location 02038
Total money lost $800
Type of a scam Employment
My son got an email from my alumni school’s carreer placement for a job oppertunity as a secret shopper. Because it was from the school I believed it was legit. They send me a Post office money order which I was to cash, keep some money for myself and purchase gift cards with the remainder and evaluate the establishements. I was then to give them a report on the stores and the gift card info. After 5 days or so the bank reversed the deposit from the money order and I was also charged a fee for a returned check. Bank said that the money order had no money attached to it. This was reported to the school and apparently the emails that were sent to the colleges mailing list were unauthorized by the school.
Victim Location 70118
Total money lost $985
Type of a scam Employment
I received an email from one of my college professors stating that there was an opportunity for a job related to the topic of the class available— all you had to do was fill out the form at the attached link. Due to the fact that this email appeared to come from my professor, I assumed it was legitimate and filled out the form. Several weeks later, I received a suspicious package in the mail. It was a single sheet of paper explaining my “first task” stating along with a blank check for $985. The image attached is of the “instructions” and check I received. I genuinely did not remember filling out this form as the package was not received until several weeks later. As a result, I searched the company, and found multiple sources stating that this was a scam, so I shredded the check, and determined I should officially report the incident. The sources stating that this company was a scam reported that the “company” would send an illegitimate check that would initially cash, but would eventually bounce. As you can see in the instruction sheet attached, the victim would then be out almost $1000 in “amazon gift cards,” the full information of which would have been sent to the scammer for their own personal use.