On 7-11-08, I received an envelope in the mail containing 3 things: a letter explaining that I had been picked to be a "part-time mystery shopper", an application to fill out and fax back to Feedback Research Services, and a "cashier's check" for $3100.00. I was told that in order to do this "mystery shopper" job, I had to go to Wal-Mart, Sears, HomeDepot or Penney's and buy something that was $100.00 in price.
As my second "assignment" for this company, I was also supposed to go to a Money Gram or Western Union location and send $2535.00 to one "Joe Flores" in Decorah, IA 52101 (Flores is stated to be the "mystery shopper that I have been 'linked' with" to receive the money at the other end). The letter gives a number of things to watch for when you do this transaction, so of course, you feel "important" that you've been asked to make sure that the cashier checks ID, etc., so that other customers are protected... blah, blah, blah.
However, I decided to call the bank shown on the "cashier's check" (Riverside Bank in Fort Pierce, FL) and verify that the account even existed FIRST. To my surprise, when I read off the "account" number, and I was informed that no such ACCOUNT existed; see note. (NOTE: The routing number for this bank is correct, but don't fall for this if you get one of these checks!) The bank rep asked me to verify the bank's address, and everything was right except the zip code, which the clerk was smart enough to pick up on, and he transferred me to one of the bank's security people. She informed me that this is a scam, and that such scams are well-known to the banking industry.
When I did some other checking by Googling "Riverside Bank Andrea Klein", and the first listing gives a link to:
https://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/alert/2007-11.html
where "Andrea Klein" is referred to by name, but with a different position and operating under the supposed auspices of a different bank (AMCORE) as well.
Even the physical description of the back of the check is included here, so someon is taking this pretty seriously!
Apparently, Klein is well-known to the authorities in both the US and Canada, because contactees are urged to call the Canadian authorities about such letters as well as the US Postal Inspectors, etc., here!
(Ms. Andrea Klein signed the letter I received, and gives her title as "Director of Operations". She also appears on the cashier's check as the "remitter" in the upper left corner of the bogus check.) Anyway, since Ms. Klein's name appeared in the Google information for the link, as well as in the Treasury Dept. advisory, I guess "maybe" that means something isn't quite right here!
Fortunately for me, I did the checking on the bogus check BEFORE I took any other action, but since the letter urges the "mystery shopper" to respond in 7 days, someone who might need the "$300" they tell you to keep (which turns out to be YOUR money, since no one will cash these "cashier's checks"... you have to deposit them into YOUR bank account and then wait for the BOGUS check to be bounced back to you or WORSE - getting your REAL account info, etc. for??? purpose?) [WHAT A DEAL! ]
If you get one of these "offers", RUN, don't walk, AWAY FROM IT, and report it to the FTC, US postal inspector's office, BBB, your state's consumer protection agency, your local police dept., and to the RCMC (I know that's a lot, but that's what the FTC person told me they needed to stop these people!)
I didn't get "ripped-off" by this one, but I came about a half-inch from falling for it, and I'm writing this report to keep other people from getting caught on this one!
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