I received a letter in the mail on April 1, 2008. This company stated in the letter that I was selected to be a "Mystery Shopper". Included was a check for $4, 760.00.
Quoting from the letter: "The first probational training task, is a PAID training assignment and is to be completed as directed by any of our assignment coordinators please contact your task coordinator at 1-905-616-1840 Ext. 200. Listen and Press 1 and say your name and wait for call to be answered before detailed instructions."
The letter also detailed how the money was to be spent:
Wal-Mart Purchase: $50.00 (this was changed to $90.00 instead of making a GAP purchase).
Western Union Transfer: $2, 700.00
Service Charge by Western Union: $140.00
Money Gram Transfer: $1, 380.00
Service Charge by Money Gram: $50.00
Evaluation Training and Expenses: $400.00
April 4, 2008 before depositing this check into my account, I contacted the Bank that check came from (Haverhill Bank, Haverhill Mass.), they verified the check as being genuine. I deposited this check into my account on Friday, April 4, 2008. I watched the bank teller look at the check, call the number on the check and at that point it was vaild and she put the money into my account. I called my bank on Monday April 7, to see if the check had cleared and that I was able to use the money. The lady at my bank said that it had cleared and I could withdraw it.
April 8, 2008 I contacted Scott Bell at 1-905-616-1840 Ext. 201. He told me that my first probational assignment was to purchase a Western Union Wire Transfer. Than to Wal-Mart to make my $90.00 purchase as well as purchase the Money Gram there. He said that it was very important that I do theses tasks as soon as possible, once I had completed them to call him back with the "Reference Number" from the Money Gram and the "MTCN" Number from the Western Union Transfer. So I would be able to get in on next week's assignment. I withdrew the money from my account and did the tasks.
On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, Two representatives from my bank came to my home and asked me about the check I deposited there and told them what happened. They informed me that the check was counterfeit and that I had to repay the bank. I immediately contacted Western Union and Money Gram and filed complaints.
I also made complaints to the following Organizations:
Local Police Department
Internet Crime Complaint Center
Federal Trade Commission
Better Business Bureau
RECOL Complaint ID
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Initially, my bank was going to charge me with fraud, thinking that I knew this check was fruadulent, but with the evidence i gave to my police department, i was not going to be charged criminally, now my bank has had their lawyer contact me saying that if i do not come up with this amount in 90 days, it will be taken to court.
I feel that I am not completely responsible for this situation. This money sat in my account for days, just to make sure it was genuine, only after the fact, when the money was gone that my bank informed me that the check was fake.
If there is anyone or organization out there that can help me with this matter would be greatly appreciated. I want to know if my bank is also at fault and to help to prevent this from happening to anyone else.
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