It's a scam
You deposit the money orders, use the funds from them to make the purchases, and send the wire/money order to the other "Mystery Shopper" (red flag). A few days/weeks later the bank bounces the money orders, as they are counterfeit. You get stuck with bad check fees and possibly criminally charged with check fraud for passing fake checks/money orders.
Forward everything to your local police or US Secret Service.
I have received the following note from answering an ad in Publishers Weekly. Is this legit? Please advise. I've asked that Harold Lee call me back tomorrow.
Attention Bonnie Berkmeir
In line with your Mystery Shopping application,Consumers Research Ltd invites you to run a survey on three prominent business establishments in your area.
The 1st is a Western union outlet
The 2nd a Wal-Mart store
The 3rd a Restaurant
The management and staff of a Western Union location have reported laps in the services of their management and some members of staff.
The complaints were based on reports which their customers forwarded anonymously and Phone calls which were also made to the head office.
Your Secret Evaluation would be
1) To proceed to a Wal-Mart location to make a purchase of any item(s) of your choice worth $50.00 preferably an electronic item.
Reasons for the Wal-mart assignment
(I) Poor services
(ii) Rudeness to customers
(iii) Excess charge
(iii) Inappropriate opening and closing time
2) To ascertain the ease and advantage/disadvantage of on-line and instant transfers as against checks and money orders. You will make a transfer of fund from a Western union location to our other Mystery shopper. The fund would be picked up by our mystery shopper at the exact location where customers have reported fund missing.
Reasons for the Western union transfer assignment
I) Customers have reported their money missing
ii) Slow services
iii) Unbalanced exchange rate
iv) Incompetent workers
v) Inability to handle large transactions
3) You would have to record the time at which you got to the location and how many minutes it took you to get service.
4) Upon receiving the funds, address of the various locations would be forwarded to you, and also the Name and address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made to. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out. Be aware that the purchased $50.00 item(s) will be kept by you for your personal use leaving you with a duty fee (remuneration) of $100.00
5) You would also provide the name of the cashier that attended to you.
Another email will be sent to you containing your duty description and all other information that will enable you have a successful completion of your duty.
NOTE: The restaurant duty will be assigned to you upon the completion of these first 2 duties.
You are not required to use your personal fund for any of these duties for whatsoever reason,the check for your assignment has been made out and will be delivered to you soon.
Your duty fee is $150.00 which is also included in the check that will be delivered to you.
It is highly important you check your mail more often and reply to any email sent to you in a timely manner because this is a very vital assignment.
Note that you are not required to use your personal funds/money for any assignment given to you,the Money Order Check for your assignment has been made out and will be delivered to you today.
Please kindly acknowledge the receipt of this email,let me know if it is clear to you.
Regards,
Harold Lee
347-436-8426
I got the same thing and money orders to cash and do the requested mystery shop.
I'm apprehensive to cash these money orders. Seems shady.
Does anyone know if this is legitimate?
I also saw this in Publishers Weekly
Susan
It's a scam
You deposit the money orders, use the funds from them to make the purchases, and send the wire/money order to the other "Mystery Shopper" (red flag). A few days/weeks later the bank bounces the money orders, as they are counterfeit. You get stuck with bad check fees and possibly criminally charged with check fraud for passing fake checks/money orders.
Forward everything to your local police or US Secret Service.
Jordan and DaFox thanks...I came to that conclusion after reading everything he sent me.
I will definitely report this.
You gotta know when it sounds too good to be true, it is!