Beware mystery shopping Scam

medman

People hoping to make some extra money before Christmas were warned on Tuesday to watch out for a scam targeting shoppers.
The Office of Fair Trading said criminals in Canada were luring victims by offering them a job as an undercover inspector responsible for checking customer service at shops and businesses.
Victims are sent a genuine-looking cheque for 2,000 pounds to cover Top of Form
their wages and expenses.
They are told they will be paid 350 pounds for their first assignment, posing as a customer of a money transfer agency.
As part of the role, they are told to wire 1,500 pounds from their own bank account to a "fake" relative in Canada.
The fraudsters collect the money, but the original cheque is counterfeit and bounces.
"This is a nasty scam which exploits the promise of paid work to defraud victims," said the OFT's Christina Wade.
"Victims could be liable for any funds they spend while waiting for the cheque to pass through the banking system and end up losing over 1,500 pounds."

Gingham_Ribbon

Thanks for this, medman. I've put it in the warnings board where it should get more response.

codger

Though why anybody with half a functioning brain cell would think it normal for someone they've never met, from a company they've never heard of, to send them £2,000 in the post, is a mystery. . .

hollydays

..But people do fall for these things..particularly if they are looking for work..

codger

Employment status shouldn't have anything to do with the exercise of common sense. Kids are told never to accept sweets from strangers. So adults shouldn't be accepting 'em either -- and certainly not two grandsworth.

hollydays

i dont think your comments are going to help anyone who has been scammed to feel free to come on here and ask for help or warn others of what might have happened to them.Or pass on helpful info like the OP had done.My last post on the subject...