Warning, warning: scam alert
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By Eugenia Jones {Editor}
eugenia@highland.net
McCreary County resident receives scam check of $4,406.98 with instructions
A McCreary County resident wants to warn others about the mysterious “Walmart Warehouse” letter and check he recently received in an official looking envelope, delivered by UPS.
“I was sitting on my deck when UPS pulled up and handed the envelope to me,” the potential victim of a scam said. “I didn’t have to sign or do anything to get the letter.”
The manila envelope, with the return address of Walmart Warehouse, 2073442790, 239 Goddard Rd, Lewistown, ME 04240, contained an “instruction” letter and realistic looking check for $4,406.98 from The Coop Finance Association, ATTN Debi Platiner, Kansas City, MO.
The enclosed “instruction” letter, typed beneath a Walmart letterhead, directed the recipient (Attn: Independent Feedback Agent) that the time had arrived to follow up on the Secret Retail Research Paid Survey, allegedly signed up for online.
“The problem is, I’ve never signed up online for that or anything else,” the McCreary County recipient explained.
The letter continued in detail with five (5) sets of instructions including number two (2) asking the recipient of the letter to “kindly proceed to make a deposit of the enclosed check at any of your bank branch upon receipt of your package…”
Step (4) then instructed the recipient of the letter/check to complete a secret retail evaluation task by deducting $825 for the recipient’s own commission and costs before withdrawing the remaining amount of cash ($3,580) from the bank. The recipient was then instructed to take CASH ONLY to the nearest Walmart Store and purchase four blank Walmart money orders in the amount of $880 each. The recipient was asked to observe and rate the quality of service received during the Walmart transaction.
Fortunately, our McCreary County resident didn’t fall for the letter or the check and immediately went to the McCreary County Sheriff’ Office to report the scam. His sincere hope is to prevent others from being victimized by the same (or similar) scam.
The following information is taken directly from the Walmart web page concerning fraud alerts: https://corporate.walmart.com/privacy-security/fraud-alerts/
“Mystery shopping, sometimes referred to as secret shopping, is where an individual is hired to “act” like a customer, and evaluate services at a business. Walmart does NOT utilize these services or hire associates to perform services on behalf of other retailers or companies. However, scammers take advantage of these types of programs by sending fraudulent solicitations via mail, text, or email to entice consumers to evaluate the retail experience. Often times these offers of employment are accompanied by a fake check made out for a large amount of money or otherwise offer immediate employment with a good salary and minimal effort required.
Walmart will NEVER mail you a check and ask that you deposit it in order to purchase an item or service and keep the remainder of the amount as payment for services.
These communications ask consumers to assist with Walmart’s secret shopping efforts through evaluation of MoneyGram services we provide and often lead to consumer financial loss or identity theft.
How these scams work
The scam artist sends a letter or email solicitation describing a paid, stay-at-home position in which the consumer will evaluate customer services at large retail stores. In reality, these stores have no affiliation with the scam artist placing the ad.
After responding to the ad, the consumer receives an “employment packet” containing a training assignment, a list of products to purchase at different stores and a realistic-looking cashier’s check, often for several thousand dollars.
The “training assignment” is to deposit the check into the consumer’s bank account, pose as a shopper and then use Money Gram to send the balance of the check’s proceeds (minus the cost of the purchases and the consumer’s “salary”) to an address outside the United States.
The problem is that the check is fake; so when it bounces (is returned to your account by your bank as “insufficient funds” or a “drawn on a closed account”) —which occurs after the money is wired—the consumer is accountable (in some cases, criminally) to the bank for the entire amount of the fake check, plus additional penalty fees. Also, in some instances, consumers are asked for personal bank account information. The company will then “deposit” money into their account for payment and funds with which to perform their Secret Shopper tasks. These consumers often then become victims of identity theft or have their accounts drained by the fraudster.
How to Protect Yourself
Don’t open or respond to unsolicited emails asking you to become a mystery shopper or secret shopper.
Never deposit a check you receive in the mail from a “mystery shopping” company. No legitimate business will pay in advance and ask you to send back a portion of the money.
If you have posted your resume to an online job site, verify with the site any job solicitations you receive.
Don’t click on or respond to online ads or web sites offering free gift cards.
Remember, if it sounds too good to believe, it is!”
The McCreary County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who is the victim of a scam attempt or who has been defrauded to report the scam to the sheriff’s office or to Kentucky State Police. The Federal Trade Commission or the Consumer Fraud Division of the KY Attorney General’s office can also be contacted.
