I received an email from eBay Secret Shopper LLC on May 13th. This sounded pretty good as I always wanted to be a secret shopper. I fllled out the application with all my info(no bank info)and emailed it back to them. A few days went by when I received my first assignment on 05/20 via UPS Next Day Air they used UPS Acct# 1WF748. They sent me the tracking of this in the email I was orginally sent for my first assignment that number is: J1883648383 I was to cash these two Money orders for $950.00 each, take my fee out of this money of $200.00 plus any money that it cost to send the wire transfer. The money orders came from JM Promos, 1623 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. I emailed the tracking number of: 0809495613 to this Patrick John from eBay. This Money went to: Cole Tom, 16 Wilkey Avenue, Burnley. Lancashire, United Kingdom. I have copies of the emails and the UPS envelopes that they sent the money orders in. Also the money orders that were fraudulent the bank said they will be return to me. I have already contact the Bank to alert them that they could be fraudulent money orders. They were.
On 05/21 I received my second assignment delivered via UPS Next Day Air same account number was given the tracking number of my second assignment is: J2033246914 this contained five more money orders for $950.00 each. I was ask to do the same thing only my bank said I had to deposit these first. These money orders came from the same address as listed above only the Western Union tranaction was to be Money in Minutes tranaction sent to: James Williams, 33 Essex Road, Islington N1 2SA, United Kingdom. This money will never be deposited into my account as it is fraudulent also. Unfortunately after I realized this was a scam the first money of $1900.00 had already been taken by the bank from my savings account. The person named Patick John did call me on my cellphone with an "unavailable" number of course. Maybe this can be traced I don't know. I hope you can help. I have not notified Patrick John of any fraudulent activity at this time. I did not want to tip him off until I sent you this email and I will not let him know that I have contact you. After my assignments I was to send them confirmation emails which I still have if you need them.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Exploitation indeed...
#4Consumer Comment
Sun, May 23, 2010
Edgemans reply is 100% correct. However (you know with me there is always an "however"), Myself and others also feel the BANK is doing a little "exploitation" here as well...allow me to reason you through this...
It is true that check 21 has made it more difficult for banks not to clear checks expeditiously, this I know, and I am not trying to hold the banks responsible for this scam or start a lawsuit..but I have to ask myself a few things since I smell a rat...
1) Are the banks aware of these types of scams? If not, then the following can be deleted...BUT, if so..
2) Why are there no safeguards?
3) Would it be that difficult or against any "regulation" for the bank to inform the customer NOT to spend against this check even when the funds are available, until it is verified and/or clears?
4) Would it be that difficult, or against any regulations for the bank itself as a "courtesy" (the banks seem to enjoy "exploiting" that term when it earns them a fee), or a safeguard ,to try to verify a check like this? Or, the bank warn the customer to have this check verified (look for any "voids" or call the bank it is issued from etc) before excepting deposit.
5) Does the bank stand to make any money if they told the customer not to deposit this check?
6) Does the bank stand to make any money in fees if the customer was spending against it and it was discovered a fraud days, weeks or even months later? (something to ponder)
7) Would this scam be possible without the BANKS participation?
Not trying to start a big debate or conspiracy theory here..these are just questions that are eating at me. I am also not trying to say that the banks should be "required" do what a customer should do before depositing any check..which is to make sure it is good. However, it is a reasonable assumption, though possibly misleading, that the banks are the "professionals" in the field of checks, and perhaps many would assume the banks should be some kind of line of defense against check fraud.
On a side note I did a little investigation myself, I can not verify this as fact since it was testimony from a law officer who wished to remain anonymous, but supposedly in the UK they have DRASTICALLY cut down on this type of fraud using a very simple policy...a customer walks in to deposit a check like this, and the teller tosses it in the garbage. Jus sayin.
I do not think I am too out of bounds by implying that the banks are "exploiting" check 21 AND the customers ignorance. But this would be nothing new really, not a big shock to me at least.
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Always investigate before sending money...
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, May 22, 2010
Obviously anyone who reports here can use the internet. A 3 second search of "email from eBay Secret Shopper LLC" listed 109,000 results complaining of fraud..and stating that ebay has no such "secret shopper" program going on.
The scammers simply use the ebay name and logo to give it a feeling of legitimacy since everyone knows the name. A 2 year old could copy and paste a companies logo and make an email look real.
You are not the only victim of this scam, we read about it all the time. I understand times are hard so people are more apt to fall for anything in hopes of landing a good job..and the scammers thrive off taking advantage of this fact,, much like some financial institutions have been doing...and financially hurt a person who is probably already hurting...Not to mention this type of scam can tarnish Ebays good name, who in a sense is a victim of this as well.
Edgeman
Chico,California,
U.S.A.
You do know that eBay has nothing to do with this, right?
#4General Comment
Sat, May 22, 2010
I also doubt that your contact's name is actually Patrick John. You've become involved in a variation of the 419 scam, also known as the Nigerian scam. This scam works by exploiting the fact that banks have to make funds available before the money orders actually clear (or don't clear).
The scam also exploits the fact that virtually anybody can pick up money sent by Western Union or Moneygram and then virtually disappear. I am afraid that there isn't anything RipOffReport will do for you other than letting you make this thread.
You might try contacting the Financial Crimes unit at the Secret Service. they won't recover your money but they do collect all of the information about your case.