Mystery Consumer Receive check for $4,550; spend $100; Keep $300; send $3,940 back to Company by Western Union Manhattan New York
Within the past 2 days our company has received at least 10 calls from individuals all over the United States to verify we had sent them a check for $4,550. Each person explained our company check had come to them with a letter from Mystery Consumer in New York (we are in Dallas, Texas) claiming they needed these peoples SERVICES to evaluate the customer services in a variety of shops. The instructions were for them to call for details before depositing the check, then go shopping at major stores (Wal-Mart, Home Depot), spend $100 or less and keep what they purchased along with a $300 salary.
The letter insturcted these people to call and get information in order to use Western Union and send $1,940 back to them (Mystery Consumer). Then use Moneygram and send $2,000 back to them. The letter also said they only had one week to do all of this.
We are quickly advising these callers that the checks are a FRAUD. The check is drawn on a bank which we stopped using about 3 years ago so the account is closed. We do not know how Mystery Consumer acquired our old bank account number.
Obviously Mystery Consumer is counting on people's impatiance and greed hoping they will send the Western Union and Moneygrams before waiting the 5-7 days for the check to "clear" their bank account...especially since they have to complete the shopping and the wire transfers within one week.
Dallas
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.