Complaint Review: Enterprise Mystery Shopper - Montreal Quebec

I was recruited on-line by Enterprise Mystery Shopper to act as a mystery shopper in my local area. I'm not sure if they found my information on one of the job websites, or if I had answered an inquiry. Either way, a few days after receiving an email from EMS staing that I was hired, I received a $2000 cashier's check by a carrier called Purolator with a return address of Azel Textiles, 2216 Kingston Rd., Scaborough, ON M1N1T6. In the envelope were intructions to send $1835 to an "individual" in Canada by Money Gram, with the remaining amount to cover the Money Gram Fee and as my pay for the task.

Thinking it was strange that this company would send $2000 without notifying me first, I tried to contact them. I received the check late on a Friday afternoon, so I was not able to get in touch with anyone until Monday. I left two messages over the weekend. When I called again on Monday, a person explained what I was supposed to do (which was also in a letter enclosed with the check), and that I was to send an e-mail to the company once the task was completed with the confirmation number from Money Gram.

Later that day, I went to my bank to cash the check. My bank explained that they have a 5 day holding policy on checks, including Cashier's Checks. I wanted to cash the check to complete the task ASAP, as the instructions included with the check stated that this needed to be completed within 48 hours of the receipt of the check. I tried calling other local banks, who all had the same check policy. I then called EMS to explain that there was a 5 day holding period on the check. The person I spoke to put me on hold to speak to a "manager", then came back on the line to tell me that this was fine and to complete the task when the bank released the funds.

I returned to my bank to deposit the check, and they gave me a document stating when the funds would be available. On that date, I called the bank to make sure I could withdraw the funds. The bank clerk stated that she would release the funds immediately and I could withdraw the money within the hour. When I walked into the bank, the same clerk saw me and motioned me into her office. She explained that within the few minutes that I had called and arrived at the bank, the bank learned that the $2000 check was COUNTERFEIT. The bank manager came into the office and explained that this type of thing is happening more and more often, which is the reason for the check holding policy. She further explained that some people have gotten the money, then were responsible for the fraudulent check when it was returned to the bank, some people being scammed for over $3000. I asked if I could press charges for this, and the bank encouraged me to do so. I was fined $10 by my bank for the returned check, which, after some fighting, has been reversed.

After the task was not completed, I never heard another word from anyone at Enterprise Mystery Shopper.

This company expects that people will be able to immediately cash the Cashier's check and not know it was fraudulent until long after thier own hard earned money is gone. Once the counterfiet check is returned to the bank, the individual will be responsible for the money. I signed up for this because money has been tight and I was hoping to make a little extra for the winter months. Fortunately, I never gave this company any of my bank or credit card information, and did not have to pay them anything upfront.

Before I signed up, I checked on Rip-off Report to see if there were any complaints, which there were none! I suspect that this company goes by several different names, so beware!

Tina

Malone, New York
U.S.A.