Complaint Review: MC Mart Incorporated - Minnetonka Minnesota

I am posting this alert on behalf of my Aunt in Longview, TX.  She is a retired person and wanted to work and keep active.  She searched for "work at home" opportunities and this Secret Shopper website popped up.  She joined. 

On August 15, 2013, she received a Letter of Acceptance along with a check for $1998.75 with instructions to cash the check the same day and her assignment was to wire money through two different companies (Western Union and Money Gram). 

Each wire was for a different amount.  $1,024.00 ($956.00 + $68 fee)was sent to Madrid, Spain to someone with the same last name as my aunt.  Then $565.00 ($528 + $37 fee) was sent to Atlanta, GA to another person - again with the same last name.  My aunt doesn't know these names and there's no relation.  

She was told in the instruction letter to keep $350 for her pay.  The check never cleared the bank.  My aunt kept a copy of everything.  I called to verify if the account.  The routing number on the check (drawn on Bank of America) is # 971923284.  It is a valid routing (transit) number for Bank of America.  However, the Account number (87658 61430) is NOT a valid account number. 

After I searched for the name of the company, the Ripoff Report wesite came up.  There were two reports that were file this same week: one in Ft. Worth, TX and another in Los Angeles, CA.  One of those transactions took place the same day my aunt received her check (08/15/13) and the other was 08/21/2013.  This organization is on the prowl.

I urge anyone that comes across this company to not sign up, and do not cash a check if it is sent to you.  Make a police report, keep copies of everything.  Notify the Better Business Bureau and file a claim there as well.

If you sign up and you get a check - DO NOT CASH IT - you will be responsible for repaying the bank that cashes it for you.  Call the bank the check is drawn on and verify that it is a valid account.  Deposit the check and allow time for the check to clear the bank before you make any transaction.  Do not fall for the sense of urgency they create to cash the check the day it is received.  No honest business will do that. 

An immediate red flag warning is being asked to wire money - especially to a foreign country.  You really don't know who you might be dealing with.  It could be drug smugglers, Taliban, Human Trafficing, or who knows what.  Please research who you are dealing with prior to signing up.

Remember:  No Individual will give you any money without getting some sort of identification from you.  And, think why anyone would take a chance to send that much money if you could just cash it and disappear.  Well, they won't - so it's most likely a scam.  Never give your information out. 

If you signed up online - best advice: open a new email account, change your password and username.  Now that your email address is in the hands of a scam organization, you will be easy prey and could be a target again from another type of scam. 

If you have given your bank account information out - go to your bank immediately, let them know what has happened.  Close your account and reopen a new account.  Protect yourselves and your money.