MAGiUOLlA GAZETTE
M.1GNOLIA MS
C'rculatlon: 1700
WEEKLY
11/27/2008
BBB Cotzsumer Alert:
.n
Beware of Mystery Shopper Solicitations
3% 4 nen- crop of
mysten. shopping scams
h a s popped u p all across
the United States. In
response to a recent
spike about mystery
shopping mail solicita-
tions received by Mis-
sissippi consumers, the
B e t t e d u s i n e s s Bureau
(BBBI Serving m s i s -
sippi issues this con-
sumer alert about the
offers to help consumers
make "easy money" !b
cashing large-sum
cashier's checks in order
to evaluate the senice
they can receive.
The BBB advises
the public to disregard
letters or classified a d s
that promlse fast cash
and free gifts in return
for performing mystery
shopping a n d service
evaluations.
With the most
:?cent scam. consumers
receive a cashier's check
which they are told to
I
deposit at their b a n k tries by providing cus-
and immediately wire a tomer experience infor-
portion of t h e funds mation. J o h n Swin-
back to the sender's bum, MSPA Executive
address (typically out- Director said "It is unfor-
side the U. s . ) . The tunate there are scam-
're\vardn to consumers is mers preying on individ-
that they keep a percent- uals who are looking for
age of the original legitimate mystery shop-
cashier's check a s pay- ping opportunities." The
ment. bottom line - if the offer
" U n f o r t u n a t e l y , sounds too good to be
in these s c a m s t h e :me, it probably is.
cashier's check bounces Consumers who
several days later and feel they have been tar-
the consumer is held geted by a counterfeit
liable for the entire check scam should
amount of the monej- report it to the following
they wired - typically agencies:
between $2,500 a n d .Federal Trade
$3,000," said Bill Moak, Commission at 877-382-
PresidentICEO of the 43570r ~ ~ i w . f t c . g o v
Mississippi BBB. .U. S . Postal
According to the Inspection Service at
Mystery Shopping Pro- n - w w . u s p s . g o v / n ~ e b -
viders Association sites/depan/ inspect
(MSPA], mystery shop- .MS Attorney
ping h a s gained nide- General Fraud Division
spread acceptance in the at 800-281-4418
retail, financial s e n i c e s
and restaurant indus-