This company sent me a letter stating it was in reference to a previous job search with Consumer Survey Specialists for additional income on a part-time basis.
States "CONGRATULATIONS" you have been selected to participate in a paid Consumer Research Program in your area.
This is a fully paid program. They sent me a check for $4,995 stating that the funds be used as follows:
1. Probation Training Pay: $300
2. Required Fund to be Transferred: $4,440
3. MoneyGram Service Charge: $150
4. Funds Needed for Shopping: $105
It states you keep $300, plus $105 to shop at Home Depot, K-Mart, Walmart, JC Penney, Gap or Sears & keep what you buy, then send them the $4,440 to "JULIAN & your last name in the US or Canada.
There is a phone # on the letter, along with a fax #.
I called the phone # & spoke with a foreign lady named "Lora". After putting me on hold for about 4 minutes, she came back & told me how it works. I then began to ask her WHY one is required to MoneyGram such a large amount of money & she stated because during the holiday season they've received alot of complaints about MoneyGram taking a very long time for transactions between the amounts of $2K & $4K & that the transaction should take 10 minutes or less, but the complaints are stating it's been taking them 30+ minutes. I also asked how I knew they are legitimate & she stated to deposit the check & "wait a couple days" to be sure everything is legitimate (depositing a check from TX is going to take more than a "couple days" to clear). I then asked her how the payments work, as this first time I would've gotten $300. She stated the next time I would get $450 per week for so many months, then more, etc.
The odd thing is I called the bank that the check is drawn on & got an automated system. I then searched the internet further & found another list of phone #'s for that bank in different areas & spoke to a teller to see if funds were in the account. I gave her the account # & told her the amount & she verified the name on the check & said the funds are available. My guess is it's a valid account with funds, but probably not the account of the person(s) sending me the letter.
Beware, if it sounds to good to be true, you can almost bet it is!!!
Save yourself the heartache & trouble & DO NOT deposit the check & if you DO, DO NOT use any of the funds, as most likely if the check IS good, it's going to come back & bite you later on when the REAL COMPANY finds that money has gone to you somehow or some way.
Monoldham
Knoxville, Tennessee
U.S.A.