Shoppers Market Research Mystery Shop Scam New York New York

I received a US Bank cashier's check in the amount of $2,940.00 along with a letter and forms from Shoppers Market Research. The letter stated that I had indicated an interest in earning additional income on a part time basis and I was selected to participate in a paid Consumer Research Program.

I immediately thought this was a fraud because I do mystery shopping for several companies and I have never been sent a check PRIOR to completing a job. I have also never been sent an assignment without signing up to do it on a website and without confirmation from the company. Also, the letter had a stamp from Canada, an address on the letter from New York and the telephone number and fax number had different area codes. Oh, yeah, and the cashiers check had FORTY spelled wrong!!! They spelled it FOURTY. Dumb.

I went online and started searching the phone numbers. The phone number with 403 area code is from Canada, yet this company is supposed to be in New York. The fax number comes up as New York number, but when googled, I went to this website: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-516-208-4809. A message had been left there stating that this was a possible advance fee scam.

It's an obvious scam, legitimate mystery shop companies do not work in this manner and banks don't misspell numerical amounts!

Devo
Fresno, California
U.S.A.