American Data Providers Sent a fraudulent check to participate in a fake mystery shopper program Meridian Idaho

Like a previous complaint found here, I received a check from American Data Providers, though this one was reportedly based out of Meridian, Idaho. Likewise, the envelope was sent from Canada with no written address.

This check was for $3975, and I was asked to first call and have my check authenticated, then deposit the check. After the check "clears" I was to wire $3420 to one of five training agents each in a different city (and all females... I assume maybe one person with several identities?) in an mystery shopper evaluation of either Moneygram or Western Union.

The senders fee was estimated at $185, and my first week's pay was to be $300. The second assignment was to buy an item with the remaining $70 to evaluate one of Sears, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Victoria's Secret, JC Penney, K-Mart, Toys R Us, Dillard's, or Macy's. The item purchased I would be able to keep.

This sounded too good to be true of course, especially as I couldn't remember ever submitting a finished application to be a Mystery Shopper. After finding the previous complaint mentioned at this site, I did a bit more searching based on key phrases I found on the reverse side of the letter.

Appearing in their "Code of Business Conducts and Ethics" on the flip side of their letter is a reference to "Employment Act, Section 15". A quick google search of this term turns up several letters that look identical with only company names and personal names of the parties involved being different. They each have fraudulent checks attached to them.

Anyone else searching for this should beware that in the event of cashing fraudulent checks, the victim is liable to reimburse all the money. I don't know about anyone else here but I sure don't have $4000 to throw around for something like this.

Anyone else receiving such checks should be warned... Do a thorough research!

Patrick
Spokane, Washington
U.S.A.