grocerybes Rhett Herrington Sent me a check I later learned was not covered by funds to purchase American Express gift cards.

I was originally contacted by Rhett Herrington in March, 2023 for a secret shopper postion. I was looking for part time work, so I did some research, but was not interested in the retail product depicted, so did not respond.

On the morning of Wednesday May 24, 2023, I was contacted by text (phone 855-969-5681) that I would be receiving a package by USPS and I was to confirm the receipt immediately. I was to immediately take the enclosed check in the amount of $2,390.73 to the bank and cash it. As I received the check late in the day, I dposited it via mobile on my phone.

My assignment, (for which I was to get paid $295 as a part of the check), was to be a secret shopper at the store of my choosing from the list: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Dollar General, Seven Eleven or Family Dollar. Also, I was to buy (4) $500 American Express gift cards.

The next morning, Thursday 5/25/2023, I received an e-mail and text to start my "secret shopper" assignment that day. I proceeded to Wal-Mart, Eden Prairie, MN to begin the assignment of observing the store condition, workers, etc. as well as to buy $45 in groceries which was covered in the check I received. I was also to purchase $1,000 worth of American Express gift cards in the denomination of $250 or $500, preferably the latter. Wal-Mart did not have those cards at the time.

I proceeded to a nearby Walgreens and purchased a $500 gift card. Upon returning home, I filed my report of the events of the day and sent along a scanned copy of the gift card per instructions. 

The instructions were: "After your shopping experience, open the pack remove the label in front of the cards and captured clear images of front and back of each cards (phone Camera Accepted) promptly send the following cards you bought at each store separately via email: reportcenter@grocerybes.com. It is for record purpose."

Time was running late on Thursday, so continued  and completed my assignment of purchasing 3 more $500 gift cards on Friday May 26.

About 4 hours after completing my assignment, I learned via text from my bank that the check was returned and my account was charged for the full amount, leaving me with a negative balance.

On Saturday May 27 at 3:43, Mr Herrington texted my that "I'm yet to receive you assessment report". My reply, "Your check bounced. I have not been paid for anything". (I had already sent my report at the end of the day, Wednesday, May 24, 2023).

End of all contact with Mr Herrington. I subsequently checked the balance of one of the gift cards and the value was still there. I held back from redeeming the gift cards as I was waiting for a response from a dispute claim I filed with my bank. The second time I checked, the cards had been redeemed.

As the check I deposited was no good, the purchases of the (4) $500 gift cards were made with my money. That property is mine!!