NLS Research Inc. MDR Logistics Inc. Macy Stone Market research Los Angeles California

I am a part time market research analyst. Received an email from a company asking if I wanted to do mystery shopping (which I do regularly and also hire people to do this). I looked up company and couldn't find anything and started receiving emails that they would be sending me a check. I knew once I saw this that it was a scam as you never pay someone for mystery shopping or market research prior to the work being done and the report being filled out. I received an email yesterday telling me a check would be delivered today. Today I received a check for $2,140 whcih says it is for evaluation services and $300 is mine for compensation.  They want me to confirm reciept of the check by sending an email to receive further instructions on my evaluation.

The check came via priority 2-day express mail.  The return address is in Los Angeles, however, I tracked the letter and it was mailed from from San Diego. The check does NOT list the name of the company just the name of a bank.  Did not cash the cash the check as I know it is not real but wanted to warn others. You can find other market research ripoffs that show checks in the amount of $2,440 and $2,840, etc.  The letter they sent as a barcode under the persons name to make it appear more "real" and has logos of supposed clients on the bottom (Western Union, Pizza Hut, MoenyGram, Chevrolet, intel, Red BUll, Monster Energy, Samsung).

The final email told me to deposit funds and send the money from a Money Gram store to someone in Tacoma Washington.