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9/16/09

Akron, OH – Personal letters and checks to consumers asking them to pose as potential customers to an assigned place of business to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and customer service of some retailers. A small amount of the money is to be kept as a training fee.

Merchant Monitors Ltd. has sent personal letters to consumers nationwide informing them that they have been chosen to represent the company as a secret shopper and that they fit the criteria of and individual who is prepared to supplement their income by taking advantage of the opportunity. The letter also stated that this is a ‘paid’ training assignment and to contact the task coordinator for detailed instructions. The telephone number included is registered out of Ontario, Canada.

The job assignment states that the consumer would pose as a potential customer to the assigned place of business in order to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and customer service of the particular business establishment and to note their experience on a Customer Service Evaluation form that was included in the letter.

Consumers received a check in the amount of $4,970.00 and had to complete purchases at Walmart, JC Penney, Travelex and Money Gram. The consumer is to deposit the check into their bank account and then money should be withdrawn and used for purchases at the assigned stores as stated in the letter. Part of this assignment include using a Travelex and Money Gram service to wire as much as a couple thousand dollars back to their ‘employer’ and to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the service. Consumers could keep $300 as payment for this training assignment.

Merchant Monitors Ltd. is using a contact address of 5019 Victor Drive, Medina, OH, address. This address does not belong to this company, but belongs to Medina Family Chiropractic.

This is a classic scenario of a scam involving fake checks. The scammer typically requires the victim to deposit a check into their bank account then wire money back to the scammers. While the check may initially be deposited into the victim’s bank account – leading to a false sense of security – the fake check will ultimately be discovered within a couple of weeks and the bank will take the funds out of their account to cover the loss. The victim of the scam is out whatever money they sent to the scammers and be responsible for paying the bank back if their account is overdrawn.

The following information if provided by the Federal Trade Commission to protect yourself against counterfeit check scams:

1. Throw away any offer that asks you to pay for a prize or a gift. If it’s free or a gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Free is free.
2. Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries. It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery through the mail or the telephone, and most foreign lottery solicitations are phony.
3. Know who you’re dealing with, and never wire money to strangers.
4. If you’re selling something, don’t accept a check for more than the selling price, no matter how tempting the offer or how convincing the story. Ask the buyer to write the check for the correct amount. If the buyer refuses to send the correct amount, return the check. Don’t send the merchandise.
5. As a seller, you can suggest an alternative way for the buyer to pay, like an escrow service or online payment service. There may be a charge for an escrow service. If the buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service you’ve never heard of, check it out. Visit its website, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. Call the customer service line. If there isn’t one — or if you call and can’t get answers about the service’s reliability — don’t use the service. To learn more about escrow services and online payment systems, visit ftc.gov/onlineshopping.
6. If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If that’s not possible, call the bank where the check was purchased, and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the check or from the person who gave you the check.
7. If the buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately. Legitimate buyers don’t pressure you to send money by wire transfer services. In addition, you have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.
8. Resist any pressure to “act now.” If the buyer’s offer is good now, it should be good after the check clears.

If you think you are a victim and have been targeted by a counterfeit check scam, report it to the following agencies:

The Federal Trade Commission
Visit ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Visit www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect or call your local post office. The number is in the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory.

Your state or local consumer protection agencies
Visit www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General, or check the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory for appropriate phone numbers.

For more information on counterfeit check scams please visit www.akronbbb.org.

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