Consumer Alerts

Updated! FTC Issues Warning About Mystery Shopping Scams

Aug 05, 2010 by Confero Inc.

We have been notified that current fake letters to consumers list these phone numbers: 888-228-3460, 888-239-1660 or 877-594-6794. Please read the following blog post for information on how to report a scam if you receive a fake letter or fake check. Do not deposit these checks!

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a new warning about mystery shopping scams. This particular warning is intended to caution recent college graduates about potential scammers targeting young people looking for work. Check out the FTC new release .

Scammers are not only targeting recent college graduates. As we have noted before in previous consumer alerts, all sorts of consumers are targeted. Here are some tips for avoiding these scams:

  • Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not require potential mystery shoppers to pay a fee to become a mystery shopper. To find legitimate mystery shopping companies, visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website .
  • Never deposit a check from someone you do not know. Scammers often send fake checks to consumers as part of a fake mystery shop. The consumer is instructed to deposit the check into their bank account and wire a small amount of money to third party. The check will bounce and the consumer will be responsible for paying the bank back for the money withdrawn. For more on fake check scams, check our alerts here .
  • Often times these scammers are based out of foreign countries. Be sure to do your research before signing up for a mystery shopping company.

Confero has compiled a long list of resources to help consumers identify and avoid scams. Please take a few minutes to read the articles and watch the videos below.

  • The FTC released these videos about mystery shopping scams.
  • Confero’s president, Elaine Buxton sat down with the Better Business Bureau for an interview about fake check scams .
  • We have compiled a list of scammers who have claimed to work for Confero; none have ever worked for Confero.
  • Check out this short segment on NBC’s Today Show about fake check scams.
  • Have you been a victim of a fake check scam? This blog post explains what you should do if you receive a fake check in the mail or are contacted by a scammer.
  • Scammers have used fake names to pretend that they work for Confero. They claim to hold positions as “Human Resource Manager”, “Evaluator Coordinator” or “Head of Recruitment.” These positions do not exist at Confero.

A vigilant consumer sent us a copy of the fake check and fake letter they recently received in the mail. If you read closely there are a few typos and poorly worded sentences that should be a red flag. Also, notice there is no return address on the envelope. We have heard from some consumers that the envelopes are postmarked in Canada, but the letter lists Confero’s Cary, NC address.

One of Confero’s staff members called the phone number listed in the fake letter and recorded the call. These people sound legitimate! Take a few minutes to listen to the recorded phone call . One of the biggest red flags is that the “evaluator coordinator” says the shopper can visit any Western Union location and any Wal-Mart location. Legitimate mystery shopping firms require mystery shoppers to visit a specific location at a specific time.

If you are interested in legitimate mystery shopping opportunities, here are a few tips:

  • Do your research! Check out the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website for a list of legitimate and reputable firms.
  • Check out a company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau .
  • Never pay to become a mystery shopper. Any companies requiring an application fee or new shopper fee are a scam.
  • Mystery shopping companies DO NOT issue checks for hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you receive a check in the mail, it is fake.
  • Mystery shopping companies DO NOT mystery shop Western Union or other money transfer services.

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FTC Issues Warning About Mystery Shopping Scams

Jul 14, 2010 by Confero Inc.

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a new warning about mystery shopping scams. This particular warning is intended to caution recent college graduates about potential scammers targeting young people looking for work. Check out the FTC new release .

Scammers are not only targeting recent college graduates. As we have noted before in previous consumer alerts, all sorts of consumers are targeted. Here are some tips for avoiding these scams:

  • Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not require potential mystery shoppers to pay a fee to become a mystery shopper. To find legitimate mystery shopping companies, visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website .
  • Never deposit a check from someone you do not know. Scammers often send fake checks to consumers as part of a fake mystery shop. The consumer is instructed to deposit the check into their bank account and wire a small amount of money to third party. The check will bounce and the consumer will be responsible for paying the bank back for the money withdrawn. For more on fake check scams, check our alerts here .
  • Often times these scammers are based out of foreign countries. Be sure to do your research before signing up for a mystery shopping company.

Confero has compiled a long list of resources to help consumers identify and avoid scams. Please take a few minutes to read the articles and watch the videos below.

  • The FTC released these videos about mystery shopping scams.
  • Confero’s president, Elaine Buxton sat down with the Better Business Bureau for an interview about fake check scams .
  • We have compiled a list of scammers who have claimed to work for Confero; none have ever worked for Confero.
  • Check out this short segment on NBC’s Today Show about fake check scams.
  • Have you been a victim of a fake check scam? This blog post explains what you should do if you receive a fake check in the mail or are contacted by a scammer.
  • Scammers have used fake names to pretend that they work for Confero. They claim to hold positions as “Human Resource Manager”, “Evaluator Coordinator” or “Head of Recruitment.” These positions do not exist at Confero.

A vigilant consumer sent us a copy of the fake check and fake letter they recently received in the mail. If you read closely there are a few typos and poorly worded sentences that should be a red flag. Also, notice there is no return address on the envelope. We have heard from some consumers that the envelopes are postmarked in Canada, but the letter lists Confero’s Cary, NC address.

One of Confero’s staff members called the phone number listed in the fake letter and recorded the call. These people sound legitimate! Take a few minutes to listen to the recorded phone call . One of the biggest red flags is that the “evaluator coordinator” says the shopper can visit any Western Union location and any Wal-Mart location. Legitimate mystery shopping firms require mystery shoppers to visit a specific location at a specific time.

If you are interested in legitimate mystery shopping opportunities, here are a few tips:

  • Do your research! Check out the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website for a list of legitimate and reputable firms.
  • Check out a company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau .
  • Never pay to become a mystery shopper. Any companies requiring an application fee or new shopper fee are a scam.
  • Mystery shopping companies DO NOT issue checks for hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you receive a check in the mail, it is fake.
  • Mystery shopping companies DO NOT mystery shop Western Union or other money transfer services.

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FTC Mails Redress Checks to Fraud Victims Who Lost Money Through MoneyGram’s Money Transfer System

May 04, 2010 by Confero Inc.

Last week brought some great news for consumers who were victimized in some of the recent money-wiring scams. On April 28th, 2010 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it would begin mailing more than 34,000 checks to consumers who were victims of some of the fake-check scams that involved payments via MoneyGram International, Inc.

For more information about these legitimate redress checks please visit the FTC’s news release here.

For more information about these types of scams, please visit our Consumer Alerts.

If you have been a victim of a fake check scam, make sure you report this to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by filling out the complaint form on the FTC’s website .

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Have You Been A Victim Of A Fake Check Scam?

Feb 12, 2010 by Confero Inc.

You may already be aware of the fake check scams that have been attached to the mystery shopping industry for the past couple of years. You have probably seen the numerous warnings we have posted over the past several months, like this recent consumer alert. We are working hard to alert as many consumers as possible about these scams and working with the necessary government agencies to get these scammers shut down.

We want to make sure our shoppers and other members of the community are aware of what they should do if they have become a victim of these scams or receive a fake check in the mail. First of all, if you receive a random check in the mail from an unknown source, never deposit it or cash it. Always, always, always investigate!

If you have been victimized by these scams or if you have been an attempted target (you receive a check but did not do anything with it), be sure to fill out the FTC complaint form on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. The more complaints they receive, the more attention this issue will receive. The more attention this issue receives, the more likely these scammers will be caught and prosecuted.
Hopefully, with your help we can get as many of the scammers as possible shut down!

Resources for fake check scams:

Better Business Bureau’s videos on Fake Check Scams
Federal Trade Commission’s videos on Money Transfer Scams
www.fakechecks.org
Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA)

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Confero warns consumers about fake check scams

Jan 29, 2010 by Confero Inc.

Updated: 7/13/10

We would like to remind consumers about the fake check scams that have attached the the mystery shopping industry for the past couple of years.

In this post, we are combining all the information and revelations from the past few months. Many consumers have received checks in the mail along with a letter on official-looking Confero letterhead. These checks are fake. The scam artists take the names of reputable companies in an attempt to fool unsuspecting consumers into cashing these fake checks. Always remember:

  • Confero does not send checks to shoppers as payment to shoppers.
  • Confero does not issue certified checks for shoppers to use during mystery shops.
  • Confero does not shop Western Union or Moneygram.
  • As the Fakecheck.org website states, “There is no legitimate reason why anyone would give you a check or money order and ask you to wire money in return.”

In recent months, the scam artists have also started to pose as Confero schedulers. The following names have been used by scammers: Melissa Cole, Timothy Reeds, Robert Preston, Michael Thomforde, James Clayton, Paula Moore, Carlos Burnett, Chris Jordan, Alexander Hopkins, Mark Dwane, Kevin Jones, Melissa Hillman, Jimmy Bruce, Michael Hislap and Ashley Coleman. It is inevitable that the scammers will continue to change names, so please remember, any check sent to you by anyone claiming to represent Confero is a scam. None of these persons work for Confero, Inc. These are made-up names used in official looking email messages or regular postal mail.

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