Update….
Many consumers have received checks in the mail along with a letter on official-looking Confero letterhead. These are fake.
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.
Also, add the names Melissa Cole and Timothy Reeds to the list of fake Confero scheduler names being used.
Most of the fake checks we have been made aware of are drawn on BBVA or Compass Bank. Confero does not have an account with those banks. THE CHECKS ARE FAKE. DO NOT CASH THEM. Click here to see BBVA Bank’s consumer alert about the scam.
As discussed in earlier posts, we have received requests from would-be mystery shoppers asking that we validate the employment of Robert Preston, Micheal Thomforde, James Clayton, Paula Moore, Carlos Burnett, Chris Jordan and now Alexander Hopkins. None of these persons work for Confero. These are made-up names used in official-looking email messages from people trying to scam unsuspecting consumers. Sometimes, the scam emails have been spoofed to look like the message is from Confero and to hide the true origin of the email. Other times, the sender simply pastes the Confero name or website into his or her email message. Either way, these scammers are attempting to fool consumers into thinking they are dealing with Confero.
Persons interested in legitimate mystery shopping may visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website for information about ethical, legitimate mystery shopping companies. Confero is a member of the MSPA. To register your interest to mystery shop for Confero,please visit the Shoppers’ Center tab above for complete details.
If you have fallen victim to this scam, or if you have been contacted by any of these scammers, please file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).. The FTC also offers information about mystery shopping and the Mystery Shopping Providers Association at
this link.
Check out the BBB video about three (3) common fake check scams.
What can consumers do to steer clear of this?
- Only sign up to mystery shop with reputable firms. All members of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association have agreed to honor a code of ethics.
- Reputable firms are not likely to ask for your name, address and other contact info via email. Sign up with firms that offer a secure website for sign ups.
- Never pay to be accepted as a shopper. Reputable firms pay YOU to mystery shop and charge you NOTHING to sign up.
- Don’t be fooled by large dollar amounts. Most typical, real mystery shop assignments would earn a fee of $8 to $35—not the hundreds or thousands the scam artists offer in the fake check scam!
- Never wire money to anyone you don’t know.
Check out the BBB video about three (3) common fake check scams.
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.”
Click here to see the NBC national news story about this scam and how to avoid it.