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Scammers need a good story to get to your wallet. Once they find one that works, they use it again and again. One of their old favorites brings together fake checks and secret shopping, and we’ve been hearing a lot about it lately.

Here’s how it starts. You get a check in the mail with a job offer as a secret shopper. You deposit the check and see the funds in your account a few days later, and the bank even tells you the check has cleared.

Now you’re off to the store you’ve been asked to shop at and report back on, often a Walmart. Your first assignment is to test the in-store money transfer service, like Western Union or MoneyGram, by sending some of the money you deposited. Or you might be told to use the money to buy reloadable cards or gift cards, such as iTunes cards. You’re instructed to send pictures of the cards or to give the numbers on the cards.

Fast forward days or weeks to the unhappy ending. The bank finds out the check you deposited is a fake, which means you’re on the hook for all that money. How does that even happen? Well, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. By the time you try to get the money back from the money transfer service, the scammers are long gone, and they’ve taken all the money off the gift cards, too. (By the way, money orders and cashier’s checks can be faked, too.)

The moral of the story? If anyone ever asks you to deposit a check and then wire or send money in any way, you can bet it’s a scam. No matter what they tell you.

Want to avoid the latest rip-offs? Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at FTC.gov/Scams.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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Acoustictherapy
December 14, 2019
We just received a check for $3,000 and letter from someone pretending to offer my wife a secret shopper job offer. It felt like a scam from the first minute, and lo and behold, it was. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Thanks for the information and the heads up.
Sofizzy84
December 30, 2019
just received a priority envelope with a cashiers check from credit union of texas for 2500. i was told to go to ebay and walmart and purchase gift cards. if i did within 24 hours of receiving the package i would make an extra 100 on top of the 400 for payment. they told me to buy in different increments of 500 200 and 100. i would then fill out a survey and send it to a (617) 6520169 email customerserviceanalysis 45@ Barry Foster. so glad i found this thread. REMEMBER IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY ISNT.
kloce98
March 09, 2021

In reply to by Sofizzy84

Just received the same offer in the mail yesterday! Same person , Barry Foster! I hope they catch these scammers. Thank god I google his name before I did anything!!
I'm a skeptic
December 16, 2019
I got two emails from some random so called eBay hiring manager they sent me a 2400 cashiers check. Said to buy eBay gift cards and send picture of the back to some random person and I just laughed when I opened it. Cuz if it were a real check I could just cash it at the local Wal-Mart or Freddy or safeway. I took it to the cops.
Stiff
December 16, 2019
Besides the FBI also report to the USPS postal inspectors as this is mail fraud and a Federal offense.
Sacady
December 16, 2019
Just got a $4520 check from Great Bear Credit Union. Wanted me to get Ebay gift cards and take pix of all the pertinent info on said cards. Gotta thank the wife for making me check it out.
Don't use your…
December 17, 2019
I just recieved a 3,478$ check, wanting me to but 100-500$ eBay guft cards and to scratch backs off and send pics to them. What I don't get is, if the banks clear any check and weeks later it comes back fake how are we responsible for paying it back? I was think that the bank on the check should be held accountable. Or banks should do more research on making sure the check is good b4 clearing it. But anyone who wants money from a check they sent you is a red flag. A true secret shopper would want to to purchase items and review the products not gift cards or money transfers. I don't understand how these people don't get better investigated. I recieve numerous calls saying my ssn has been tied to a crime and if I don't co-operate with them I'll be going to jail. It's rediculous that these people are not apprehended and held accountable for scamming so many out of hard earned money.
Don't Kuse you…
December 17, 2019
I am so glad that I thought to look up prospective Shopper and I got this site. I started to think where did he get my name from maybe I did apply for this I don't know so thanks for the heads up your site really helped me and save me a lot of money.
smithaj97
December 17, 2019
I got a mail from MSPA With a check of $2940, and to go to the bank and cash it, take 540$ as Salary. Then take the remaining $2400, and purchase 6 Kroger cards from Walmart and email them when it was done, with the clerk name, store and rate them from 1-10, then keep the card in a safe place for the next assignment, plus and entitled 100$ bonus if completed in 24 hours I had to text a guy name Dustin Taylor, I text him and haven’t gotten a text back! Almost got SCAMMED!!! Thank god I didn’t
KK Don’t Play
December 18, 2019
I was sent checks and instructions to buy Apple gift cards then return Ronnie items with the gift cards and I will he instructed to meet a verified shopper at the store to turn over the purchased items and I would earn $300. three checks $995 each and I was to buy two $1300gift cards. I knew as soon as i saw those checks and the process it’s a scam. Mystery shoppers can go in buy something small send the receipt and survey in and get reimburse what was spent as well as their fee. Worst case you bought something for a small dollar amount that you wanted anyway. Yup! This is a scam.
buckeyeLover
December 30, 2019
I signed up for a secret shopper gig online somewhere, and just received a "cashier's check" in the mail. • Email instructions said the program was to "evaluate the post office and wal mart" • purchase USPS money orders and $50 worth of merchandise from WalMart. • Don't put a payee name on the money orders • Fedex (don't use postal mail) the money orders back to them There was a scam a few years ago where people were sending fake "cashier's checks" for eBay merchandise. People would deposit the check, ship the merchandise, then find out the check was fake. One lady actually got charged with fraud for depositing a fake check. Here's a tip whenever you get a check or money order in a large amount, sight unseen: contact the bank and ask them to "verify funds." If there's no phone number on the check, look the bank up online. Just tell them you received a large check and you want to verify funds before you deposit it into your account. I'm planning to contact local police, then the postal service, to have them investigate this. Since the original check arrived by USPS, they should have some sort of jurisdiction in this. Here's is their reporting website: www. uspis. gov/ report/ I can't wait to see what they'll do with this. Hopefully something...
KESRA
December 18, 2019
754-216-3217 sent a text about some mission. I deleted it, didn't know who it was. Then I got two letters in the mail about being a Mystery Shopper with checks for $1750 each. I was to deposit them, keep $200 for hard work and then buy gift cards, preferred Ebay and scratch the silver backing off so I could send clear pictures. I was to hold on to the cards so I could use them for a special task later. Threw away the checks and got a new text today asking me to confirm if I got them.
ialmostgotscammed
December 19, 2019
I received a check for $2920.00. I was supposed buy 5 separate money orders, each worth $495. I bought the money orders, but I didn’t go through with it. I was told to leave the payee/receiver column blank. I told the woman at the post office about the secret shopper deal because I was suspicious and I wanted her advice. She convinced me it’s a scam. The woman who contacted me said her name was Patricia (probably not her real name). The $2920.00 was withdrawn from my account the next day. Luckily I can write my name/address in the payee/receiver column so that I can send the money back to myself.
Thank you
December 19, 2019
I cannot believe it! I was looking for a way to pay off bills and buy Christmas, and I was about to follow the instructions, when my husband said wait a minute! Look it up! Thank you all foe saving my life! They sent a check that is written to me for $1987.37 and asked me to buy ebay cards and wait ro use them for the next assignment. Scratch off the silver area, take a screen shot and text it to them. So close to losing my licenses! My career! My future! Please stop them.
Ohioguy2004
December 19, 2019
I got home on Monday and my Mom tells me that there’s a letter for me with a check. I’m like that’s weird! Well I got two checks this week. One for $1840 as a Capital One Bank check and another for $2450 as a Bank of America check. Wish it wasn’t a scam cause I’d cash them and go on a sweet vacation for Christmas hahaha
Hpmanman
December 20, 2019
I got the same thing. I was wondering what if we cash the check at a cash check store. Would it go through? Scam the scammer.
Playazsara
December 23, 2019

In reply to by Hpmanman

It will go through, but it will take a frw days for bank to figure it out and you will be responsible for all funds.
Jjmad
December 20, 2019
These people just keep sending me envelopes with cashiers check,then check after opening first time never contacted them,so they sent another different name to contact I turned in to United States Postal service Inspection for mail fraude.
lr
December 20, 2019
This just happened to me too. Got the cashiers check and was told to buy 2 apple gift cards. I texted them back that they were scammers and not to contact me again. The letter they sent had spelling errors. Geesh, the least they could do is to have a decent letter.
Kelz
December 20, 2019
I applied to a job on indeed and thats hiw they got all of my information. They sent me a certified usps package but it was not in my mail box is was on my door step They sent me a cashiers check for 1,987.37$. They told me the compenstaion for completing these task would be 387.37$.
John doe_g
December 30, 2019
Same thing happened to me in NJ. I checked the phone # 585-714-2921 before performing any step as per their instructions. Last time it was hobby lobby address but this time apt 11 with Newport News VA 23608-3640 address
Tula Angeni
December 20, 2019
I know this was posted last year but just received one today.
Steward Harvey…
December 21, 2019
Recieved two checks and letters from surveyreportsllc.us The script is the same so I will bow out. Thank ypu to those who contributed to this site. Im allergic to orange jumpsuits.
attempted scam in AZ
December 21, 2019
281-705-8063 scammers number scammers supposed name Scott Potter Whole Foods research project starting in our area ramping up “secret shoppers” 1 task a week blah blah...$400-$450 for 20-30 minutes of time spent. I do have “secret shopper” friends that have been legit secret shoppers for years. Received 2 checks $2452.00 1 to myself and 1 to my husband each from different banks - both banks were mentioned in previous posts. Without looking at the checks the low quality “instructions” with “Whole Foods” on the top of the cheap paper in black and white directing purchasing cards from any number of stores-right.... much less scratching off codes blah blah. And then sending them to them- yawn right...Scam...another scam imposters pose as someone you know claiming they are unable to purchase gift cards tied up with client ect and for you to purchase x number of cards and they will connect with you later. Everything appears to be “someone you know and trust” tag line on salutation ect. Everything except the phone number the message is coming from. The scammers search company websites where employees information is posted. They gather lots of Information and send out realistic text messages. Just text back “the police and I will gladly meet you to turn over the gift cards” if you want them to stop contacting you.
captainrolo
December 21, 2019
I received a email yesterday saying that I signed up for a secret shopper, and to text 845-217-0450 if I was interested. Which I did. Today, just a day later, I receive a 2-day priority mail envelope with a check for $1840 and instructions. It all looked suspicious so I called Citi Bank where the check is issued and they inform me that the check is not real. So I am sitting here writing this waiting for the police to arrive to make a report. When I google mapped the return address on envelope it is somebody’s house in Homestead, Fla. These scammers are good, but not that good! LOL.
DonDo I have s…
December 21, 2019
This was the latest scam tried on us,Publishers claiming house,the European lottery, I've had so many try,I follow through and will bust another if they screw up.
Klytle
January 29, 2021

In reply to by DonDo I have s…

I received a check k from a Legit bank, asking me to deposit it in my account and then go by Nike gift cards
nc
December 22, 2019
I just got scammed, I have no idea how I’m going to pay this back I didn’t think since the job came thru the school I thoght it was legit but I just did the gift card thing -and no feel so dumb.
Mary Christmas
December 22, 2019
Just received a packet today with three checks totaling $2,800. Shredded them. They will help start the fire in our fireplace.
Smiley427
December 22, 2019
I recently got scammed as well. I received a check for 1600.00 in the mail. I was told to deposit it into my bank account n wait for 2 days until it cleared and then do a wire transfer at walmart. The deal was for me to keep $500 for completing the assignment. The thing is, I couldn't put the money in my account because my account was already over drawn so instead I cashed it at a check cashing place. Now the check cashing place is threatening to have me arrested unless I pay back the 1600 within 10 days. Is that even legal? I do know there is a law in place that says if you purposely cash a fake check then u can be arrested for it. What if you didn't know the check was a fake? Is there anything I can do to avoid being arrested for this besides pay back all the money? I needed money thats why I fell for this BS in the first place.
Mb567
December 22, 2019
I recently received a check for 2,450.15 to be a secret shopper for Wal-Mart under the Forrester name.. I am so glad I checked into this to out it's all a scam.
SuzieB
December 30, 2019
Got my check today! $2,450.52 drawn off California Bear Credit Union out of Los Angeles CA. I have to text 585-613-2212 or send an email to repor tsurveyopen @ and ask for Richard Ray for security purposes. I get to keep $450 for myself, use the remainder to buy ebay gift cards. Once purchased, I have to do the survey that includes if the cashier said thank you or not. I have to capture the front and back of the cards after scratched and send to the email address above. The directions even say I may have to fill out a scam form and to kindly do it. Seriously? This must be a profitable business. They spent $7.50 on a priority mail envelope to get it to me. Or is that a scam too? Who do you report this to?
MP 1789
June 10, 2020

In reply to by may

I got this too - but for whole foods. it is the exact same thing that you have described.
gp25
December 23, 2019
On 12/23 I received an overnight letter with a check for $4,900 from “PRO BUILDER GROUP LLC, P.O. BOX 1502, Conroe, TX 77305.” Similar to another post, it asks to deposit the check at a bank, nowhere else. Then it instructed to text Michael Cooper, 862-404-1952. If you call, no one picks up and you’ll receive a text back. They want you to go to Walmart supposedly to make a report about service and whatnot, but they just want to send them 4 blank money orders for $1,000 each while I keep the rest. Did not cash but they claim they’ll have send a “TASK FORCE Team to retrieve the envelope”.
erodvold
December 23, 2019
I am glad that I looked into this. I kept getting texts to be a mystery shopper and then today I received a Cashier's Check for $2,450.52 and a letter that told me that I had to go to 3 stores and purchase ebay gift cards then scratch off the pin # and take a picture of it. and $450.00 was going to be my pay for doing the evaluations. One Flaw in this scam was they did not expect me to send them the gift cards. So it was clear that they would use the cards online with no problem. The Bank they used was ACU (Americas Credit Union) in DuPont Washington and the name they gave was Mark Henderson. I am going to find out about any police task force that is working on scams.
MrsDuck16
May 26, 2020

In reply to by erodvold

I was a secret shopper years ago and went to the store to shop for products, turned in my time, receipts and mileage. When I got the notice to apply to be a secret shopper again I signed up. Today I received a Priority Mail envelope with a check and single sheet of paper that was of very low quality. The check looks REAL! The paper copied poorly is what made me ponder! I searched for scams and sure enough....I guess there is no way to catch the person doing this scam. Where do I turn this stuff into? There are people out there that would jump, as I almost did, on this opportunity!
Playazsara
January 30, 2020
Well james smith is now james peterson. Email m peterson 2332 @ . and to text 407-487-4380.... I texted back saying SCAM
Tiff295
December 23, 2019
I just got a check of 2000 and change to purchase ebay gift cards, and pretty much to follow the instructions on this post. I recgonized scam immediately because I recently got scammed from an online job that emailed me checks to purchase office supplies. I'm currently in trouble with my bank because I deposited the checks and sent money to a "vendor." Please be aware.
SmarterThanThe…
December 23, 2019
I just received a "check" today. Is there any potential that the scammers can be tracked by the Priority Mail envelope they used and/or the "check" they enclosed?
Georgian
December 23, 2019
I received a check for over $1800 from Clarion Research Inc. My “assignment” is to purchase three $500 gift cards and keep the remainder for myself. I find it fishy that, before I received the check, I got an email from a Clarion Research Gmail account. The email and the letter I received were written with poor grammar. Although Clarion Research is based in NY, the letter was sent from Rome, GA. I forwarded the email to Clarion Research but have not received a reply. I won’t cash the check and would like to encourage everyone to beware of these scams!!
mama’s girl
December 24, 2019
I got this today: Dear madison( mylastname) Congratulations, This is George Seneca, Your recent application to become a secret shopper has been approved and your survey assignment will be delivered to you by USPS. Please check your email and Send "OFFER ACCEPTED" to confirm receipt
standingcloud1…
December 24, 2019
Somebody send me a fake check my phone number is 7858619646
Susan
December 25, 2019
Almost fell for if after applying online through a “legit” job link a few weeks ago. Received a check for $1980 with assignment instructions to purchase 8 $200 eBay gift cards from different stores and send pictures of the front and back of the card, UPC code and receipt to a Mark Wilson. Thank God I did my research or I would have fallen victim to this scam.
slowpainsb
December 26, 2019
I been racking my brain trying to get a check cashed for $1,950.00.. then I started investigating bc I didn't want the bag need of it being fake bc it was going to my son's x mass...it did not get cashed,but damn in need of the funds now fr fr..be careful everyone...thought ìd share
Mimi Lawrence
December 26, 2019
Today a friend of mine received a $3600 check along with instructions. If I hadn't insisted on Googling this scam, he would have fallen for it. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it is. Warn everyone you know.
Daughter got t…
December 26, 2019
My daughter got an email she thought was from her college, Tarleton State. Recieved check today. I've worked in the Bank Fraud industry in a prior life. I called BS on this right away and we fired up the Google machine. Sorry to read all the comments of the ones that fell for this scam. If it's too good to be true it isn't true!
lesson learned
December 26, 2019
I received same check....I checked out bank name on check, seems legitimate, but after further checking, new was fraud.....be careful all.....How do I report this....
Jazz
December 26, 2019
I received a check wanting me to be a Mystery Shopper. For me to deposit the check go to Best Buy and buy 3 gift cards then scratch off the numbers and pins, and take a picture of all of them as well as the receipt. Send a survey letter explaining what happened at purchase to a email address they gave me with the picture. Diffently sounds like a scam. Then later the check will bounce I'm sure.
Becca
March 12, 2020

In reply to by Jazz

I just got almost the same exact thing in the mailbox. A cashiers check for $1330.00. They want 2 Best Buy gift cards for $500 each. The rest of the 330 is for “my commission” and a charity. Everything you said is exactly what they told me to do. Freaking crazy!
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