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Did you get an offer to be a secret shopper for a well-known company? It might come as text, email, or letter inviting you to work on a ‘research project starting soon in your area.’ Several people who got offers to be secret shoppers for grocery stores, like Whole Foods, thought they were scams, and wrote to the FTC to warn others. They were right — the offers are scams — and now we’re extending the warning.

People spotted signs of a fake check scam in the bogus Whole Foods secret shopper offer (which was from a scammer, not really Whole Foods). That’s when someone sends you a check and convinces you to deposit it and quickly send them money. In this scam, the recruiter would send shoppers a check for more than $2,000 and they would:

  • Cash or deposit the check immediately
  • Buy gift cards with most of the money
  • Keep about $450 as their pay
  • Scratch the coating off the gift cards to show the PIN codes
  • Send pictures of the cards’ front and back (with the codes) to the recruiter

If anyone ever tells you to deposit a check, withdraw money, and send it to someone, that’s a scam. When the check later turns out to be fake, the bank will want the money back. And if anyone tells you to go buy gift cards and share the PIN numbers, that’s a scam, too. Once the scammer has the PIN, they also have all the money from the cards.

So, if you get an offer like this, don’t respond. Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you already cashed a fake check and sent money to a scammer, find out how to report to gift card, wire transfer and money order businesses. Read more in How to Spot, Avoid and Report Fake Check Scams.

Search Terms
fake check
mystery shopping
Topics
Jobs and Making Money

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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.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Sz2021
April 20, 2021
I got a check for $2950 today. Very polished scam. Good that I googled before acting on it.
Efram
April 20, 2021
Friend of mine just got a text from: 12813812916 Hi Applicant, You submitted your information via our SMS marketing to work as a Whole Foods Market store Evaluator. Your details have been verified and you are shortlisted as one of our representatives. Here is your unique I.D number MS004. Your first survey assignment package has been sent out and will be delivered In/At your Mailbox via USPS within 48-120HRS. Kindly confirm you received this message by saying Confirmed and YES AM Prepared FOR MY Task. Respects, Steve Freed ( HR and STAFFING )
Veto_8
April 21, 2021
So i got a check for 1,995 to buy 3 ebay cards of 500 and one of 200 and send e email with how my experience was so 250 for me 45 logistics so my question is if o cash the check and keep the money do i get in trouble?
Jo
April 21, 2021
I got a text for a secret shopper for Whole Foods that would pay $400 for up to three times a week for six weeks checking out a money transfer to me by eBay! The text was sent from 346-337-7893! I believe it is a scam!
Ladylisa
April 22, 2021
Gm, I just received the text message and I filled out my information part but, that's it! What do I now?
Wee Willie
April 29, 2021
Just found out there is a new Whole Foods scam using checks from Unity Lodge 632 in San Diego using the Lodge bank account. Don't fall for it
Jdee
May 04, 2021
Just received a text from 218-381-2916 asking if I want to be a shopper for Whole Foods. Be aware they are still out there scamming people!!
tired of these scams
May 04, 2021
Just got a random text from 281-381-2916 stating you will get $400 as a store evaluator for Whole Foods Market for 20-30 mins of your time! Yeah right, don't all we wish to make $400 dollars for less than an hour.
Grandma
May 05, 2021
Looking for part-time work. The check and "instructions" full of typos was the first clue something was off. The letter was a bad copy!! Thank you for having these reports available. Summerville, SC
Mike
May 05, 2021
Dealing with it now thinking it was legit. Deposited 4 over a 2 month span and now it’s coming back fake
LDD
May 11, 2021
Got a text immediately after shopping at Whole Foods. Thought this might be legitimate until cashiers check came with request to buy $1000 Nike gift cards!
DISTURBED44
May 24, 2021
I have a check as well from Grange Survey Marketing Group and Whole Foods Market to evaluate a money transfer and receiving 800.00 from the check..I also have about 5 more fake checks that I took to the local check cashing store here where I reside and they verified it was fake and local authorities were contacted..this is a good way to get someone in some real legal mess bc as the law put it to me it doesn't matter that we aren't aware its fake that once check is cashed whoever cashed the check is responsible for repaying the stolen money..
winpadreswin
June 04, 2021
This is the second text I have received and I checked on google to see if it's legitimate......I am curious who "David Carlson" is. Beware!
Lady
June 08, 2021
Two USPS Priority envelopes came in mail yesterday. Identical letter and checks enclosed for nearly 2K each. Emailed FTC immediately as it was obviously a scam. So sad that people do this
S. Baker
June 08, 2021
I got one today, came by priority mail.
Cball
June 12, 2021
I was a manager at Target and about once a month we would have someone come in wanting to buy a couple thousand dollars worth of gift cards. I would always question them as to why, and advise them they were possibly being scammed. It was sad the number of times I was told to mind my own business and a couple hours later they would come back crying about how I had been right, and could they get their money back.
OregonMom
June 15, 2021
I got random usps tracking over the last few days and wondered what it was. When it arrived I opened it and looked at my husband and we were like "well this is a scam". I also just got a text at 4pm from this number (346) 706-3465. It asked if I got the package and my "assignment". In case people are searching the numbers this is one.
Tab7979
July 08, 2021
I just got a fake check a couple days ago and a letter and a short survey and the letter said to buy two gift cards a thousand dollars each. Keep 359 and the rest was toward the next assignment I was like yeah right I still have it I wasn't sure where to report it. Being a single mom out of work I wish but I'm not stupid. Usually if something is too good to be true it is. Oh and they told me to choose two stores and take the survey at one but when I got the gift cards I was supposed to get back to them for further instruction yeah okay lol
Lz McIntosh
July 08, 2021
I got a check for 2540.00. I knew that was wrong; I thank Heaven I didn’t let myself go down the road. Thanks to the FTC for this website- it’s much appreciated and saved me from a potential nightmare!
PinkieBlu
July 11, 2021
My mom just asked me if I wanted to be a test shopper for Whole Foods. Handed me her phone with the link open. I didn’t find out til afterwards it was a text. I’m so glad I googled it!
Ilrebmik
July 12, 2021
Recieved: Secret shopper act as regular shopper and experience the sales process as a retail customer would, such as purchasing an item, making an inquiry, making complaints or returning a product
Mtoscano28
July 20, 2021
Just received one today claiming to be a Whole Foods Evaluation Assignment. Sent a check to deposit and then buy Nike gift cards with the money. Scratch off the silver part and send a picture of the card. So sad it’s such a scam.
cantscamme69
July 26, 2021
Just had this happen with Whole Foods, seemed very legit at first. Be careful. If you can speak with them on the phone its probably a no go.
Maggie
July 29, 2021
My husband just got a$6,000 check in the mail. He works for the Secret Service . He's taking the check to the bank to find out if it's real or not
Won’t be scamed
August 16, 2021
Just got a letter and a fake check in the mail from “Whole Foods Market” and the check from a bank First Southern Bank in Alabama the remitted James R Graham Jr.
Hope
August 21, 2021
I got one also in CMS schools email website, and I filled out the application! but thanks to FTC, for when I checked, fond it scam.
CGUNN
August 25, 2021
I rcvd texts first, then rcvd the pkg today. Ther8a check for TD bank for $2940.52 and the instructions on what to do. The TD symbol was black but Td's symbol is green, their checks are green. They even put the chk number in front of the routing #. They put on top OFFICIAL CHECK.... DUMB. Then they added an S at the end of whole. So it says Wholes Food. I catch a scam everytime.
GeniT
August 26, 2021
I received a check yesterday for $2500.52 Verified with the credit union check was issued through that this a scam! don't be caught up in this kind of scam. Beware!
Tabby-60
August 26, 2021
This happened to me. I still have the check and the instructions on what to do. Thank God I waited to remove any money. Waited for my bank’s final approval or disapproval. The name of the person was Matt Smith and Bill Woods. I’m sure the names are bogus.
Sherry in sc
September 01, 2021
Received CVS research in my area scam today on cell phone. One of those "if it's too good to be true " deal.
Barb
September 17, 2021
I received a check today under the guise of conducting a survey for Whole Foods. The. check was from Esquivel Grading and Paving, Inc. and I was supposed to buy gift cards.
Carolrbeck54
September 17, 2021
I get these Scam things all the time. Are any of them ever legitimate?
Carolrbeck54
September 17, 2021
How can we get these scammers to stop sending stuff?
sheilae
October 13, 2021
Watch out for this one...Mystery Shopper for Walmart paying $400 an assignment. I'm not really sure if its a scam but by just reading the text there were a lot of grammatical errors. The email was followed by this closing..."Human Resources Manager, Global Operations Corissa Glover"
Don’t use your…
October 21, 2021
I just received this text: Walmart is seeking a store evaluator in your area, you will be earning $400.00 per each store feedback. Sign up here https://cutt.ly/kRj7jJy for more details.
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