EGROUP SURVEYS,1-310-982-2413,PLEASANTON,CA.94505
Complaint 19794 Details

I RECIEVED A CHECK FOR 1300.00 IN THE MAIL FROM A BOGUS COMPANY TITLED "START YOUR MYSTERY SHOPPING CAREER AND GET PAID TO EAT AND SHOP". THE SCAM LISTS STORES SUCH AS COSTCO,WALMART,APPLEBEES,J.C.PENNYS,BEST BUY ECT....THEN THE LETTER PROCEEDS WITH INSTRUCTIONS: ENCLOSED IS A CHECK FOR 1300.00,AS SOON AS YOU RECIEVE THIS LETTER AND CHECK,YOU HAVE 2 NUMBERS AND A FAX # THEY LIST.THE SCAM ARTIST SAYS TO CALL YOUR ASSIGNMENT CO-ORDINATOR AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT YOUR MYSTERY SHOPPING ASSIGNMENT WILL PERTAIN TO.THE LETTER ALSO SAYS YOU WILL BE PAID 200.00 PER ASSIGNMENT.....WELL THEY TELL YOU TO CASH THE 1300.00 CHECK AND CALL THEM BACK WHEN YOU HAVE THE FUNDS.THEY WILL ONLY RELEASE THE FUNDS IF YOU CALL THEM TO LET THEM KNOW YOUR CASHING THE CHECK.THEN AFTERWARDS THEY CONVINCED ME TO WESTERN UNION 940.00 WITH AN 86.00 FEE STATING THIS WAS PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT.IN THIS CASE THE MONEY WAS WIRED TO CANADA(OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO PICK IT UP).THEN YOU ARE TO CALL THEM BACK WITH THE REFERENCE # AND THEY ASK IF ALL WENT WELL.THEN BASICALLY THEY SAY GREAT JOB AND TELL YOU TO ENJOY DINNER WITH A FAMILY MEMBER,APPLEBEES WAS THE CHOICE.THEY SAID TO SPEND 74.00 ON DINNER AND TO OBSERVE THE SERVICE,CLEANLINESS,AND WAIT TIMES AS A SURVEY JOB.THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND A PACKAGE WITH THE SURVEY INFO INSIDE....NO PACKAGE CAME.CHECK WAS RETURNED AND MY ACCOUNT WAS NEGATIVE....MY DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR MY DISABILITY CHECK IS WHAT I LIVE ON AND MY ACCOUNT WAS WIPED OUT DUE TO THIS BAD CHECK.I CANT PAY ANY OF MY BILLS OR MY RENT.I THOUGHT I WAS REALLY JUST TRYING TO MAKE A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS WITH AN HONEST WORK ETHIC AND I GOT SCAMMED....HERES MY OPINION:THE SMARTER THE CROOK,THE MORE EDUCATED THE CROOK.THE #S THEY GIVE WAS FROM PLEASANTON CA.THE AVERAGE INCOME IS 86,000.SOMEBODYS GOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CHECKS OR BANKING KNOWLEDGE? THE OTHER # IS A TORONTO CANADA#416-939-8838.....THE PARTNER OBVIOUSLY,OR I ASSUMED THEY BOTH LIVE CLOSE OR NEAR THAT AREA.WHO KNOWS,IM NOT A DETECTIVE.BUT COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT.SPEAKING OF,I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS UP WHEN THEY WANTED ME TO WIRE THE MONEY RIGHT? WELL WHEN YOUR HOPEFUL I GUESS YOU JUST GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.IN THIS CASE,IT WAS MY MIS -JUDGEMENT.I MADE A POLICE REPORT AND ALSO TALKED WITH MY BANK,BUT BECAUSE THE CHECK WAS CASHED,THERE IS LITTLE TO NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO....YOU SEE,THATS WHATS SO MESSED UP,THE "CHECK" LOOKS LEGITAMITE AND YOU WOULD THINK IF IT WAS'NT, THE BANK WOULD AT LEAST CALL TO VERIFY THE FUNDS OR SOMETHING.THAT BOGUS CHECK MIGHT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A TEMPORARY BOGUS ACCOUNT THAT COULD BE TRACKED SOMEHOW,OR WHO KNOWS WHAT? BUT IT SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST OVER LOOKED BY THE BANK TELLER MAYBE? WHOEVER IT IS OUT THERE IS DOING THIS TO PEOPLE EVERYDAY.MAYBE THIS WILL HELP THE NEXT VICTIM NOT TO DO IT.....ITS A SCAM!! THE ONLY LEGIT NAME I COULD SEE IN THIS SCAM WOULD BE SOMEONE WITH AN IDENTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE MONEY TRANSFER:THIS WAS A KELLY DAVIS(RECIEVER)ALSO THE NAMES USED BY THE ASSIGNMENT CORDINATOR WAS MR.CHARLES HORTON.SO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR CHECKS THAT PEOPLE WANT YOU TO CASH AND THEN WIRE THEM THE MAJORITY OF IT BACK TO THEM......GOD BLESS AND BEWARE...... SINCERELY,JOSEPH GUARDIOLA -MERCED CA.