"Secret Shopper" Scam
They say that you never lose the cop in you, either on the job or off, and a recent scam alert from former Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire is the recent proof.
A local WWII veteran contacted McGuire over suspicions of a check received in the mail. The recipient was to be part of a mystery shopping or “secret shopper” program being conducted by a marketing firm. The recipient is instructed to cash the check and then Western Union money to two names supplied in the letter – all within a two day period. This prevents the target from learning that the check is bogus.
The con artists behind the letter sent to the local WWII operated like many, using the name of an existing company in order to appear legitimate. The request for a Western Union money-gram is also a red flag, and those transfers should be only to people you know personally. Checks and credit card charges can always be disputed, but wiring money is like sending cash.
Legitimate opportunities exist to be a “secret shopper”, but scams have sprung up around what many consider to be easy money. Another “secret shopper” scam involves targets being required to pay an enrollment fee before they can be given work; and, again, this is a sure sign of a scam.