Mystery Shopper Scam in Reading, PA

Residents in the Reading area have been targeted by a work-at-home scam. Individuals are receiving offers from an entity claiming to be Truenorth Monitoring and Research Services of Quebec, Canada, informing them that based on previous survey by their affiliate Consumer Survey Specialist, they indicated an interest in additional income on a part-time basis. 

The letter offers employment as a Mystery Shopper to serve as a Consumer Service Evaluator of selected retail stores such as Walmart, Home Depot, and J.C. Penny (incorrect spelling), restaurants, and various establishments, making predetermined purchases and evaluating the customer service level of the stores and service provider. The job is advertised as a probationary paid training assignment that takes three hours to complete at the rate of $100 per hour. An application and a counterfeit check in the amount of $3,975 are included with the packet of information. The goal is to have the recipients deposit the check, spend $150 at a specified retail store, and then Western Union/MoneyGram a certain amount of money to another specified location. 

(Life is a Highway, March 16, 2009)

E-mail Scam Seeks Debit Card Info

Several members of Cross Valley FCU in Wilkes-Barre, have received scam e-mails addressed to “Federal Credit Union Customer.”

The message contains numerous typos in informing the recipient that their “bank account may have been compromised.” The memo advises that if their debit card on file is not updated within 12 hours, it will be assumed that the “account is fraudulent and will be suspended.” In order to reactivate the card, the individual is asked to call a phone number to confirm information.

It is signed by the “Federal Credit Union Security Team” and includes a Copyright 2009 Federal Credit Union.

(Life is a Highway, March 10, 2009)