Random $2,685.50 check received in the mail

Armstrong

25-04-2009 14:39:58

I get a ton of junk mail all the time, but this one came with a real check for $2,685.60 in it. Inside was also a letter from Nations Consumer Group based out of Hudson, NH that asks me to be a mystery shopper for them. I'm 99% sure this is a scam, but I'd love to find a way to scam them out of the cash. Anyone know anything about this company? Know how I can cash the check without it screwing me?

zr2152

25-04-2009 15:31:41

Yeah I've gotten one of those.

It won't cash and I believe the company is a fake. Not much you can really do.

slambam

25-04-2009 17:02:59

Is there a letter with it requesting that you send them cash back? 99% chance it is fake. I work at a CU and we see these all the time. If you want to know for sure I'd go to your bank/CU and see what they have to say. But yes, I'd bet that it is fake.

Armstrong

25-04-2009 18:19:17

It doesn't say that I have to send any money back. I'm familiar with all those scams, but this one looks different. the company on the check is 'Walbridge Aldinger' which googles as a valid company.

zr2152

26-04-2009 10:58:46

[quote1bf7c7c7d4="Armstrong"]It doesn't say that I have to send any money back. I'm familiar with all those scams, but this one looks different. the company on the check is 'Walbridge Aldinger' which googles as a valid company.[/quote1bf7c7c7d4]

hmm...call them?

manOFice

26-04-2009 11:27:36

no one is gonna just give you free money, lol

do some digging, i'm sure it's a scam

tjwor

26-04-2009 12:16:57

just cash it, i'm sure its real, happens to me all the time, i'd cash it and spend the money right away, that way they won't be able to get it back!

bballp6699

26-04-2009 12:33:54

I got one of these last year. After some research, I found it was a scam.

DRay9911

26-04-2009 13:57:06

kidd2108

26-04-2009 19:26:24

I got at least 2 of these last year.

I just throw them out.

dmorris68

26-04-2009 20:26:29

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Reading that letter, what strikes me immediately is the breakdown of what they expect you to purchase with the money. First it's a few benign looking purchases at various retail establishments, then...

"Money Gram transfer.......$1565.00"

That's got to be the scam. Wire scams are rampant. What they do is send you a bogus check that you cash/deposit (if you have the funds to cover the check and are an established customer, many banks will cash a check for you like this). You then do your duty as a mystery shopper, including the MoneyGram transfer [ifc8c6374c8]which goes to the scammers[/ifc8c6374c8]. A few days later the check bounces and your bank takes the money from your account, while the scammers have the $1500 bucks you wired them. The rest of the "purchases" were just camouflage.

hooolye

27-04-2009 07:59:02

okookokokokooookkk

Armstrong

29-04-2009 08:24:23

Hmm, how strange. Thanks Dan. Now my letter doesn't have anything about sending money back. That is what they'll probably want though. They ask me to call them before doing anything. I think thats where they'll get you. I'd like to just go to a fast cashing place and get whatever money I can, then never reply. The really only have my name and address.

cubbieco

30-04-2009 09:42:09

The check isn't from them. It's from some innocent company elsewhere. I'm an accountant and our bank account was compromised. I've had 8 people call me this week with one of our checks and 4 of these fake checks tried to clear our bank today. If you cash it, the companies bank will probably bounce it and you'll be out fees. Plus it is a crime to cash a check you think is fake.

The fast cashing places are smart enough to call the company that wrote the check before cashing it, so they probably won't cash it for you. If you want to try to steal money from a bank or some innocent company then go ahead and cash it. Otherwise call the company whose name is on the check and see if they are collecting them for the FBI or anything (we are).

zr2152

30-04-2009 10:20:14

[quote86d0e31d7c="cubbieco"]The check isn't from them. It's from some innocent company elsewhere. I'm an accountant and our bank account was compromised. I've had 8 people call me this week with one of our checks and 4 of these fake checks tried to clear our bank today. If you cash it, the companies bank will probably bounce it and you'll be out fees. Plus it is a crime to cash a check you think is fake.

The fast cashing places are smart enough to call the company that wrote the check before cashing it, so they probably won't cash it for you. If you want to try to steal money from a bank or some innocent company then go ahead and cash it. Otherwise call the company whose name is on the check and see if they are collecting them for the FBI or anything (we are).[/quote86d0e31d7c]

Yeah I got one a year or so back and I called my local FBI office and they just told me to destroy the check.

Armstrong

30-04-2009 10:25:49

[quote7d304f8cc8="cubbieco"]The check isn't from them. It's from some innocent company elsewhere. I'm an accountant and our bank account was compromised. I've had 8 people call me this week with one of our checks and 4 of these fake checks tried to clear our bank today. If you cash it, the companies bank will probably bounce it and you'll be out fees. Plus it is a crime to cash a check you think is fake.

The fast cashing places are smart enough to call the company that wrote the check before cashing it, so they probably won't cash it for you. If you want to try to steal money from a bank or some innocent company then go ahead and cash it. Otherwise call the company whose name is on the check and see if they are collecting them for the FBI or anything (we are).[/quote7d304f8cc8]

That's the piece of information I was looking for. It didn't make sense that a legit check was coming to me. I'm calling the company on the check now and destroying it. Thanks Cubbieco