Hello everyone, I am new to this site and was recently a victim of money order fraud. While I was researching about 'victims of fraud' I ran into this site and this forum, so I thought I would share my story and try to help anyone to prevent this from happening to them. I recently applied for a few Mystery Shopper services through craigslist (surprise, surprise
) and a few people responded, one in perticular by the name of "Scott Toomey"....
Full Scope Inc.
5601 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98108
Email:
evaluationconsult1@gmail.comDate: November 23rd, 2008
Dear Shopper,
Full Scope Inc. surveys and conduct evaluation Programs on other companies.
Full Scope Inc Profile Introduction:
Full Scope Inc. is hired by restaurants, retail businesses and other service
businesses to help them determine how the consumer perceives the quality
of their service and product. We send shoppers anonymously into their
locations to order a meal in a restaurant, make a purchase in a retail
establishment or inquiry to a service business. The mystery shopper acts
like any normal customer.
After the visit, the shopper send in a report, question or comment about
the events that happened during the visit. The information should be
objective only and should contain only the facts about the visit.
The shopper is provided with funds for the meal or purchase up to the maximum
amount set by the client,hence you do not need to pay any amount to start,we shall be providing all the funds needed.
In some cases, the shopper is also paid a small fee for filling out the forms
and in cases where there is no reimbursement, the shopper is paid a flat
fee for completing the assignment. If you decide to become a
Full Scope Inc. shopper, you would be an independent contractor. You
would have the option to accept or decline any assignment we offer you.
However, if you do accept an assignment, you must fulfill the
requirements of the assignment according to our instructions in order to be
insured reimbursement and/or payment. Once you accept an assignment,
your report must be completed and submitted within 24 hours after the visit.
The receipt (if required) must be sent in within the same time frame, either
by fax or e-mail.
Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide
variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area.
Requirement:
a) The mystery shopper acts like any normal customer:
b) Smartness of the attendant:
c) The quality of customer service:
d) How long it took you to get services done:
e) You might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they react to
clients when they get tensed:
This Report would be turned over to the company. Most companies employ
our assistance when people give complains about their services, or when
they feel there are needs for them to improve their customer service.
Your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper)
you would be paid a flat fee of $200 for every evaluation assignment and
bonus on your transportation allowance, and funds would be given to you if
you have to dine as part of the duty.
Your shopper profile Provided to us as been Accepted and Your Shoppers Tag
Profile Number is: Rep ID# GPP04609.
You would be provided with the service Location to start up with as soon as
possible.
We would like you to know that the mode of payment to receive funds from us for your services will be Payment by Money order/ Check
Kindly show more interest with a return email asap.
Regards.
Scott Toomey
Email:evaluationconsult1@gmail.com
This person sent me emails explaining what needed to be done.....
Full Scope Inc.
5601 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98108
Date: November 23rd, 2008
Full Scope Inc invites you to run a survey on all Western Union Agent Location
in your Area that will be assigned to you.
This assignment has been put together to be completed at a Western Union
Agent Location that will be assigned to you.
The objective of this assignment will be to evaluate the effectiveness and
efficiency of a payment system called "WESTERN UNION "which is available
in your region.
Western Union Agent location was reported for evaluation of the following
reasons:
* Slow and Poor Customer services.
* Rudeness and agents inefficiency to customers.
* High Transfer charge.
* Late opening and closing Hours.
Your Customer Service Evaluation Requirement would be:
*You will go into any "Western Union" as a potential customer.
*You are Required to make use of the Money Transfer and Money in Minutes
to make both a Western Union Money Transfer.
*You are Required to send in a detail report of the Time it took you to get the
Money Transfer made from the time of arrival at any of the Agent Location listed
to you.
* A Confirmation of the Western Union Transfer fee.
* You are required to forward back to us a detailed copy of the Western Union
Transfer Detail as soon as the assignment completed at any of the Agent Location
assigned to you.
* A scanned copy of both the Western Union Receipt is required to
be faxed back to us for confirmation.
* In the process of this evaluation assignment, please take note of the quality of
service in order to be able to fill out a fair and unbiased opinion on the Customer
Service Evaluation Tool (CSET).
The funds needed to complete this assignment have been arranged and
would be sent out to you via a UPS/FedEx Express Mail service.
Kindly email the following details to send payment for your assignment,services ,and also for our records.
Thanks.
Name in Full:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Phone#:
Regards.
Scott Toomey
The rest of the story goes as follows..they mailed me the money orders through DHL, had me cash the money orders at my bank and deduct my fee then had me go to three different Western Unions on three different days to "test" the Western Union's customer service ($8600 worth of money orders) and wanted me to send the money to a person by the name of "Michael Strong" in New York, NY. Last week someone called from my banks compliance department and told me that the Money orders were frauds and after I told them where I got the money orders from and what I thought I was doing they told me to go file a police report and that I may be held responsible for the money. I have already contacted the Police department and Western Union and am keeping in touch and staying active with my bank. I am basically a sitting duck untill all the money orders come back to see exactly how much the bank wants back (including the returned check fees). I have contacted all the credit sources and put FRAUD ALERTS on all of them just in case.
I felt sick to my stomach when I found out those money orders were fakes. I couldn't eat or sleep. I have went through a range of emotions over the past week. I have been angry at myself for falling for this nonsense. I, like a lot of people, consider myself a very responsible person that is usually aware of their surroundings and NEVER thought something like this could happen to me. I have went over and over in my mind what I wished I "would have done" and "should have done", I now see RED FLAGS when I look back on all this...I am angry at whoever these people are who think it is okay to live their lives scamming people instead of getting an honest job like the rest of us. I was angry at craigslist for having so many frauds scamming through their site, although they have an alert warning people of things of this nature (one in which I did not even notice untill all was said and done), I still feel it is very irresponsible of them to just take money from seemingly anyone and post a listing..the Police Officer I spoke to even said so many cases come in from craigslist and ebay. I was angry at my bank for not finding out quick enough and/or not being just as suspicious when I came in with some money orders for $720 a piece...I would have rather the bank just stopped me right there and not cashed them or questioned me more. I don't know, something. Now as the money orders return, my checking and savings account are debited and are now starting to get overdrawn as a result of all this...all the money that I had for my expenses are gone as a result of this. Its a mess. I guess the only thing is that I cashed them at my bank and not a check cashing place, because my bank could at least notify me and know my history...where as some check cashing places dont and could have just sent the cops to my door.
Luckily enough I saved ALL the emails this person was sending me and all the emails I sent them talking about my "evaluation" of Western Union...I also saved all the Western Union slips and DHL packages the money orders arrived in.
I was reading this site to try to get any helpful information I could about my situation and felt compelled to register just to post this story and let people know about this. If I could help just one person to not get scammed I will be happy. I want to thank the people who started this site, its very imformative and also helps to read other peoples stories that have been through simular situations. I also have a question; I have contacted everyone including the police department, my bank, Western Union fraud department, DHL.. all the checking systems I could find and I am currently in the process of contacting the Atterney General. I was wondering if anyone else has any other suggestions on anyone else I could contact? I have seen on a few sites to contact the FBI as well. If anyone has any other suggestions or anyother helpful comments they will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.