Neighborhood Research Secret Shopper program

Victim Location 33056

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

I received an unsolicited letter from a Mr. Robert Bedrossian and an official check drawn out from the Texas Dow Employee Credit Union in my name for the amount of $1,370. The letter indicated that I should cash the check by depositing it to my account, then purchase three (3) five hundred dollars Walmart gift cards, scratch the pin and take a picture to be emailed (email address above). After doing research, I came across similar incidents of scamming, so I did not cash the check.

Victim Location 91763

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

It’s just like they said, they send you a ckeck for a couple thousand, keep 300.00, and that’s where I stopped. Reporting this scam right now! Too good to be true! Thank you!

Victim Location 70520

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

Receive this in mail secret shopper scam to evaluate wal mart

Victim Location 59001

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

"I got an text saying I was chosen as a Walmart secret shopper. In about two days after, I received a check drawn on a Nationwide Insurance bank account. The instructions told me to deposit the check, and within two days, go to Walmart and buy gift cards, recording my experience. I was then supposed to send photos of the gift cards I purchased for proof that I did it. I was to keep the difference between the gift card purchase and the check. The company has been texting me to ensure I understand and report my progress."

On Walmart’s website, there is a page dedicated to Fraud Alerts – one of them warns against mystery shoppers. Walmart says they don’t "utilize these services or hire associates to perform services on behalf of other retailers or companies." They encourage people to report anything they may feel is fraudulent.

The letter sent to Beatty says he is not to disclose he is is evaluating the store through Secret Shopper because it will "deter the purpose of the whole program."

Victim Location 85022

Type of a scam Employment

I had received a Priority USPS Flat Rate Envelope with a letter to become a *** secret shopper. Enclosed was a cashier’s check in the amount of; $1,670.00. Instructions were to go to *** and purchase no more than $70 in personal items and report back to them, such as several key things in regards to my experience at the store of my choosing. I was also instructed to purchase $1,300.00 in gift cards in several denominations; $500, $400, $400. I was also instructed to then scratch off the back of the cards revealing their codes, and to take a picture of them in order to send to them.

From my experience I could tell that the cashier check was fraudulent, i.e.: bank routing number and check number are the same, no extra security features. There is also the lack of any consistent business information in the letter or on the envelope.

Victim Location 91710

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

My wife received a 12.5 X 9.5 Priority Mail USPS envelope in my mailbox with a letter enclosed and a check for $1870.00. The letter instructed her to deposit that check into our bank account, and then, after waiting 24 hours, she was to enter a local Walmart store and perform certain secret shopper activities, including using their Walmart2Walmart transfer service. She was to transfer $1490 from that Walmart to another Walmart in Dallas, Texas to a recipient named Ronald Kirkhart. (The name on the return address on the envelope was Paulette Castillo, and the name at the bottom of the letter was Mr. Michael Tomlinson – "Task Manager".) The letter instructed her to use the money from the check to pay for the transfer ($1490 + $30 transfer charges). As a "reward" for performing this function she would be allowed to keep the balance, which the letter said would be $300. (Actually the balance, if legit, would be $350, since 1870 – 1520 = 350, not 300. The other $50 would come by her making a $50 purchase at Walmart before performing the transfer.)