Mystery shopping scam
uncovered

Norfolk - What Cathy Harp saw as an opportunity to earn extra cash as a mystery shopper, actually turned into a mini-mystery behind two checks totaling more than $7,000.00.

The first showed up in a UPS envelope. The second, less than a week later from a company called Prime Communication.

"You look at this and go woo-hoo. I can pay this now or I can get caught up with this now. I can put gas in my car. I could put food in the house," says Harp.

According to the letter, the $3,250.00 was to be used as follows: $300 for Harp, $50 for shopping, a $150 service charge and $2,750.00 was to be sent back to the company.

Harp inspected the check. "One thing that tipped me off were the code numbers."

Harp says the four digit number after the slash should match the 4868 check number. It didn't and it appeared a previous amount was erased. Harp called the company to learn more, only to find out she couldn't.

"She was not willing to give me any information on what I was supposed to do until the check cleared."

Instead of depositing it, Harp turned the check over to 10 On Your Side. We called Prime Communications. The number registered to a cell phone from Montreal Canada. The line was disconnected.

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association says potential shoppers must accept a position first and companies rarely pay until the work is complete.

The Department of Consumer Affairs advises never accept payment for more than the transaction amount, never deposit a check from a company asking you to wire back or return the money and if possible, use a check from local bank.

Ten On Your Side has preached it many times, now Harp knows the saying by heart.

"I figured I'd just send you an email. You might want to reiterate, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is, because it is."

Related Link: Mystery Shopping Providers Association