Jul 24, 2009 10:26 pm US/Central
'Mystery Shopper' Scam Victim Spends Night In Jail
(WCCO)
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"I checked my e-mail and mystery shopper was in the junk e-mail," said scam victim Kelly McGhee. (File)
CBS
A Brooklyn Center woman signed up to be a "mystery shopper" and ended up spending a night in jail after trying to cash a check for the shopping.
Kelly McGhee, 28, was looking for work and found what seemed like a great offer.
"I checked my e-mail and mystery shopper was in the junk e-mail," said scam victim Kelly McGhee.
It was a chance to be paid as a mystery shopper. She responded and a few days later received a check in the mail for about $2,700, far more than her commission.
"I was supposed to get paid 300 dollars or something out of it. Then the rest, I thought maybe they wanted me to buy something huge," said McGhee.
McGhee went to the bank to cash the check. Then the police showed up and she couldn't understand why she was under arrest.
Bremer Bank said that if they suspect a check is fraudulent, they will contact the police.
McGhee spent a night in jail before she could return home to her three kids.
It seemed the check was a fraud, and subsequent e-mails explained that McGhee was to take her cut, then wire the remainder back to someone in Africa. The Better Business Bureau said this is a classic case.
"The checks are not good. They are scams and so the victim is really taken and oftentimes has their own bank account debited for the amount of the check," said Better Business Bureau President and CEO Dana Badgerow.
McGhee was embarrassed once she knew she was fooled.
"I wasn't thinking about scam at all, but afterwards it's kind of hard for me to admit that I have been scammed," McGhee said.
Brooklyn Center Police said that they are still investigating and have not determined yet whether McGhee will be charged.
They warned that there are many internet scams that involve fraudulent checks, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The Better Business Bureau said there are legitimate mystery shopper companies.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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