Imagine receiving an official looking, watermarked check drafted against the Wells Fargo bank in the amount of $3,980.00 payable to me.  I was to carry out specific instructions for disbursements of said check under the probationary terms of my alleged employment as a mystery shopper. The instructions for disbursement of funds are as follows:

1.  Two hours probation training pay: $130.00

2.  Required funds to be sent Western Union: $3350.00

3.  Service Charge of Western Union: $100.00

4.  Funds for shopping;  $400.00

My first assignment was to visit one the stores listed in my area to evaluate various conditions; and, also a Western Union or Money Gram service.  The alleged employer  figured that the assignment would only take me two hours to complete, rate of pay @$65/hr; the Western Union transaction was a big test; and, spend $100 at one of the listed stores.  Wow, I thought not bad for two hours of work netting $130.00 pay plus $100.00 in merchandise I get to keep.

Well, smelling like this is too easy to be true, so I did the research and found out that it's a SCAM according to the Council of American Survey Research Organizations, which has instructed to bring the mailer to the local post office for fraud filing.  Watch out for this company's mailer:

Weststar Shoppers Information Co.

1220 Shepard Ave., E Street, Suite 505

Toronto, M2K 2S5

Members of American Survey Research Org.

170 North County Rd., Suite 1607

Port Jefferson, NY  11777