Business ProfileforWal-Mart Mystery Shoppers

The BBB has received reports of a Wal-Mart Mystery Shopper scam in which people receive letters in the mail, accompanied by checks written for large sums of money, inviting them to become paid mystery shoppers for "Wal-Mart." Consumers report that these checks are fake and some victims report losing thousands of dollars to the scammers.

Scams involving fake checks typically require the victim to deposit a check into their bank account then wire money back to the scammers. While the check may initially be deposited into the victim's bank account-leading to a false sense of security-the fake check will ultimately be discovered within a couple weeks and the bank will take the funds out of the account. The victim of the scam is out whatever money they sent to the scammers and will be responsible for paying the bank back if their account is overdrawn.

Other names being used include "Wal-Mart Mystery Shoppers," "America Consumer Research," "Nationwide Marketing Research," "North America Marketing Research," and "North America Mystery Shoppers, Inc." Wal-Mart is not associated with these solicitations and is not offering a mystery shopping opportunity.

Fake check scam solicitations received through the U.S. mail are considered mail fraud, a criminal offense under federal law. The United States Postal Inspection Service accepts and processes complaints concerning mail fraud. The BBB encourages you to contact the Postal Inspector if you have received a fake check scam solicitation in the mail. Their contact information is as follows:

U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Criminal Investigations Service Center
ATTN: Mail Fraud
222 S. Riverside Plaza Ste. 1250
Chicago, IL 60606-6100
Phone: 1-877-876-2455
Website: www. postalinspectors.uspis.gov