I received a letter yesterday with a check for $1379.20 to secret shop Money Gram and then shop Home Depot or Walmart, etc. same as the rest of you.  I have to admit the check looked real, but decided to do my due diligence.  The company name was IDI Distributors, Inc. in Minnesota, this checked out as real, but the type of business they were did not match up with being part of any secret shopper program.   Said was Co-Sponsored by ODU Research Foundation, which again is a real business, but not secret shopper.  Decided to send the check to IDI so they could be aware of it. I've done Secret Shopping before and none have ever paid anything like this and all required that you file an application  with them for tax purposes.

This is horrible to so to someone.

My daughter signed up for this service and unfortunately deposited the check.  I wish I would have gone on here to do some research first.

omg i totally did not notice all this comments i i cash a check like this and im totally taking this to court

I agree I got this check in the mail my idiot husband was so excited I told him it was fake he put it in my account anyways then told me about it. I told him I did it when really I just waited for it to clear then of course when it didn't I had to say I told you so. No employer especially without meeting you background checks and credit checks would give you that kind of money for you to just give back to them.

No legitimate employer is going to overpay you and then request you send money back.  You are all idiots.

Wow this is so rediculious! I just got scammed also. Has anyone seen a result from filong a police report ?

I didn't receive a call, but the phone number is on the letter received.  Glad I decided to look it up online first.  It was the same scenario as with everyone else.  I am going to file with my bank.  Thanks for the suggestion.

the number that called me was 289-892-5328. i activated my check, thankfully my bank put a hold on  it... three days later they informed me it was a scam... thank the lord that my bank caught it. I am a single mother and was only trying to find legitimate work that would allow me to not pay day care! The people doing this need to be punched in there face, and i tell you what, i would love to be the one to do it! Its heartless!!!!! I cant believe some ppl out there! UGH!!!!!! im so upset!

I applied online, got a chk for1394.40 into my acct a few days later the chk did not clear...please don't fall for this scam. its what they call"check scam" i was so excited about the possibilities for this line of work and ended up crying! :(...... i have on disability due to an injury at home and was trying to put food on the table for my family and ended up -1500.00 in my acct due to these a***oles. DO NOT do this

got that acceptance letter for the secret shopper thing and i was actually trying to cash it yesterday. i was not bout to put it in my banck but im glad i read these and many other reviews for this even on other websites. was supposed to wire 955 to Fred Mackenna in atlanta georga. and spend 53.70 at walmart or others.  Even the guy i called to "activate" the check seemed legit he explained everything to me, that it was a part time job and that it was two assigments per week. funny thig is when i looked through the web couldnt find any thing for that company. thats bull hat they take advantage of people that need money to pay their bill and rent all these people should go to jail.

2898924695 this is the# I was given to activate the check for 1370.50. I was told to keep $300.00 as my salary&shop with $54 at WalMart or KMart. Send the money by Western Union to Madrid, Spain.

Can u please let us know the outcome?

I received the check for $1396.50 and was told to call 289 892 5328.  I called to activate my check.  I got a phone mail message but could not leave a message because the box was full.  Later  this afternoon, I received a call from Canada.  They left a message to call about a home shopper position.  I did not call back and was happy I didn't when I checked this site out.  Thanks for your help!

Giving The Bounce To Counterfeit Check Scams

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/articles/naps29.pdf

I too got a check requesting the same types of tasks be completed....I took the check to my bank and had them file a fraud case. I also called the bank out of NYC which the check was written on and notified them and got them copies of the information...

Just an FYI....this is a scam! Call the bank the check is written on and take the check to your local PD if you do not have a bank account...if you have a bank account ask them to file a fraud case for you...this will insure these scammers cant use any of the information they might already have on you for some other purpose...remember we ALL recieved these letters in the mail so at the very least they have your name and address.

We got a check today for 1398.00.

I just got a check today for 1398.00. Same format as everyone else who said they got scammed.... send a wire transfer to western union and go shopping to make small purchase at a participating retail store and keep the goods.

Has anyone ever tried to cash the check from the bank that the check is drawn from? It sounds like 68379666 is depositing the check into their own account. I think I might take it to BB&T and see if it clears. Curious if that has a different outcome.

Well i too received a letter, however I received one from another company first and I did find it online and  it seemed legit. So.........    I did it. It all went pretty good until I received this second letter from Lambert and Associates and when I called my bank I found out that the first check was a fraud and my account was now some $2400.00 in the RED.  OMG!!!!!! I'm a single mom and barely make ends meet as it is. Now I don't know what I'm gonna do. I reported it to the local PD but unfortunatly they told me that the bank was the victims and were gonna want their money. Christmas was gonna be slim anyway, but now it won't be at all. And as far as that goes, I have no idea how I'm going to be able to fix this so that I can keep paying my bills. All the checks I've written the past week have all bounced.

I forgot to add this...the phone # I was given is the same except the last 4 digits are different...1-289-892-2474

I didnt even sign up with these people...got a check for 1396.50. Same thing as most have posted here to do with the funds. Same address but different name.
Seems to be a huge scam! RED FLAGS went up. This is the 3rd check I have received like this.
The last one, we called the # listed and were put on the line with the Secret Service. They said that at this time of yr a lot of these appear. Because people need money for Christmas and believe what they get in the mail because it looks official and sounds good.
IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT USUALLY IS!!!!
WHY cant people be honest about things like this. I sure could use the 300.00 salary.
NOT DOING IT!
I dont have 1396.50 to pay back to someone for a fraudulent check I cash with good intentions.
STAY SMART PEOPLE! 'ALWAYS' CALL FIRST OR LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET!!! Dont get caught in a scam.

YEAH I JUST GOT ONE TODAY BUT I KNOW ABOUT SCAMS THEY SEND MY PSCHESOPHRENIC BROTHER THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME THEN HE THINKS  THERE REAL I HAVE TO SHOW HIM THERE NOT.HE HAS SENT MONEY EVERYWHERE UNTIL I FOUND OUT ITS REDICULIOS.

I recieved a check too for 1998.78 to deposit into my account so I could be a secret shopper and evaluate a western union by sending some of the money to Butler Cornwell in Madrid Spain.I too get to keep 350.00 for doing the job assinment. Plus I get to spend 58.70 at Home Depot or one of the other choices and keep the merchandise for myself. Real fishy! Anyway, I'm not doing it.Sounds like I'll end up paying all the money back for the stolen or fake check. We need to prosecute these people.

Account Manager TONY YAMADA  - #289-892-2657  Director of Operations is CYNTHIA SPENCER

I received a check for 1,997.50 to deposit - which was the first red flag  At the top of my check is from a company named Kellogg Career Service from COLUMBIA STATE BANK
Administrative Office
One Jericho Plaza, Suite 203
Jericho, NY 11716                  BEWARE PEOPLE THIS IS A SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A salary of 350.00 would be mine for doing 2 assignments.
            -First assignment would be to wire $1464 plus $126 in sending fees to THEODORE GRIGGS at Western Union to LONDON ENGLAND - which was the second red flag  
The second assignment was to spend 57.50 @ wal-mart home depot ect. and evaluate the experience.

Before calling i looked into the company on BBB which NOTHING pulled up. I then looked into the whole thing further and found MANY of the same circumstances but with different names.

I will be re-posting this and reporting for further actions

i recived a check too , when I applyed for mystery shoppers job, and i already deposited,, u mean im in trouble? im in the process of doing the assigment!

received a 1989.50 check to deposit into my account for mystery shopper.. didn't do it.. co. in ny. check is the bank of america in maryland, envelope is post marked canada.......hmmmmmm.