I received a letter stating the same scam for secret shopper. i husband said look it up and I did and All I found was this 289-892-3484 in Ontario. Administrative office in Ny on the letter but on the check in
Philadelphia ha what a scam

f****n lyers the cops are soon getting yall

Thanks everyone...same scam...I missed it thanks to all of you!!!!
Cornwall performance group...check is Cornwall performance research $ $1,396.00 Dodged a bullet on this one!!!

The scammers are still working this one. I work for a check cashing company and whoever has this check stock is still using it - just changing the company name. Much of the other info remains the same - Bank of New York Mellon, Philadelphia PA - company address 399 Market St. Philadelphia -

That's how I came here - we verify every large unknown check before we cash it. Google is your friend. There was no phone listing for the company (Exchange Research Group) but the "399 Market" triggered a hit on this website.

If we learn that the check is fraudulent we keep the check.  If the customer gets pissy about it we say "OK, we'll return it to you. In the presence of a police officer."

lol i got the same thing,  he sure likes to keep his last names and change the first..  i got Ray Goldberg, and call Frank Singleton, and Rachel Howard...  What a joke.   I wonder how many hopeful clients he actually got with this.

Got the same letter different name on check and different name on letter (western performance group & western research group) adress 399 market st Philadelphia, PA 19106. Looks legit but smells funky.

1. Your total .........................................$ 350.00
2. Survey funds to be transferred.........$ 900.00 + $ 76.00 send fees
3. Funds needed for shoping................$ 70
                             Total........................$ 1,396

Was about to go cash !! But research and sounds like a SCAMM!!!!

The check is bad but good enough to get past the teller and be deposited into your account. You withdraw $cash and Western Union it to the scammer. The scammer will have your $cash in short hours but it will take a few days for the bank to find out the check is bad. You will owe the bank the amount you wired the scammer and may be prosecuted for money laundering or passing a bad check. The scam works on the time difference between a wire transfer (hours) and a check deposit (days). Don't do it.

NEVER use Western Union for anything other than sending money to family or friends. If you are asked to use it for any other reason, it is a 100% scam. To read more-
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/view.php?pg=fw_western_union

I received a letter along with a check from Langstaff Research Group,a different company name then the rest of you got,my check was in the amount of $1396.00,I was to call a Mark Singleton or a Susan Howard,the account managers to activate the check,I was to go to Western Union office and have them send in the amount of $976.00 to one of these person,I then was to go to anyone of 10 stores they gave me and spend $70.00,I was ten to fax the receipts along with my evaluation report to a 1-716-262-9099,I then was allowed to keep $350.00 out of the fees giving to me,I have received a number of these in the past,I did deposit the check when I got the first scam and once my bank found that the check was no good they called me in and closed my account which I had with them for over 6 years,they told me that they get so many of these bad checks along with money orders that they do not even take any chances anymore and even if you are innocent victim them will close your account so beware my friends,let this be a lesson to each and everyone of you

I got a letter from Rufus Goldberg, (Director of Operations). The name of the company is LANGSTAFF RESEARCH GROUP. Here is the breakdown of the check that I received...

My Salary:$350.00
Survey funds to be transferred:$976.00
Funds needed for shopping:$70.00
   Total of check:$1,396.00

The phone numbers on the Letter are: Phone:1-289-892-4061 Fax:1-716-262-9099
I am supposed to call 1-289-892-4061 and ask for Mark Singleton or Susan Howard to activate the check. the check is drawn on The Bank of New York Mellon, Philadelphia, PA,

I just received a letter in the mail today. The name of the company is Langstaff Research Group. They sent me a check for $1,396.00 wanting me to transfer $976.00, pay me $350, and shop for $70 and I could keep the items I purchased with the $70.. SCAM!!!

I just got this letter randomly,thru the mail with a check of the amount of 1,983.00
Which i thought perfect timing for the holidays, i called to verify if its official
Apperantly not,doesnt give me a web site scam address all this for nothing! False hopes and dreams
Just not ok we have lives that people shouldnt corrupt! Get a real web site for a proper job then grt a hold of me with official documents. Waste of time

The number that was on the letter I recieved was 289-892-4036 same area code and the same scam.

I, also recieved a check for 1,936.00, from Middlefield Performance Research. I was directed to send 2 transfer to an account manager through western union, and spend 70.00 at certain stores,and keep 350.00 for myself. This is a scam. I myself have reported this to the BBB. This scam was reported on Dateline.

BELLAMY RESEARCH GROUP IS WHAT THEY ARE CALLING THEM SELVES.
HE IS NOW GOING BY THE NAME RAYSON GOLDBERG. WHO FOR SOME REASONS DOESN'T EXIST.
HOW CAN I GOGGLE ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE NAMES AN THE PLACE WERE IT CAME FROM. SO THE RUN DOWN.
           
                   THE CREW
  BELLAMY RESEARCH GROUP (BRG)
RAYSON GOLDBERG( Director of operations)
Joshua Sams(Area Manager)
Mark Singleton or Susan Howard(account managers)
#1-647-686-6347
CHECK ADDRESS IS 399 Market St. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

Okay then at least i'm not the only one that had happened 2 me also!!! I have gotten a letter in the mail yesterday from " BayShore Performance Research along with a check for$1,936.00 with my name on it and so I did a research on them along with the check and came out with no information on this company or even on the check!!! All I have to say is " That was a close one"!!! Thanks but no thanks 2 all you scammer  who thinks that they can go ahead and scam on the rest of us !!!!

I received a check & letter today in the mail from Bayshore Research Group (on the letter), Bayshore performance marketing (on the check) stating pretty much the same thing as above.  Check was for 1936.00, I was to western union $1,516.00 to a Henry Dunn in Madrid, Spain, spend $70 at a store of my choice (and keep the products) and the last $350.00 was for me to keep.
When I called to ask questions & to activate the check, the number is in Canada (289) area code, she was very adamant that I deposit the check into my personal account and not just cash the check. Thought that was kind of funny.
I tried looking up both companies on the internet and can't find anything so I typed in the address and found this. So sad that there are so many shady people out there :/
The number I called was 289-892-3029 and the fax is 716-332-3421, the bank on the check is listed as The Bank Of New York Mellon out of Philadephia (yes that is how it's is spelled) PA

I received a check in the amount of $1,936.00 from Norfinch Performance Research, Administrative Office, 399 Market St. Philadelphia Pa 19106. The letter stated we were selected as a secret/mystery shopper, to cash the check and wire $1568 to two different people, spend $70 at a variety of stores and to keep $350.00 as my payment. The signature on the check was printed, so I couldn't make out the name.  I googled the "Norfinch Performance Research" in Philadelphia, but could not find a company under that name. I think this maybe a scam, so I am shredding this check.

I MEAN.... THEY JUST GOT US!!!! WHAT DO WE DO ????

they just got u !!!! THE HARSHAW GROUP !!! WHAT DO I DO???

I DID NOT RECEIVE A "CALL" (PER SAY) BUT I DID RECEIVE A CHECK. I TOO, HAVING TROUBLE CONTACTING THE COMPANY TO VERIFY IF THE CHECK IS ANY GOOD OR NOT. THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO CONTINIOUSLY HAPPEN. I HAVE ONLY ASKED AROUND ABOUT THIS IDEA THROUGH SURVEYS. THEY SEEM TOO TARGET PEOPLE ONTHE INTERNET AND THE GOVERNMENT ISN"T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THERE JURISDICTION.

Didnt get a call but the letter stated that same thing. My check is for 1993$. Same instructions for secret shopper proticol. No matching info on the corrispondence. All of it is pretty much cosmedic. A shallow scam for people who dont pay attention to detail n just see some free money comin their way:-C! Terrible n shame on the scammer who has obviously neen doing good for a long time off this scam.

Got a similar letter from Hopewell Marketing Research and a check for $1993.00. Smelled scam right away.

i am reporting this company due to a check tht was sent to me. i went to cash it n was tld it was fake n i wouldve went to jail for it.

I also recieved a letter in the mail with a check saying the same thing. They wanted me to call them to activate the check before i cashed it. Then western union 1,573.00 to them and keep 350, and shop with 70 dollars at a selected store.

I received an email with a check for a secret shopper job.

We received a check in the amount of $1,988.00 from Crestview Performance Research 399 Market St. Philadelphia Pa 19106. The letter stated we were selected as a secret/mystery shopper, to cash the check and wire $1568 to Irene Harshaw, spend $70 at a variety of stores and to keep $350.00 as our payment. The letter was signed by Rex Goldberg out of 140 west 56th St New York Ny 10019. I looked up the NY address and it came back to a condo complex. I check the phone number and it came back to canada and was listed in several previous scams. I google the "Crestview Marketing Research" in Philadelphia, but could only find a company by that name in Florida.

My fiance DID sign up to be a secret shopper, but this was too good to be true. We did NOT cash the check, called the Better Business Bureau and reported it to the police.

my letter is from FREEDOM MARKETING RESEARCH. the check FREEDOM PERFORMANCE RESEARCH.  the bank is Citibank all in new york the stamp was from canada.  it was suppose to be a secret shopper job.  I use to work for Hardees and they did have secret shoppers.  still not sure what to think.  going to have my bank check on the banking info and if i decide to go ahead i will wait for the check to completely clear my bank before i proceed to "evaluate" Western Union and send a big chunk of money to someone in new york.  by the way i did not receive a phone call from them i received a letter and check they said it was because of a previous survey by their consumer survey specialist

I probably received the same letter as you, Amanda. I'll be calling CitiBank tomorrow, since that's where the check looks like it's from.  
I really could have used that money. Oh well.

I recieved a letter in the mail and a check for a secret shopper job. I can't find any information on the company online anywhere so I'm assuming that this is a scam. Any one else got anything from Freedom Marketing Research?