I received a check for $2,966.32 and was told I was selected to be a mystery shopper. My first job was to evaluate money gram. I was supposed to deposit the check and wire $2,466.00 to Sweden. The check looks very real! Its written off of bank of America. I immediately knew it was a scam. It has the Canadian stamp on the envelope and no return address. I don't understand why no one seems to be investigating these people and how they're continuing to get away with this!!

ow are you doing today, we will like you to get updated and we are
confident to tell you that you are going to received the check this
week. But there is a little problem which we think you can handle with
level of maturity, There is an arrangement with a painter who is going
to paint the house for us before our arrival and i told my financial
secretary to send upfront check and send another check to the painter
in the process she made a mistake by sending you all the whole check
payment of $3285 instead of her to send you just $700 for the first 2
weeks payment and send the remaining to the painter, she sent just the
entrance key to the house to the painter only. The painter will
contact you when she want to come over to get started with her task,
So i want you to make sure you do get started with the cleaning same
day she contact you, i will be needing your trust and favor because if
we recall the check is going to cost us extra and unnecessary money
and delay us, So now you are going to received a check of ($3285), you
will just take out $700 and extra $50 for your running around and send
the remaining  ($2,535) to the painter Via Western Union, I will
furnish you with the painter's name and address where you will be
sending the money to as soon as you receive the check. We just  need
to be sure you are honest and trustworthy ,I will be looking forward
to hear from you.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEND ME A MESSAGE BACK:

Received phone call. Did not answer.

My mother received the same letter and she knew it was a scam the moment she saw the envelope. The address label looked like a sticky note, there was no return address and she had not entered any contest to win anything! Please be aware of scams like this. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

We just received the same check in the amount of $3,980.00... and also instructed to keep this secret ... check looks soo real!

These sweepstakes scams come in 2 flavors -

This one where they send you a counterfeit check and instruct you to wire most of it back - it bounces after you wire the money back

Giving The Bounce To Counterfeit Check Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/articles/naps29.pdf


The other is you won - but you have to pay money to receive your winnings.  - they tell you wire money to a 3rd person

Prize Offers: You Don?t Have to Pay to Play!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel17.shtm

i got the same letter and i depostied the check in my account and it did came back . i'm glad i didn't send any money to JOHN MORRIS  . be carfull please . these scams going every where like crazy. no free  money!!!!1

I received this same letter.  Any instructions to pay anything through a Western Union office is a fraud.
The check is very convincing looking except the routing transit number 071923022 is for Bank of America rather than the bank on the check.  Also, the misspelled name "Battie Creek".  Lastly, the caution to keep this winning notification "confidential until your claim has been processed.....to avoid double claiming". If someone ask you to keep a secret, that is a clue.

Glad I Googled the phone number....got an authentic looking check from LaSalle National Bank, with Flex-n-Gate Battie (should be spelled Battle so knew this was fishy) Creek, Battle Creek, MI.  I have heard of this scam but didn't realize how authentic the check looks!  Please beware!!  Also, if you read the letter carefully, there are grammar and punctuation errors which is a dead giveaway.  Plus, the "label" on the envelope with my name and address was put on sideways and the stamp was from Canada.  Others beware!!  Don't cash this check!

i recieved the same letter and i am an elder person. I did not know it was  a fraud so i contacted john morris and he told me to send 3000 dollors to tina brown in london so i did that. now i am in debt. I have no idea what to do. I am a very hard working prson who has never done anyhting wrong with anyone and i don't why someone did this to me. i dont know even i can do anything. it is stilla crime so the police should take action.

just got same letter 9/13/10 TAMPA GREEN CONSULTANTS 2722 W.Waters Ave with warning keep confidential until after claim has been awarded to you. My check is from Costco Wholesale, Bank of America. But very real looking check so must be very carefull. me and my wife are taking the letter and check to the bank to see if there is any possible way to try some laegle action. Try to see if bank or any law enforcment might be interested in following up on the info that we can provide for them. Just tired of lazy no good rotten people taking advantage of honest hardworking people .or at least trying.Read earlier it was sent to elderly person you never know how many times this has worked for them scumbags.   BE VERY CAREFULL EVERYBODY and good luck in everything else.

Received exactly the same compensation/awards notification letter with enclosed check in the amount of $3,980.00, also Candian postage stamp.  Was sent to an elderly friend.  Checked with BBB regarding Best Mark Research Marketing Group - rating is "F".  My friend was a bit gullible and wanted to believe the scam was real.  Please be careful.

I received the same letter.  I did call and told the man that the computer says it is a scam.  He hung up immediately.  I called back and no answer.

Just got same letter from Best Mark Reserch Marketing Group out ot 2722 W. Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33614 phone 1-416-887-3024 for #3,980.00.  Sure it was a scam and you guys helped confirm. Thanks DRJ

Got the same letter plain white envelope with canda stamp with a check for 3980.00 to pay for taxes on a claim for 125,000USD ( balance of 121,020.00) Letter was from Tampa Green Consultants in FL and the check from NM

claim agent is John morris a  foreigner # 1- 647-860-4641 (can call to harass)
tax agent was Samantha williams at 220 main ST. UK london Sw129132

Other people that get this letter this is a scam do not cash the check or anything or you will be in dept

Received same final compensation/awards notification letter from Best Mark Research Marketing Group, 2722 W. Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33614. Wondered whether this is even a legit address so I googled it and it showed a strip mall. This address belongs to an Allstate Insurance Company. Laughed so hard when letter stated that they have made many unsuccessful attempts to contact me and this is the first letter of its kind reaching me. And they sent an authentic looking check to pay the taxes on my winnings from KWH Pipe [California] 2003 Corp, 5225 Canyon Crest Dr., Bldg 300, Ste 353, Riverside, CA 92507. This business name is legit for a business operating in Algonquin, IL. I can't really trace the address other than it looks like a type of an industrial park or shopping area. Cannot determine if this bldg 300 or suite number really exist. Smells like a fish, it is a fish!!!!!

Same letter and check this is from Best Mark Reaserch Marketing Group
TAMPA FL.  Final compensation award notification. Aslo the Check is from Advance Audio Visual Sale, Inc.

Authenic looking check from ACCC Insurance Company and Amegy Bank of Texas both out of Houston, Texas. White Business Envelope - Canadian stamp - Printed Label.  Letter head marked TAMPA GREEN CONSULTANTS final compensation/awards notification  representing J.C.Penny, Walgreen's Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Kmart, Best Buy.  DO NOT CASH CHECK THROUGH WESTERN UNIONS AS DIRECTED - THIS IS A SCAM!

Just received the Final Compensation / Awards Notification Letter from Tampa Green Consultants. I knew this was a scam when I opened the letter. Plain white envelope with a Canada stamp on the front. The letter head is from micro soft word and they also send a very authentic looking check.
If it's to good to be true it probably is.