Go to your bank and take them the envelope if you still have it and the paperwork it came with. If you cashed it and spent the money or sent it, you will then be responsible for lost funds. If the bank is as good as mine Wells Fargo they were quick to catch it, but I also told then how I got it before I even attempted to cash it. I just got another one from Alven Market Research.

I received 2checks wich r fraud

Sorry...that last part is supposed to say, PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE investigate anything that looks suspicious to you.  Especially if it comes in the mail, with no return address, has a large check enclosed, and is for a Mystery Shopper!

WOW!!!  I just received the same letter yesterday, September 26, 2011, from Alven Market Research with a check inclosed for $1990.00.  I was to go to Walmart, Kmart, Home Depot, Sears, JC Penny or BestBuy and spend $100 on any item and report it to them so they can compare the product and prices with other retail outlets.  Then I was to go to Western Union and wire $1390.00 to either Jeanette Hawley (Barcelona, Spain) or Bill Pecora (Valencia, Spain).  They even included $100 for the service fee charged by Western Union.  I was to keep $400 which they called "Probationary Training Pay".  I knew this was a SCAM because it was post marked and stamped from Canada with NO return address.  Also, my friend fell for this same SCAM about six months ago, and he's still trying to play catch-up with his bank.  He deposited a check for a little over $4,000 and wired the money and the checked bounced.  Listen people, I know times are hard, but PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE anything that looks suspicious to you.  Especially if it comes in the mail, with no return address, has a large check enclosed, and is for a Mystery Shopper!

I received the same "unbeleivable" offer as several persons above. A business size envelope with a very real looking check for the amount of $1990. Alven Market Research wants me to buy a $100 item from  Walmart, Kmart, BestBuy or Home Depot, then evaluate my shopping experience. On the survey, one of the questions was: 'were the merchandize displayed properly?' Now, I am not a Rhodes scholar, but it struck me as very odd that a reputable corporation would allow such incorrect grammer and spelling to be used on their official forms. I was also leary regarding a money transfer of $1390 to Spain (Jennifer Prince in Barcelona or Brandon Barnett in Valencia).
My first thought was 'if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is'. With the economy the way it is, I am sure there are many desperate people taken in by these horrible excuses for human beings. Shame on them, and I hope they are caught and hung by their thumbs.

omg this just happened to me not sure what to do. I deposit the check thinking I was suppose to be a mystery shopper what not and how do I report it???

I too just received a letter from Alven Market Research stating th at I was chosen to be a secret customer service evaluator. The scenario is almost exactly the same as yours. The check was for$1,975.00, $400 was my probationary training pay, $100 to purchase any item of my choosing from a list of stores ( k-mart  wal-mart, best buy , jc penney ) and then evaluate the store.$1,375.00 was to be wired to either of two persons in Barcelona Spain, or Valencia Spain they were also generous enough to include the $100.00 Western Union processing fee! I called one of the phone numbers and spoke to one of their "agents" who then instructed me to "deposit the check into my bank acct. and contact them when the assignment was completed. "Fortunately for me I had noticed that postmark was Canadian, the letter was written in Milwaukee, and the bank was JP Morgan Chase  in NY, and there was no return address. I went to a check cashing place , and thank goodness the person knew me, and immediately she told me that the check was no good ,as she'd seen several of those bogus checks recently and not to try to cash it . I also showed the check and the paperwork to a policewoman to inform them of the scam as well. Let as many people as possible know about that scam so the won't fall prey to it. Really fortunate I wasn't arrested for trying to cash a phony check.

I got the same scam as all you guys, they are still doing it. I fell for it and took it to my back, and thankfully my bank people are smart enough to recognize BS when they see it. They checked the routing # and it did not come up in the system as being a real account. My check was for $1,975.00, the postmark was from Canada, as was the stamp. No return address. BB&T was supposedly the bank the check was drawn off of. The company was Alven Market Research, and they wanted me to be a Customer Service Evaluator; spend 100 at Walmart, K-mart, B est Buy, ect... and send 1,375.00 via Western Union to either David Almaras in Barcelona, Spain or Yaser Alsoufi in Valencia, Spain. I would get 400.00 for my probationary training pay. The 1-866-339-2885 # I was given was supposed to be a "FAX" # The two telephone #s were 1-514-619-8514 and 1-315-403-8756. I tried the first phone # and it was bogus, I called the second # and a guy with a VERY thick accent on a bad connection answered with a simple "Hello" and I asked him who I had just called and he began to stumble in his answer, I then asked if this was "Alven Market Research, and he said "YES, we sent letter for mystery shopper job" his English was very bad, obviously not his primary language. He then said,"Can I put you on hold for a moment" I said sure. He finally came back 10 minutes later and said Hello, and the line went dead...and for about 15 minutes after that my cell phone would not work at all!!! I was like WTF?!

The address on the letter is P.O. Box 1991 Milwaukee, WI 53201

DON"T BE TAKEN IN BY THIS SCAM!!!

hung up on my answering machine.

I have a check just like yours. It got sent to me priority mail. They paid 4.75 just to send me a check that will bounce? I just can't believe this is a scam but I think I should just walk into Chase and ask them to cash it. They should cash it even if I don't have an account with them cause it's drawn on their bank right? I'm not going to be putting it in my other bank since I have seen your message and have it bounce and have to pay a fee. Chase should be able to clear this check and just give me the cash.

Same scam.  My check was $2960 with $2690 WU to Adam Brighton in London.  The check was drawn on Chase Bank in Houston from a company called Selleck Chemicals LLC.  Bogus account (I took it to Chase and they said they have hundreds of these and many were actually deposited and returned, costing the victim thousands of dollars).  I looked up the company on the web.  Looks legit but when you call the numbers listed on the home page, some dude answers "hello".  Not very business like is it.

My response was to an ad in the want ads in the Houston Chronicle under Customer Service.  Took about a month for Peter Huber to reply.  The name on the want ad was Scott Harper.

Watch out.  Hope everyone does their research.

I too was contacted by Andrew Perel, sent a check for 3250 of which I was told 200 would be mine after transferring 3050 to England.  I did deposit the Phoney bank of America Check which did BOUNCE.  Fortunately, I refused to do anything with them until I knew it cleared.  What they are counting on is that you will deposit the check, send the 3050 to England before the check comes out bad, and walaa, your are out 3050 plus the fee for the bounced check.  What makes it even worse is that he tells you to send them a certified check from your bank for 10 bucks and a photo ID so you can be "Official"  What they really want the check for is your bank ROUTING ID AND ACCOUNT so the can drain you of every penney you have.  THIS IS A TOTAL SCAM!!!   STAY AWAY!!!!

surveys@prescorps.com

I haven't received a letter from that same exact number, but I got a check in the mail for $3,250. The company Prescorps Inc, said I was supposed to conducted a survey at a Western Union. Take $300 for my pay and wire the rest to a dude in London. This is so scandalous, where's the cyber police? Yes, and this website is wonderful for the people who are naive and need some reassurance on not being a fool.

SO WHAT EVER HAPPENED. DID YOU GET IN TROUBLE, DID THE CHACK NOT CLEAR, OR WHAT?

Look out for ckecks from GLOBAL COMMISSION PAYMENTS !The check # is the same as the route #. My letter had a address of Annapolis,MD.but the zip code is 46207.Letter had NO return address,but  had a Canada 1.00 stamp

So did anyone deposit the check? Did it clear? Is this for real?

I also recieved a check for the amount of 4,980 and it was an fraud I carried it to the bank and they told me. Mines came from Wrangled Apparel Corp. I truly think something need to be done about these people. I had to call Susan Peterson or Richard Young.

WHEN I PHONED THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE INSTRUCTION PAPER I WAS CONCERNED THAT I WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MONEYS I WAS TO WESTERN UNION TO SOMEONE IN NEW YORK NEW YORK,  I ASKED WHAT WOULD I RECEIVE THAT WOULD NOT HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MONEY IF IT WAS NOT RECEIVED OR PICKED UP BY SAID PERSON.  I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY BUT MOST LIKELY MY NEXT ASSIGNMENT WOULD BE TO GO BACK TO WESTERN UNION AND RETREIVE THE MONEY AND SEE WHAT TYPE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE I WOULD GET.  ALSO I WOULD BE PAID $400.00 PER WEEK AFTER 3 MONTHE $480.00 PER WEEK .  NOT SURE IF THAT INCLUDED THE MONEY TO SHOP .  HELL IT SOUND LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME.

DID THAT MEAN THAT YOU CASHED THE CHECK, AND ALKSO RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $50,000 ALSO AND NOTHING HAPPENED TO YOU?  I HAVE BEEN OFFERED A JOB WHICH IS EASY AND SOUNDS INTERESTI.NG

I RECEIVED A LETTER AS WELL AND A CHECK FOR 3,178.00 AND A OFFER AS A MYSTERY SHOPPER TOO..AND I FELL FOR IT!! I PLANNED ON CASHING THE CHECK UNTIL I READ EVERYONE'S STORIES..THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME THE HUMILIATION AND EMBARASSMENT OF GOING TO CASH THIS FAKE CHECK!!! BUT I PLANNED ON USING THE MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS....THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR THIS SCAM!!!

I almost fell for this but figured since I'm looking for a job that this would be something interested in doing now I have the check in my account and waiting for it to clear after reading all these posts I hope it doesn't. Today I went to the police station and asked who do I talk to about money laundring and they said I'm on my own discretion I guess they didn't want to catch the guy. Ill be back on Tuesday to see what's up.

Thank you guys, you saved me a lot of expense and trouble.  I received the same letter from Wrangler Apparel Corp. for $2,670.00.  I am supposed to spend the money at Walmart, K-Mart, Homedepot, Sears, JCPenny and Best Buy. This is supposed to be a test for a Mystery Shopper job.  The first thing my husband said is check the phone no. and the company, and sure enough it is a scam.  That's weird because the Wrangler Apparel appears to be a legitimate.  Once again Thanks.  By the way the stamp is from Canada and I'm to send $1,990.00 to a Donna Davis and George Garson at Western Union in New York.

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I received a letter today, unsolicited and with a check for $2678.00, telling the same senario to go shop a Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Sears, JC Penny or Best Buy and spend $100 to become a secret shopper and then go to Western Union and transfer funds (as training) to Amy Shirley in New York and Amandeu Canto in London, New York. I wasn't sure what to think until I read your comments.

My letter says that it cam from NAC Market Research @ 3900 Old Intl Airport Rd., Anchorage, AK 99502-1009

The return address is : T.T.G & G.A.R
                       P.O. Box 5623
                       Station B
                       Bellvil. CA

And the date on the letter and check are a month old.

Thanks for the heads up and I hpoe this helps someone else.

I got exactly the same thing.  A check for $2990.56 with the requirement that I spend $100 at WalMart, Home Depot K-Mart etc.  Then I was to send via Western Union $2,290.56 to either a Elvira Esquirel in New York or Eddie Gray in London.  They also had the wrong City and State but the right Zip code.  I agree with ssearcy68 that these jerks should be put in a dark cell and throw away the key.

YES WE RECIEVED THE SAME TYPE OF CHECK FOR THE SUM OF 2990.56 FROM A CO. CALLED M.A. BONGIOVANNI AGENCY I LOOKED THEM UP ON THE NET AND THEY ARE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN NEW YORK,....TOLD US TO SPEND $100.00 AT WALMART,HOME DEPOT ECT. THEN SEND THE REST TO SOMEONE IN LONDON THE THING THAT BUGGED ME THE MOST WAS THEY HAD THE RIGHT ZIP CODE BUT THE WRONG CITY AND STATE ON OUR ADDRESS AND ALSO LIKE THE OTHERS THE POST MARK IS CANADA AND A SYRACUSE ,NY RETURN IT STATED THAT WE SHOULD HURRY IT DEPENEDED ON IT?? WELL IM SURE GLAD IM JUST A LITTLE PARRANOID THANK YOU GUYS FOR POSTING YOUR STORIES I HOPE MINE ALSO HELPS SOMEONE. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE THROWN IN A DARK HOLE AND FORGOT FOR THIS CRAP.

Gwen,
this is definitely a scam. Someone else got the same letter, the address on it is a different business in Minnesota. You should let the Trane company know about this letter also.

Also the envelope has a post mark from Canada and a return address from Texas.......DUH!

I just got a check in the mail today for $3738.00.  I am to go and shop at Wal-Mart, spend $100, check out the store, Probationary Training Day $500, Funds for Transaction at Western Union $2938.00, Service charge for WU $200.00.  The check says it is from Trane (the a/c people) and that it is processed and released by: Pitney Bowes Marketing Solutions.  One signature and there is space for 2 signatures.  I was very suspicious, taking check and letter and envelope to bank.  The phone numbers are fake.

I received the same letter myself.  Although highly suspicious I called and spoke with a Peter who had a rather thick accent that was not southern at all.  He advised me to call back so that they could finish processing my grant award which totalled $50,000.  What did you learn?  Thanks