I had my nephew who is a wiz at computers do a search for me on this phone number and sure enough he found where someone else had report this number as a scam.  The company name on the letter is TEAM ABSTRACT Mystery Shopping & Consulting.  The name on the check is Singlesource Food Service Distribution, which makes no sense!  The check was in the amount of $3,880.00 of which I was to be paid $423.00, $40.00 to spend at Walmart, $25.00 to spend at Sears and then I was to send a wire from MoneyGram in the amount of $3,400.00 which included all fees.  The address is 2416 Bristol Rd., Suite B, Bensalem, PA 19020 on the letter but the envelope was plain white with a sticker on it with this address: P. O. Box 6547
MTL, QC H3V 1K9.  I did call the toll free number and the extension I needed was busy so it gave me an option to leave a message, which I did.  My message to them was: THIS IS A SCAM!!!!!!!!

Got one today...except, company is in Kansas City...but surprise, surprise...same two reps...Anywho.com and Whitepages.com say it's a cell....no legit business uses only cells...Company name on the check is Natixis Corporate Services - a real company, not anywhere near Kansas City...also, the bank on the check?  BOGUS>>>>>  Phone number is 647-219-6247  --any one want to have as much fun as I did?  I contacted the Toronto police department with the information...they are QUITE interested...

Ha Ha! Read the "Code of business conduct" (if yours even has one). Under #2. LEGAL COMPLIANCE, first line:

   "Disobeying the law, both in letter and in spirit, is the foundation of this code."

   At least in this one way they play fair and tell you up front that they breaking the law.  Register your complaint to stop these villains.

   https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

Please report this to the United States Postal Inspection mail fraud.

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

The more competent people who do nothing really just opens the door for these people to victimize the young, the elderly, and the disabled people in our country.  These are our neighbors, our grandmothers and our grandchildren.  End this now!  Please report any mail fraud.

I to just got one of these scam checks. The letter is from "Brightwood Grants,Co & the check is from "HH MedStar Health,Inc" in the amount of
2979.83 These people that do this kind of thing are the lowest... they know that some will take the chance on these checks and instead be taken to the cleaners !! Rule # 1- Do not trust... Rule # 2- If it looks to good to be true.... I'm with the one who said send them all to the FBI

My boyfriend received a letter today from Brightwood Grants, Co. The letter states this company is based in New York but he received the letter from Canada. They asked that the enclosed check for 2,997.77 be used to pay Federal and state liscencing fees. This is a bogus scam hoping you will send the money before finding out the check is fake. The check looks real but can easily be seen as a fake when you know what youre looking for. Toss in the trash!

We got a letter today with a check for $2997.77 from "Brightwood Grants".  No return address on envelope, but on the letterhead, there was a return address in Roslyn, NY. The address does exist.  The letter was sent from Canada. They say the check is for Federal and State processing fees, and that as soon as those have been paid, and their commission fee of $3000 has been deducted, we will get a certified check for $34,002.23 delivered to our home.  They claim the money is to start a small business, pay tuition fees, etc. Signed by a FRANCINE BUFFALO. Here goes that name again!  There is also a 404 area aode number for an "assigned agent".  Sure!  Will go straight to the FBI.

Mystery Shopper Same Scam  $3,395.00 check / J. Bob  Murdwin HR Director  Quantum Monitoring & Research Group - Agents  Anita Morales or Patrick Mills 1-450-675-4479 / Mailed from (post mark) Canada /  Check from AMERGYBANK of Texas  ( real Bank is Amegybank of Texas no R ) Signed by Ramil William Check also has Texas Easy-Serve on it ( which has a contract with the texas Attorney General to print (warrants I think) Ironic ain't it.

I received a check in the amount of $2910.00 from Astral Marketing, LLC 907 W. 104 St. Kansas City MO. 64114. The phone number the same as the one which was given to you;888-880-1795 and 647-428-6950 with a fax number 866-593-3644. Signed by J. Bob Murdwin, Human Resources. I knew something was wrong the letter and check was dated May 20, 2009 and I haven't applied for a job with MYSTERY SHOPPERS...

Hi.  I'm an attorney investigating this matter on behalf of a client.  If anyone actually wired this outfit money, I would appreciate any information regarding the transfer - specifically the account it was sent to, bank address, etc.  I may be reached at 312.827.1092.  Thank you.

I got this letter today from a company called Astral Marketing, LLC with an enclosed check for 2,910.00.  It's the same scam with a different dollar amount.  Anyways, I knew it smelled fishy, so I started to investigate online and found this blog.  Upon further examination, the address on the letter is actually a Volvo dealership in Kansas City, MO.  I just figured I'd add this entry to the blog to keep everyone aware.  The company on the check is listed as tyco/fire&Security/SimplexGrinnell.  The bank on the check is The Bank of New York Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA 15259 and is digitally signed Michele Kirse.  I hope this info is helpful in saving someone lots of money!

i recived a letter in the mail and the "company" was called
Place and Market
consumer research group the address under it is in new york the postal code on the envelope was from canada. i had searched the name of the director of human resources and this site came up.

so you are telling me that you lost all the money

did you ever got your money back

I just got a check in the mail but the name has now changed to BIZ Campus.  The check was in the amount of $2,845.00. I could not find the company in the yellow pages and what was so confusing was that the address was in NY, the number was in ON and the check was from Texas from C.W.A

Not a call, but the number is listed on the form I received today. The new business name, with the same number is BizCampus Consumer Research Group, operating out of a supposed NY, NY address, but the check is from 3220 Commander Dr. #102 Carrollton, TX 75006. Word to the wise, we all need money right now, but don't buy into this kind of scam, they have been around for years, it's not worth losing the last of your savings over some POS who think's they're smarter than the average bear.

Best Wishes to all!

I got a letter in the mail with a check for $4200. The company is in New York the check is from Omaha, NE from Road Warriors and the reverse look up of the number they have listed 1-888-314-3213 or 1-647-428-9023(by the way no one answered when I called) is in Toronto County. The company says Experian consumer research group which is a real company that doesn't mention anything about mystery shoppers. The company the check is from is an actual company as well but once again nothing to do with shopping. I couldn't find the website in the letter (since most companys have a website now) so I searched and searched online. I typed in the "Assigned Agent" names Sandra Baker and Tony Simmons together and here I am. I was linked to this page with the name Francine Buffalo as well which I didn't search for but is also in this letter I received as the Director, HR. Thank goodness for the internet and other who posted here. I hope more people look up letters like these before they try them. So here is the new "company scam info" Experian Consumer Research Group 418e W 15th New York, NY 10080 fax # 1(888)299-5749 Assigned Agent #1-888-314-3213 or 1-647-428-9023 the check info is from McKeever Enterprises, Inc Road Warriors Express Omaha, NE. Scam Scam Scam.

this is b***s*** cant these people be sued for something like this

They're back and with a different name.  Marketrends, Monitoring & Research Group.  I too, got a check for $3,875.00 the breakdown amount was a little different than what I have read here.  The money gram amount was the same $3,400 everybody else has reported.  Thank the Lord that my bank, verifies funds before they will do anything with a check.  I just might have fallen right into it.  Just keep an eye out for that number along with 888-880-1795 and 647428-6950.  Anybody with name Tony Simmons, Sandra Baker, or Francine Buffalo (director of human resources).  The best thing to do with this letter and the check that comes with it, is send it to the FBI.

I suggest that those who receive bogus checks send them with correspondence to the FBI.

I recieved the same letter today in the mail <12/13/08. after doing a bit of research and coming across this site,i decided to post also. my scam is from Shadow Shopper inc, out of Germantown MD.Phone # 514-576-9234. i google mapped the address and it is a residential cul-de-sac. With the advent of internet and the vast amount of resources available, its wonder these people still think that they wont get caught. Monday morning i am going to turn the check and paperwork to my local authorities and let them deal w/it. hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, god bless

I got a letter from "MetroPark Evaluation and Marketing Services. (Best Source for Secret Shopper Employment) with a check inside for 3987.00.  The check looks real.  The address on the check is from Enterprise Leasing Company group 5399,8335 IBM Drive, Suite 100, charlotte NC 28262-4329.  The return address on the envelope says: PO Box 2637 MTL, QC H4N 2L3 (Montreal, Quebec?) The address at the bottom of the stationery is 4118 Southerland, Houston, Texas 77092 (which is a plumbing firm according to the yellow pages.

I have never applied to be a secret shopper and this smells like big time scam.  I will be sending it to the Oregon Attorney General's office instead of shredding it.  This needs to be looked into.

I got this same letter in the mail included was a check with this phone # 1888 832 1147 (state nc), but now their name is A&A Merchandisind Ltd (state  fl)
and the check is from BBT Trucking inc banks name is farmers and merchants bank (state ga)I knew this was a scam thanks to people that take the time to write ,report and tell their storys thank you

I had a little bit of a hard time finding this site, so I thought I would post the entire text of the message.

Please note the horrible run-on sentences, and other grammatical errors.  Also note that the "Employee Code Of Business Conduct and Ethics" that is supposedly included with this letter was *not* included.

Those facts combined with the too-good-to-be-true offer should tell you instantly that this is a scam!

The text of the letter is below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gilbert Evaluation and Marketing Services
(best source for secret shopper employment)

REF #: MS-6265-32
DATE: 09/09/2008

We are a secret customer employment firm, that specializes in assisting corporations on how to improve customer services relations to their clientele; we represent over 1250 firms with more to come, we utilize a method known as mystery shopping to achieve this goal.

Congratulations!!  The information we have ascertained from our job search Data Bank, for those seeking extra income opportunity, you have been chosen to represent our company as a secret shopper, in addition you fit the criterion of an individual who is prepared to supplement their income by taking advantage of this opportunity.

The first probation training task is a PAID training assignment and is to be completed as directed by any of our assignment coordinatorsm please contact us at 1-514-692-6887 for details instructions.

Your job description would be to pose as a potential customer to the assigned place of business and evaluate the effectiveness; efficiency and customer service of the particular establishment, in the process of this evaluation, please take note of the quality of service in order to be able to fill out a fair and unbiased opinion on the Customer Service Evaluation Tool (CSET) form enclosed with this letter.  This form and all receipts must be faxed back to our office upon completion of assignment.  You will need to make copies of the evaluation form enclosed in your envelope.

NOTE: ENCLOSED IS A CHECK FOR $3987.00 TO ASSIST YOU WITH ASSIGNMENT; IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT UPON RECEIPT OF THIS CHECK THAT YOU CONTACT OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN THE AUTOMATIC STOP PAYMENT OF THE CHECK.

Below is the breakdown of attached funds:
         - Training pay + Expenses----------------------------------$    387.00
         - Wal-Mart Purchase--------------------------------------$    100.00
         - Money-Gram Transaction---------------------------------$ 3,400.00
         - Service Charge by Money-Gram-----------------------------$   100.00

         Total--------------------------------------------------$ 3987.00
NOTE: Please note that due to the confidentiality agreement we have eith our clients in addition with you as a representative of our firm, you are to act in accordance with the Employee Code Of Business Conduct and Ethics enclosed with this letter, furthermore all tasks should be performed in a professional and expeditious manner, in order for this to be weekly employment opportunity.  All assignments must be completed on time to qualify for future work hours.

Remember it's shopping, so have fun!!!
Sincerely,
<signature>
Jackie McDonald
Director, Human Resources

4118 SOUTHERLAND HOUSTON, TX 77092 PH: 1-514-692-6887; FAX: 1-514-486-6671

Don't give out your social security # to anyone unless you are applying for a loan.

The scam is that they get you to spend a little and then send them 3,400.00 back. By the time you send it back the check has filtered through the bank system and comes up as fake. Then the bank hits you for the 3,888.00 on your account where you cashed the check. They have 3,400.00 and you are out 3,400.00 + 3,800.00 -423.00 - 40.00 -25.00 = $6,712.00 fund that you did not have before and have nothing to show for. Also now that you have read this and if you do it anywhere you are now doing something illegal because you know its fake. Therefore you could face charges if they know you knew it was fake and did it anyways. Have a nice day.

Well, well, well. Thank you Gina for that info. I too received correspondence and was leary of this letter. Researched the Bank and Letter Head on said check. What concern me was the english (grammical errors)a professional secretary would not commit. Everything else was the same as yours, including phone number and address.

What do you know..I got a letter from Team Abstracting Mystery & Consulting with a check in the amount of $3888 as funds to cover my shopping assignment.  I didn't apply for such a position.  The check from a Gilbert Company (Plumbing contractor) with The Bank of River Oaks in Houston Texas.  Looks legit, but too good to be true.  I didn't apply to be a mystery shopper.  Watch out folks, they are phising.  Whew!

i got the same letter yesterday, i called as well it sounds ok but don't like the idea of having to show my social security # as to who i am.
My husband said that i should do it but a little scary.

I got the SAME check and SCAM in the mail today!  LOL