RCMP investigating scam
Buyer beware – Whitehorse RCMP are investigating a Mystery Shopper scam that’s hit the territory.
Buyer beware – Whitehorse RCMP are investigating a Mystery Shopper scam that’s hit the territory.
Victims of the fraud have reported receiving texts about applying for a job as a mystery shopper.
Those who followed up on the text then received letters in the mail containing a $2980 cheque, along with instructions to deposit that cheque. They are told to withdraw $2480, which is then to be deposited into a specific account at a separate bank.
With the $500 remaining in their personal account, they’re asked to purchase $100 worth of items at a store such as Wal-Mart and fill out a mystery shopper report, for which they may keep the leftover $400.
Eventually, the victim’s bank will call, telling them the original cheque was fraudulent.
Yukoners are advised to watch out for this scam, as well as any unsolicited texts or emails about jobs.
If you have any concerns, or have received these texts, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Comments (4)
Up 11 Down 2
June Jackson on Sep 2, 2016 at 2:33 pm
NO ONE deserves to be fleeced. People live on hope, hope that things will get better..and faith.. faith that there will be enough for rent, for food, faith that they can provide.. and hope that just maybe this will be a job they can do.
Those of us that are fairly computer savvy aren't going to bite in to this.. and folks that are losing faith in their fellow man aren't going to bite into this.. but those that are on the naive side, perhaps the elderly.. they might think this is just the opportunity they have been looking for.
Anyway, Tara is right.. in life generally.. if it seems to good to be true.. it is.
Up 21 Down 0
Tara on Sep 2, 2016 at 11:27 am
I've received three such text messages and my husband gets quite a few of these texts that are along the same lines. Delete them.... Anything that seems like a great offer is usually to good to be true.
Up 18 Down 6
Common Sense on Sep 1, 2016 at 10:13 pm
People actually fall for this? Jeeez
Up 36 Down 13
SameOldSameOld on Sep 1, 2016 at 4:07 pm
sigh ... not even an original scam technique. Hate to say it , but if you fall for anything this transparent and obvious, you almost deserve to be fleeced.