http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/feb/08/bogus-checks-a-temptation-for-the-unwary/
Local story in the Columbia Tribune: Commerce Bank talks about the scams they see hit their customers. The story they cover is one that is becoming more and more common: the mystery shopper scam.
What makes it confusing, is that there really is such a thing as a Mystery shopper. However, they are relatively rare. If you get an email or see a facebook Ad for becoming a Mystery shopper, odds are it is just a scam.
Here is how it works: You agree to becoming a mystery shopper for what sounds like a legit marketing company. You are sent a check for money. For example, $3000. You are asked to use this money for a variety of things, such as buy coffee at starbucks, and buy some furniture at Wal-Mart. You get to keep anything you buy. That is the “benefit”. One of things you do is “test” a wire service such as Western Union. For example, you wire some person $500.
Then the horror. The check bounces or the cashiers check for $3000 doesn’t clear. You just bought all that stuff for no good reason. But worse, you just wired $500 to the scammer. Oh, and just rubbing salt on the wound: the bank will charge you for the bounced check.
This scam brings up a general consideration when working with the public: a check, even a cashiers check or money order, is an IOU. It’s credit. Think of it as credit.
So, for example, if a person gives you a check for $3000, you are letting that person borrow $3000 from you. Do you trust him that much?
If you were a local business, there are various protections for you. For example, a business might use a clearinghouse to vett the checks for fraud. But, for regular people, its just plain risky.
All this is true even if the check clears the bank. Four months from now, the police may knock on your door to arrest you for cashing a stolen check. Sure, they will eventually let you go free when you prove your innocence, but guess what: you have to give the money back. That is true even if you spent it already. Keeping stolen goods is criminal offense.