Retail Tracking Market Research - Mystery Shopping/Consulting Sent a check for $3899 to me for "research." Wanted me to send them $3200 back. Niagara Falls New York

This company's letter came with a stamp from Canada. The letter asks you to shop for them with a portion of the $3899 the send you. They don't say what they want you to buy. The say it is "paid research" but it is rip-off.

The grammer is bad in the letter. The letter states, "This research program is a fully paid program and would become a permanent part time position for a selected few that is able to distinguish them in the course of this program." It then goes on to tell you that you can earn $400 a week following this "paid training assignment."

The training assignment asks that you shop at Best Buy, Home Depot, JC penny, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, and Circuit City as part of your first evaluation. The second evaluation asks that you "evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a payment system called Western Union or Money Gram." Probably you will find how effectively and efficiently you got ripped off if you send them money through these services. This is a terrible scam and even more heinous being sent out when people are vulnerable during the holidays. I am forwarding this on to the Financial Crimes Section of my city's Police Department. I suggest anyone else who gets a letter such as this do the same.

StayingAlert
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.