Walmart Moneygrams Scams
It has been several years now that the scammers have been exploiting and baiting victims through the use of Walmart Moneygrams or , if you prefer, money orders. They are used in a number of ways always with the one intent of fleecing honest people out of their savings.
What places these scams apart from the others is the devious and pure criminal nature of these scams. These bottom feeders don’t usually spam emails out to “undisclosed-recipients” and hope to bait a few uninformed victims.
In many instances the scammers will offer a Mystery Shopper mission where you are required to deposit moneygrams at a Walmarts outlet and transfer them to a foreign address. For your efforts you get to keep a certain percentage of the total amount for your efforts. Once the transaction is completed, a survey will be sent to you to complete evaluating the service provided by the employees at the outlet. Problem is , the moneygrams you rushed to deposit were bogus and you’re on the hook for the total amount of the deposits. You could even be charged with a criminal offence..Fraud.
Numerous cases have been reported where the scammers send bogus Moneygrams directly to individuals homes via UPS. Problem is the unsuspecting recipients have no idea why they received them in the first place but will go along with the scam and actually deposit these bogus certificates. Take the Kern family for example, they got duped for a couple thousand.
If you would like to hear more about the workings of these Moneygram scams check-out the forum at topix.com. and remember if it smells scammy it probably is.
I almost fell for a granny scam. “Hi ,,,this is your favorite grandson”. I said …which favorite…John, Andrew, or Michael?… You were right with the first one!
…John, how are you and where are you?… Well I’m in Vancouver, Canada…. You are ? What are you doing there?.. Well it’s a long story and the family doesn’t know so I’m calling you because I got in some trouble…a car accident..I was driving…but I’m okay…but I’m being held here until I pay $5400 right away or they’ll hold me overnight. please don’t call Dad but I’ll explain it to them as soon as I get home.. trust me…….blablabla. Well, this wise old granny almost fell for the Wal-Mart Money-gram scam and was about to head for the bank, get the cash to take to Wal-Mart when visions of the Nigerian Bank Scam danced in my head….but I was sure it was John’s voice…it was ..wasn’t it?…..maybe I better call his Dad even if he’ll wind up angry with me…too bad. So call his Dad I did….John was at Baylor where he was supposed to be…not in Vancouver,,,not in trouble… It was just some scam artist dialing for dollars until he hit a granny-sucker who would do anything for her favorite grandson.
Grannies Beware! Wal-Mart should be ashamed it facilitates this kind of fraud. I’ll shop anywhere but there from now on.
Evelyn,
Great post thanks for sharing. Nothing is sacred for these scammers. As far as Walmarts goes well, not really their fault, he could have just as well used Western Union. Glad you caught on before loosing any money.
Cheers
I was very gratified today to receive a response from someone in WalMart’s corporate office who had received an e-mail from me in which I detailed how I almost became a victim of the above granny scam.
WalMart knows that this is going on and they are working with the Attorney General to raise public awareness and perhaps even apprehend the culprits.
There was an article in the Arizona Republic (which I had not seen) the Sunday before, telling that 3 women in Paradise Valley had lost $14,000 this same way. These scam-artists are targeting elderly people living in affluent retirement areas in Arizona and Florida. I suggested they also post a notice in all Walmart MoneyGram centers to alert the public before they actually transfer money to someone they think is a relative in trouble in Canada or elsewhere. He assured me that this is also in the works. A friend told me this is the case with a Western Union facility she recently used to wire money to a legitimate
relative. Whenever someone gets this kind of call, they should always ask the caller a question that only the real person (grandson etc.) would know the answer to. In this case, I should have asked “when was the last time you heard from your sister?”….If the answer was “not for awhile”…it would have been a dead giveaway…because the real grandson doesn’t have a sister. Hindsight is always great….but this granny will know how to detect a scam in progress next time…should there be a next time. Meanwhile I’ll keep shopping at WalMart because they promptly responded to my e-mail with a phone call from Corporate….and I’ll keep looking for them to post a
warning notice on their MailGram premises.
I don’t know how to do this, but I hope this particular
blog can be forwarded to Wal-Mart Corporate office Attention: Eric VanDyke, who investigates this kind of fraud.
Evelyn,
We report all scams to the appropriate concerns, unfortunately the success rate is under 10% at best. As we have said in the past, education,education.
Let’s just not respond to these bottom feeders and they will be out of a “job.”
Consumer Media Agency AND Atlantic Worldwide Sweepstakes and Lotteries sent out checks all over the country issued on the Bank of New York dtd Feb 22, 2008 in the amount of $3,860 under the Macmillan company names. THESE ARE COUNTERFEIT.
Macmillan,
It is unfortunate that the scammers chose the good name of Macmillan to front their scheme. Thanks for your post .
Just a quick question…. I understand the “granny scam” but what about the mystery shopper? what do they do?
Rebecca,
The mystery scam is not a huge scam and one could say it is not necessarily a scam in itself. Several sites will offer to give you a list of survey sites that pay you to respond to surveys.
None of these survey organizations charge you to be a member. In other words why pay for something that is free? Just Google surveys and sign up with as many companies as you want.
Do be aware of the Wal Mart mystery shop scam, it can cost you dearly.
Mystery shopping is a legitimate employment where individuals visit stores and evaluate service, cleanliness and so on, for a fee. Good way to earn a few bucks and sometimes a free meal or visit to the theatre .
$columns[4]
My wife received today a letter with an offer of $200.00 to act as a secret surveyor for Moneygram . They ask to pose as a potential customer and buy a Moneygram for $800.00 in a local Walmart. Upon the completition of this “assigment”, she required to phone in the Moneygram reference number.
Well, she just laugh because we now about this scam, but our concern is the inocent people that fell in this Walmart-Money Gram scam. Now my question; if Walmart and Money Gram now abpout this scam, what are doing to stop this. I dont want to think this two companies are trying to benefit from this scams.
I try to call Walmart but nobody answer the phone.
Gariell, I e mail a copy of the letter and “check” for $1250.00 we receive from the scammers.
What does the granny scam have to do with Wal-Mart just because you can buy a money gram at Wal-Mart it is automatically Wal-Mart’s fault that this is going on… No that is a dumb thought oh Wal-mart is paying people to call grandma’s to get money from them because they don’t make enough money in their world wide operation. Re-think how much sense it makes before you blaming someone.
As for all the other scams it is not Wal-Mart doing this it is people putting Wal-Mart’s name on this stuff. Wal-Mart is not scamming people considering the only think that it say’s about Wal-Mart or any other corporation is that it involves them Wal-Mart is not on the checks you don’t send moneygrams to Wal-Mart so how does this make it look like Wal-Mart is liable for scam????
WB,
Scammers us all kinds of company names as a way of pulling in potential victims. They use known charity organizations, famous lotteries, and honest individuals. No one is trying to tarnish their images here, just letting people know that they should investigate a little further when they receive “correspondence” where these names are mentioned. I take it that this is what your were doing when you landed on this site. We are here only to warn people.
Cheers
i HAD JUST RECIEVED 1250.00 YESTERDA MARCH 10TH AND WAS READY TO DO MY ASSIGNMENT AS A MYSTERY SHOPPER AND SEND A TRANSFFER VIA MONEY GRAM TO A LAURISSA GIBSON OF 1176 FROMAGE WAY WINNIPEG CANADA N6Y 7K9 WHEN i DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THIS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE OPPORTUNITIES AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS AN OLD SCAM. i FEEL LIKE A FOOL. i WAS READY TO GO ON A MSTERY MISSION AND SEND 900 DOLLARS VIA MONEY GRAM. i THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS EYE OPENER. MELBA ROBBINS WEST VIRGINIA. HANG THEM HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
Glad you took the time to investigate and found the site and don’t worry, no need to feel foolish since you were vigilant enough to investigate in the first place. So many people have fallen victim to this scam; it is little wonder that the bottom feeders continue to propagate it.
Smiles and cheers!
Gariel
I also have received (3) separate checks for “Mystery” shopping. The last one I received, I went to the BankofAmerica and they informed would “NOT” cash and as I figured too good to be true. Like they always say “if it seems too good to be true”, it always is. In defense of the actual “Mystery” shopping I have actually performed legitimate “Shops” and did received checks. However, not the big bucks….but enough to keep my faith going…..
it is not only mystery shopping that they are getting people on I was selling some Items on e-bay and cregslist and the lady who got my stuff sent walmart money gramd I thought nothing of it and waited 24 hours to only find out 4 days later that they were not any good and had overdrawn my bank account 1600. wish I would have known I would have never accepted them now I am out the money and my stuff go figure there is no true people out there any more
Just got a Walmart check today to be a mystery shopper wanting me to Western Union as part of training to see if WU overcharges. They want, of course, this money wired in 24 hours. (Like they know when I got it in the mail). How funny. If the check were good then I’d just deposit it first. This is sickening to me that people would do these things to other people. Instead of helping people in times of need, people are screwing other people. At first I was upset that any company would let them print checks that use the Walmart logo. But perhaps they printed them. I notice the star is shaped like starfish not a star. I would think Walmart would assist in going after these people even if it isn’t their true logo, it seems like they could still help.
I JUST GOT MY LETTER FROM THE SECRET SHOPPERS FOR A MONEY GRAM THROUGH WALMART..THEY ARE STILL VERY ACTIVE AND TRYING TO GET US ALL…HOW SAD AMERICA HAS COME TO THIS…
Jessica
You got that right!
Cheers
Got the same thing as Jessica, however it had been made out to my deceased father in law. He passed away 11 years ago!
Danielle,
These bottom feeders have no morals and the more we can educate and warn readers about these low lives, the less victims they will have.
Cheers
So who do we report this scam to? The local authorities or the Feds? Who? Mine came via the U.S. mail so it seems like the FBI, but what division and how do I go about it?
I think I am currently a target of this scam – I listed a space for rent and was contacted by someone saying they lived in Australia. I was told that the $ would arrive by a certain date but when it did not I rented to another legitimate person. Yesterday I did receive 3 Wal-Mart money grams for a total of $2910 when I only asked for $1500 to begin with. Now they are asking for $2500 to be sent back via Western Union. I have replied stating I would send the money grams back but will not try to cash them. What else should I do?
Barb,
Don’t even bother to send the money grams back to the bottom feeder.Take them to Walmart’s and tell them you believe they are fraudlent. It will not be the first time that they see this type of scam.
Cheers and glad to see that you took the time to read our blog.
Gariell
I just been on the ftc site to watch a vdieo on wiregram scams. The ftc and Canandian Police are working on in stopping the moneygram scams which is target at Walmart. I will be doing segments on wiregram fraud and to put up warning in what to look for. My vidoes will be on You Tube. So be looking for the first one to be up on Youtube. I am angrey that these scammer take our hard earn money by tricking us to believe these sad story on the other end. So do not be sending money by money gram that you do not know. And do not cash checks from strangers. Have the bank security check the check out to see if it bugus. Save your self from being arrested for grand theath.
i sent in a money gram thur walmart ever month and now my car could be getting taken cause they cant trace what they did with my money or help me find i in elgin on randell rd.
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Wow, I have been chosen out of 5700 qualified canadates to be a secret shopper for Feedback Plus INC a firm out of Dallas TX. All I have to do is pose as a customer sending a Money Gram from Wal-Mart and I get “PAID” $300 for my trouble. I received a letter in the mail containing a counterfeit cashers check for $3950 on Allegacy Federal Credit Union located in Winston Salem NC, in an envelope with no return address mailed from Canada, the instructions had a letterhead of Los Angeles CA., and 6 different 800 numbers. I mean they sent it in the frickin’ mail!!!! So I am suppose to cash the fake check at my bank, wire $3580 to any first name plus my last name. I then verify that I have completed the mystery shopper assignment by faxing a form with the transaction number, and Money Gram Reference code to an 800 number. Oh Yeah, all within 72 hours. I took it to the Police Dept and a copy to my banker instead.
Hello Applicant
One of America’s largest, discount department outlet is re-branding.The Retail Industry is a competitive world, with each retailer vying for the attention of consumers in an increasingly cluttered market. We do not want to rely on proprietary data collection processes and technology alone, we need appraisers to collect specific data about their experience and opinion when they visit this retail outlet, in a time efficient and cost effective manner.
Closed Book Consumer is a tool used by market research companies to measure quality of retail service or gather specific information about products and services. Your ability to pose as normal customers perform specific tasks–such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way – and then provide precise feedback about your exploit .
the purpose of Mystery Shoppers is to help businesses increase sales and improve employee customer service awareness. We provide businesses with more information than other mystery shopping companies through the use of questionnaires and detailed narratives. Once we have a contract to do so, you will be directed to the company or outlet and you will be given funds to either purchase things or require services, after which you would write a comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed report of your experience.Some of the common details and information points shoppers:
the date and time of the visit the name of the store number of employees in the store on entering how long it takes before the mystery shopper is greeted
the name of the employee(s)
whether or not the greeting is friendly
the questions asked by the shopper to find a suitable product
the questions asked by the employee(s)
the types of products shown
whether the employee invited the shopper to come back to the store
cleanliness of store and store associates
speed of service
compliance with company standards relating to service, store appearance, and grooming/presentation
After this, we turn the information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving there services.
Recruitment: Initially, we will add you to our database of Mystery Shoppers. Then, when we need someone in your area who matches your profile, we’ll give you a call and describe the project to see if you are interested.Sometimes we will arrange for a mini-interview on phone
Send your application and attach your resume. Include the Details below, so we can add you to our database.(Payment will be sent to your address)
First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address(No Po Box Accpeptable) :
City :
State :
Zip Code :
Cell Phone Number/Home Phone Number :
Age:
Current Occupation:
Alternate Email Address :
AVAILABILITY:
Days/Hours Available
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Hours Available: from _______ to ______
Your application will be approved.Through extensive background check, your information will be reviewed and processed. Immediately this is done we will give a phone call or send an email to let you know your placement with our company.
ASSIGNMENTS
YOUR FIRST EVALUATION ($300)
You will be giving cash to shop at any Wal-Mart location. All you have to do is walk into any of its location buy, buy and buy till you exhaust the $150, but you have to be in the store for at least one hour, watching and taking note of everything. Remember, everything you buy is totally yours.The management of Wal-Mart intends to change the store’s environment, color, payment procedures, gift items and shopping/carrier bags etc, it’s also looking into putting a stop to poor services, shoplifting, over-billing cash customers, wasting customer’s precious time and credit card scams, but with the interest of its customers in mind.For this reasons they have decided to give there customers a great opportunity to decide.The balance of $150 is your commission for this task. You will be allocated $300 for this section , in which you will spend $150 on shopping and the
rest $150 is for yourself.
NOTE: You are to attach the Wal-Mart receipt of every thing you buy to the report
YOUR SECOND EVALUATION ($2850)
The 2nd evaluation is Western Union Location
A lot of Wal-Mart customers have reported lapses in Western Union services in some Wal-Mart Stores around the U.S. Our need to act is based on reports and complaints which some customers forwarded anonymously and phone calls that were made to our head office.
The Wal-Mart(Western Union) Agents locations were reported for evaluation for the following reasons:
(i) Slow services
(ii) Unbalanced exchange rate
(iii) Poor services
(iv) Rudeness to customers
(v) Excess charge
YOUR SECRET EVALUATION WILL BE :
1) To make a transfer of funds from a Wal-Mart location to our Agent in another state,and the funds would be picked up by our mystery shopper at the exact location which a customer reported her funds stolen from.
2) You will have to record the time at which you got to the Western Union Section of Wal-Mart and how many minutes it took you to get the service.You will be sent money order of $2,820 which would cover your payment of $150 for shopping and extra $150 commission. As soon as you receive the Money orders you would Cash/Deposit it at your bank, deduct your $150 for shopping and your $150 commission, you use the rest of the money ($2550) for the Western Union Evaluation.
3) Upon receiving the funds, you will look for a Wal-Mart location around you to carry out your task and also the Name and address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made to will sent to you. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out.
4) You will also provide me with the name of the cashier that attended to you along with the name of the Wal-Mart store and
address.Your report should be drafted and sent to me via email immediately the transfer is made .
Money order’s of $2,850 will be mailed out via FedEx.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this email by replying YES WAL MART! and make sure you include your application and attach your resume. Include the Details below.
First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address(No Po Box Accpeptable) :
City :
State :
Zip Code :
Cell Phone Number/Home Phone Number :
Age:
Current Occupation:
Alternate Email Address :
AVAILABILITY:
Days/Hours Available
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Hours Available: from _______ to ______
Further instructions will be sent to you during the week via email.
Floyd Petersons
Task Co-ordinator
Wal- Mart Rebranding
Wal-Mart Inc
Are you (or any or your correspondents)aware of any state legislation requiring notice of possible scams to be posted at any money transfer desk? Have there been any efforts to pass such state legislation in any state? It is very obvious that the money transfer businesses have no interest in doing this on a voluntary basis.
—– Original Message —–
From: MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OFFICE
To: undisclosed recipients:
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2010 3:59 AM
Subject: URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED FROM YOU
Welcome
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER MONEY GRAM INT’L.
OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
LOCATION. RUE BPH141
KINGSTON AVENUE
COTONOU BENIN.
REF: MT89TQ
website… http://www.moneygram.com
ATTENTION DEAR BENEFICIARY ,
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF BENIN REPUBLIC, HAS APROVED YOUR INHERITANCE PAYMENT $800.000.00 USD TO BE PAID TO YOU VIA MONEY GRAM. YOU ARE ADVISE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO ENABLE US TRANSFER YOUR FUND ACCORDINGLY TO YOU.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THE SUM OF $87.00.00 USD TO RECONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT FILE AND THIS WILL SERVE AS THE COST OF (S.V AND SIGNING) YOUR PAYMENT FILE BY OUR LEGAL ATTORNEY TO ENABLE US SEND YOUR INHERITANCE PAYMENT $9,500 USD AS IT IS ALLOWED TO SEND PER DAY. YOU SHOULD GET BACK TO THIS NOBLE OFFICE WITH THE REQUIRED FEE $87.00.
REPLY BACK TO THIS OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED AHEAD AND COMMENCE YOUR PAYMENT ONCE WE RECONFIRM YOUR PERSONAL FILE AS IT IS LISTED BELOW AND SEND THE REQUESTED FEE $87.00 TODAY WITH THE INSTRUCTION BELOW.
FULL NAME……………………………
HOME ADDRESS………………….
PHONE……………………….
COUNTRY……………………..
CITY………………………………
SECRET QUESTION…….
ANSWER…………………… ….
USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO SEND THE REQUIRED FEE $87.00 VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION TO ENABLE THIS DEPARTMENT HERE TO PICK UP THE PAYMENT AND RECONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT FILE FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE BENIN REPUBLIC.
RECEIVERS NAME::::::::::::::::UDEZUE JOSEPH COUNTRY:::::::::::::::::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY:::::::::::::::::::::::::::COTONOU.
TEXT QUESTION::::::::::: BE HONEST?
ANSWER:::::::::::::::::TRUST.
AMOUNT TO SEND::::::::::$ 87.00 USD.
KINDLY, COMPLY WITH THIS INSTRUCTIONS AND BE REST ASSURE THAT YOUR PAYMENT WILL COMMERCE IMMEDIATELY BY THIS OFFICE ONCE WE CONCLUDE RECONFIRMING YOUR PAYMENT FILE FROM THE RIGHT OFFICE. WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND IMAGE OF THIS MONEYGRAM YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT DELAYING CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY COURSE YOU MISFORTUNE IN RECEIVING YOUR FUND, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER SINCE THIS OFFICE IS MAKING ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT TO BE SURE THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEEN COMMENCE ONCE WE CONFIRM THE REQUESTED PAYMENT AND INFORMATION.
URGENT RESPOND IS NEEDED FROM YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR. STEVEN LONG
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
MONEY GRAM OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
I got one scam today as well:
Check for Metro Bank for $4,150
Paying me $300 to go to moneygram at walmart and ship it (didn’t call number yet, I plan to)
1-888-618-4517 Survey Share
Gary Owens
Scam. mr mark anderson. at 1-867-373-0638 from ups has a package for you waiting. you have to call his international warehouse,1-867-288-9438 mr.peter blake that is holding a check for you. you have won $275.000 and a mercedes,from wal-marts or j.c.pennys. Both anderson,and Blank are same person.They want you to wire money from money gram to pay 1% sale tax. send money to john grund, 4585 E.mickleny ave. Fresno,cal.93703. Beware of this scam !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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