MYSTERY SHOPPER SCAM WARNING

Residents are being warned about a scam involving a letter from a business called 'Paid Surveys'.

East Sussex County Council's Trading Standards Officers have put out the warning and say people could end up over 1,500 out of pocket if they are duped by this scam.

The letter states that there is an employment opportunity for people to carry out a 'mystery shopper' role and that anybody that does will be paid 350 for their first assignment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is a cheque attached supposedly to cover pay and other expenses.

The recipient is advised to cash the cheque and then to complete an assignment by posing as a customer of a money transfer agency by wiring 1,500 to a 'relative' at an address in Canada.

However, the cheque is counterfeit and the money wired to Canada is collected by the scammer. Victims would be liable for any funds they spend while waiting for the cheque to pass through the banking system, and end up losing over 1,500.

County Council Lead Member for Community Services, Bob Tidy said: 'The Office of Fair Trading has confirmed that consumers throughout the UK are being targeted by this scam. People should be aware that forged cheques when banked may take some time to come to light so don't assume the funds have cleared even though they may show as available to draw on. And never use a money transfer service such as Western Union, to mail funds to strangers.'