Scam Warning!!!

I got a mail yesterday from Amba Research & Management Corp. I was surprised because it is a job offer to be a secret shopper. Then I noticed that there's a Customer Service Evaluation Form (CSEF), and a check amounting to $2,485.00 together with the mail. I said "Wow!" that's pretty cool. But I was asking myself why the company is sending me such check when I haven't started working for them yet. The more I wondered when I've read on the letter the task I need to do on how I will spend the money from such check. I also noticed that the mail stamp has "Canada 98" on it but the company's address is in New York, New York. The check is from American Savings Bank with P.O. Box 2300, Honolulu, Hawaii 96804-2300. It said it is a Cashier's Check from Alvin McDonald, and the signature is different. These things gave me a hint that it might be a scam because I have received few mails with checks before that turned out to be scams. So I searched for such company through Google and I found out that it is a scam. The scariest thing to happen if I will deposit the check is either the bank personnel will notice that it is a fake check and call the police, therefore risking myself to get arrested even I am innocent and a victim. Another way is if the bank personnel will not notice it as a fake check, and will credit the amount to my bank account. Then after few weeks, the bank will find out that it is a fake account, therefore I will definitely have to pay it back to the bank. So I will be in big trouble if I already spent the money by following the instructions given on the letter before the bank caught it as a fake one. One task listed on the letter is to send $1,950.00 to another secret shopper through Western Union plus paying $135.00 for the fee. Once the receiver claimed the money you sent through Western Union, there's nothing you can do about it to track down the person who got it. So, I will end up owing the bank for such amount. There's no way for me to get back the money I sent through Western Union. I always thank God for protecting me from such trouble. Therefore, I felt I have to share this to make it as a warning to other people since there are lots of scams online and even through mails. So I highly recommend that we must be vigilant and always do anything we can to protect ourselves from getting scammed.

To give everyone an idea on how the letter looks like, I typed it below the way the letter I got is written :


" AMBA RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT CORP.
MARKET RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT
600-5th Ave. New York, New York. Fax: 1-270-818-0183; Phone: 1-403-400-3634


Date
Rep ID#
My Name
My Address


CONGRATULATIONS! We receive a message that you were making an inquiry about extra income position from our job market data base. We are happy to informyou that you have been selected to become one of our representatives in your region.

Please be informed that there is one probational training assignment that you are required to complete within 48 hours. This training assignment takes about 2 hours to complete and is PAID training. The aim of this training assignment is for you to familiarize yourself with the practical feel of what secret shopping entails.

This assignment has been put together to be completed at any Western Union location. The objective of this assignment will be to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a payment system called "Western Union."

You will pose as a potential customer sending a Western Union payment to another secret shopper in Canada or in United States. The fund needed to complete this transaction assignment has been arranged and has been enclosed with this letter. For our verification of assignment completion, please call back and provide the assignment completion details and to schedule for the next assignments.

Below is the breakdown of attached funds: and your task.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Evaluation pay + expenses -----------------------$300.00
Gap Purchase (anything of your choice) -------$50.00
Wal-Mart (anything of your choice) -----------$50.00
Western Union --------------------------------------$1950.00
Service Charge by Western Union ---------------$135.00
Total --------------------------------------------------$2485.00

In the process of this evaluation assignment, please take note of the quality of service in order to be able to fill out a fair and unbiased opinion on the Customer Service Evaluation Tool (CSET) form enclosed with this letter. This form should be faxed back to our office after the completion of your assigment.

PS. call before cashing the check for further information on 1-403-400-3634 and ask of Sandra Anderson or Mike Campbell. Our hours of business are Monday to Friday 9.AM-7.00PM Eastern Time and 9.00 AM-3.00PM on Saturdays.

HAVE FUN!! HAVE FUN!! HAVE FUN!! HAVE FUN!! HAVE FUN!! HAVE FUN!!


Yours truly,

signature
KIM SHAPIRO

Below are logos for Pizza Hut, Gap, McDonald's, Budget, Blockbuster, MoneyGram, Sears and Startbucks "

So hopefully this warning will help other people to avoid scams. If you get same letter or this information helps you from getting scammed, it will be great if you will leave a comment. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Hope you will stop by again later. Have a great day!! God bless to all!!

P.S. If being scammed, file your complaint to : Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), ic3.gov