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Scams are often costly for victims
By Angie Anaya Borgedalen
Northlander Carol Birkey had worked as a secret shopper for department stores, so she was immediately suspicious when she received two authentic-looking money orders each for $870 delivered to her home by FedEx with a pitch to be a mystery shopper.
According to the poorly-worded proposal from someone who signed it as Micheal Carrick, Birkey said she was to deposit the Albertson MoneyGram in to her bank account, keep $200 from each money order and send the rest to an address in California.
“I’ve been a mystery shopper, and they don’t usually pay that well,” Birkey said, “but the money orders looked real.”
Supposedly once the transaction had taken place, Birkey would be notified of the two businesses she was to visit and evaluate, one a restaurant and the other a Western Union location.
In addition to how long it took to get service and noting the “smartness” of the attendant, Birkey might be required to create a scene “to see how they react to clients why they get tensed,” the letter said.
Birkey said she came forward because she wanted people to beware of such scams.
“They could drain your bank account if you give them your information,” Birkey said.
“I plan to contact the Attorney General’s Office and file a complaint. I want to make a record of this.”
Lt. Mark Misenhelter of the Liberty Police Department said sometimes the scam involved sending a check to deposit in your account. He said the elderly were often favorite targets of the devious schemers.
“When we try to run these down, they’re usually out of the country and your money is long gone,” Misenhelter said. “If it sounds too good to be true, don’t bite.”
Misenhelter said one woman had posted some jewelry for sale on Craig’s List and was sent a check for way over the asking price.
“They told her to take out what they owed out and send them the rest. So what happens is you send good money and you’re left with a fictitious check and no jewelry,” Misenhelter said.
Misenhelter said an elderly woman was fleeced out of thousands of dollars after she was notified that she had won a large sweepstake and had to send money to claim her prize.
“The family finally got wind of it and put a stop to it,” Misenhelter said.
Legitimate sweepstakes do not charge fees to claim your prize, he said.
Jim Roberts, a spokesman for the Clay County prosecutor’s office, said if you get a check or money order and follow up calls, tell them you are waiting for it to clear before sending them anything.
“If they start cursing and yelling at you, that’s a sign it’s a con,” Roberts said.
Roberts said sometimes the con artist pretends to be an eBay merchant to raise the confidence level of the victim. He said it had become more common for checks and money orders to be delivered by a private carrier to avoid using the U.S. Postal Service.
Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or aborgedalen@npgco.com.
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According to the poorly-worded proposal from someone who signed it as Micheal Carrick, Birkey said she was to deposit the Albertson MoneyGram in to her bank account, keep $200 from each money order and send the rest to an address in California.
“I’ve been a mystery shopper, and they don’t usually pay that well,” Birkey said, “but the money orders looked real.”
Supposedly once the transaction had taken place, Birkey would be notified of the two businesses she was to visit and evaluate, one a restaurant and the other a Western Union location.
In addition to how long it took to get service and noting the “smartness” of the attendant, Birkey might be required to create a scene “to see how they react to clients why they get tensed,” the letter said.
Birkey said she came forward because she wanted people to beware of such scams.
“They could drain your bank account if you give them your information,” Birkey said.
“I plan to contact the Attorney General’s Office and file a complaint. I want to make a record of this.”
Lt. Mark Misenhelter of the Liberty Police Department said sometimes the scam involved sending a check to deposit in your account. He said the elderly were often favorite targets of the devious schemers.
“When we try to run these down, they’re usually out of the country and your money is long gone,” Misenhelter said. “If it sounds too good to be true, don’t bite.”
Misenhelter said one woman had posted some jewelry for sale on Craig’s List and was sent a check for way over the asking price.
“They told her to take out what they owed out and send them the rest. So what happens is you send good money and you’re left with a fictitious check and no jewelry,” Misenhelter said.
Misenhelter said an elderly woman was fleeced out of thousands of dollars after she was notified that she had won a large sweepstake and had to send money to claim her prize.
“The family finally got wind of it and put a stop to it,” Misenhelter said.
Legitimate sweepstakes do not charge fees to claim your prize, he said.
Jim Roberts, a spokesman for the Clay County prosecutor’s office, said if you get a check or money order and follow up calls, tell them you are waiting for it to clear before sending them anything.
“If they start cursing and yelling at you, that’s a sign it’s a con,” Roberts said.
Roberts said sometimes the con artist pretends to be an eBay merchant to raise the confidence level of the victim. He said it had become more common for checks and money orders to be delivered by a private carrier to avoid using the U.S. Postal Service.
Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or aborgedalen@npgco.com.