419 scam: "MYSTERY SHOPPER INC."<shopperinc.mystery@ymail.com> A SECRET SHOPPER NEEDED!!!

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "cashiers check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "MYSTERY SHOPPER INC." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mysteryshopperinc111@one.co.il>
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 10:13:58 -0600
Subject: A SECRET SHOPPER NEEDED!!!

Head of Human Resources,
620 Mendelssohn Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55427-4310
Secret Shopper®
http://www.secretshopper.com/

Attn: Mystery Shopper,

You have been chosen to be one of our Mystery shopper.You will be evaluating Wal-Mart Stores and Western Union Services in your
neighborhood, kindly check out for one Wal-Mart store and one Western union Agent outlet you will like to evaluate, make sure the store and the outlet you will choose are close to your area as much as possible.You will have to send the name and address of the two location to us, Please note that you are to act Cool, Calm and Confident through out the period which you will be carrying out your survey at the store, in order not to arouse any suspicion.You will be shopping at Wal-Mart stores and also make a transaction at the Western union, You will write a report about the customer services, you will send your report back to us via Email, you will have to use the following pointers to prepare your report :

1) How long it took you to get services.
2)Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
3) Smartness of the attendant
4)Customer service professionalism
5)Reaction of personnel under pressure
6)Information that you think would be helpful
7)Your comments and impressions.

YOU WILL BE PAID $200 PER DUTY

A package will be sent to you via courier,inside the package you will find your Compensation payment which would be in the form of money orders/ cashiers check,which you would be required to cash at your bank so you would use the funds to carry out your surveying process.You must not use your personal money to complete any of the surveying process and there will be no reimbursement of any kind since we are providing you with all the fund you will need to carry out the survey.An Evaluation Instruction will be given to you through email, this will tell you what to do at the Wal-Mart and he Western union location and how to expend the fund at each location.Please reply this Email and give us the name and address of the Wal-Mart and
Western union location you will be evaluating.

PLEASE KINDLY PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION BELOW TO PROCEED ON FIRST ASSIGNMENT IF INTERESTED:
Full Legal Name :
Full Physical Address :
City :
State :
Zip code :
Country :
Age:
Nationality :
Home and Cell # :
Present Occupation:
Email:

Yours sincerely.
Mark Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam