Yesterday I finished up work for the day and went out to get the mail. Strange, there was an airmail letter from Montreal. I opened the letter and out dropped a check for $2990. Pay dirt, I finally hit it, my luck was changing — the thoughts that flashed through my mind. The check was accompanied by a 2-page letter instructing me what I was to do with this money only a small amount of which was supposedly to become mine. The key words I saw after skimming it were “Mystery Shopper.”

Shower time, and after my initial bliss, reality dawned along with the water washing over my body. Water has always afforded me clarity. Okay, shower done, time for a close read. Here’s what it said. In sum, “my assignment” was to take this check for $2990 and either cash it or deposit it into my account. Then I was to take $2570 of this money, go to Western Union, and send it to a designated receiver. My alleged purpose was to evaluate the service and premises of the Western Union dealer. The next part of the assignment was to go into two well-known retail stores and buy $50 worth of merchandise. I was then to complete a form on each store answering a series of “consumer-ish” questions. After all this, I was left with $200 — my fee.

After a close read, this thing screamed scam. Not only was the whole deal very fishy and suspect, even though return address on the letter was a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning company in Manvel, Texas, the return address on the envelope was some random address in Montreal.

I Googled Mystery Shopper scam, and sure enough, I found that other people were receiving something very similar. I then called the HVAC company, number on the letter. There was indeed such a company, and they were indeed aware they were being used as a front for this scam.

Now if I’d gone ahead and cashed this check, in two weeks I would be contacted by my bank, or the police, and informed that I was out $2990 because the check turned out to be bogus.

Most of us are aware of such scams these days, but those meaty checks can still be awfully tempting. From a professional communication standpoint, the letter was written well, but it lacked the polish of a truly legitimate professional communication. Also, who would ever send a legitimate check for $2990 through the mail without requiring receipt signature?

So, friends, don’t let greed tempt you. It never fails: if it’s too good to be true: IT IS!!!!