*Updated: 11/2/09 *

Please take a few minutes to watch these videos recently release by the Federal Trade Commission. David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection explains several money transfer scams, including The Grandparent Scam, The Counterfeit Check Scam and the Mystery Shopper Scam.

Be sure to read our other Consumer Alerts regarding Fake Checks and other scams affecting the mystery shopping industry.

As a reminder, CONFERO DOES NOT ISSUE CHECKS TO SHOPPERS. Shoppers are paid electronically.

CONFERO DOES NOT DO ANY MYSTERY SHOPPING WORK FOR MONEYGRAM OR WESTERN UNION.
CONFERO NEVER ASKS SHOPPERS TO WIRE TRANSFER MONEY.

Consumers who receive a letter postmarked from Canada, containing a check, letter and report sheet, are encouraged to follow the reporting instructions we have provided in previous consumer alerts.

Confero has been active in trying to get these scams shut down. Many legitimate mystery shopping companies have been hit with this scam. Our President, Elaine Buxton, presented a summary of these scams to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association conference on October 9, 2009. We appreciate everyone who has called us about these and we are doing all we can to shut them down.