Confero received information today about a fraudster who is using the Confero name and has created a fake assignment write up to try to scam consumers. He is using the name ERIC WARREN. He posts mystery shopping assignments on Indeed. One consumer reported receiving a package from ABUNDANT SOLUTIONS,  also part of the scam. He is offering large cash payments, which is a red flag for mystery shopping scams.

The fraudster also sends a text with the following:

Evaluator Task Update…The check for your 1st store evaluator task has been delivered via USPS. Please check your mailbox now & act accordingly. TREAT AS URGENT.

Whoever is sending the texts falsely claims to be associated with Confero and attempts to recruit secret shoppers. Please do not fall for this scam!  Do not respond to these texts or provide your maling address or other personal details. They are also referring to MoneyGram and Walmart Money Centers as part of this scam. Please do not email or have any contact with Eric Warren (ericwarren270@gmail.com).

These scams usually begin as a text or email contact to get you interested. They have high cash amounts to get you more likely to participate in the scam. They almost always result in consumers becoming duped into a fake check scam. In fake check scams, shoppers are sent checks to deposit, and then told to wire most of the funds elsewhere and keep the difference. Ultimately, the check the scammer sent the shopper turns out to be worthless and the shopper is on the hook to cover the entire check with the bank. Some of the checks look quite real – so real in fact that bank tellers see them all the time. BE CAREFUL!  

 Please be aware:    

• Confero NEVER issues checks to shoppers for any reason. Payments to shoppers are sent via PayPal.  Payments are made separately for each shop, and payments are only issued after successful completion of the mystery shop.
• Emails from Confero employees will come from conferoinc.com.
• Hundreds of dollars in pay for a mystery shopping assignment is rare.  
• We thank the consumers who brought this to our attention, so that we were able to warn others of this scam.