Local resident falls victim to nearly $5,000 check scam

[May 01, 2008]  On Monday, the Lincoln Police Department responded to an incident in which a local woman received a letter from Confidential Shopping Inc. with a cashier's check for $4,985. The letter informed her that she would be employed by them as a "mystery customer assisting corporations on how to gather firsthand information about their business to improve customer service."

The letter instructed the woman to cash the check and keep $350 as salary and training pay. The woman was instructed to use the remaining money as follows:

• Wal-Mart purchase, $50 -- A survey form was supplied for completion regarding the service provided at the store.

• Gap purchase, $40 -- A survey form was supplied for completion regarding the service provided at the store.

• Western Union transfer, $1,551

• Service charge by Western Union, $99

• MoneyGram transfer, $2,835

• Service charge by MoneyGram, $60

To activate the account, the woman was instructed to call a company "coordinator" at a phone number included in the letter for further instructions. The cashier's check was cashed at a local financial institution and over $900 was spent. When the financial institution discovered that the cashier's check was fraudulent, Lincoln police were notified. The victim was located and is now responsible for returning the entire cashier's check in the amount of $4,985.

Scams of this nature have occurred in the past and will continue. Do not cash any checks you receive under these circumstances. Citizens who receive offers of this nature should immediately contact the Lincoln Police Department, 217-732-2151.

[Text from file received from Chief Stuart R. Erlenbush, Lincoln Police Department]