Fake check scams work because banks make funds available before checks clear. A scammer sends you a check, you deposit it, withdraw cash and send it back — then the check bounces and you owe the bank the full amount.
About this scam type: Unexpected checks received in the mail with instructions to send money back
ScamRadar verdict: scam · Risk score: 94/100
Letter and check from 'National Consumer Research': Congratulations on being selected as a mystery shopper! Enclosed is a $2,485 cashier's check. Deposit it today, keep $300 as your fee, and use the remaining $2,185 to evaluate Walmart MoneyGram services by wiring the funds to our test recipient.
The check is fake. Real mystery shopping companies never ask you to deposit a check and wire money — that's the entire scam. By the time the check bounces, your wire is gone and you owe the bank the deposited amount.
If you wired the money, contact MoneyGram (1-800-666-3947) or Western Union (1-800-448-1492) immediately and request a transfer freeze. Recovery is only possible before pickup, usually within hours. Contact your bank to report the fake check — they will reverse the deposit and may pursue you for the funds. File at the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3 at ic3.gov, and the US Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report (mail fraud is a federal crime). Keep the original check, envelope, and any letters or emails as evidence. If you used your real personal information to register for the 'job,' your information is now in a scammer database — expect more attempts and consider a credit freeze.
Legitimate mystery shopper companies are members of the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA) and never send checks for you to deposit. They pay you after you complete an assignment, typically by direct deposit or check sent to you for work performed, never as advance payment with instructions to wire funds elsewhere. Real cashier's checks take 5-10 business days to fully verify with the issuing bank, even after your bank shows the funds as available.
Yes, but legitimate ones never send you a check to deposit and wire onward. Real mystery shopper companies are listed at the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association at mspa-americas.org. They pay you after completing an assignment, never in advance.
Banks credit deposits provisionally — the funds appear available before the check is fully verified with the issuing bank. Verification takes 5-10 business days. When the check bounces, the bank reverses the deposit and you owe any money you spent or wired.
Call the wire service immediately. Recovery is possible only if the recipient hasn't picked up the funds, usually within hours. File reports with the FTC, FBI IC3, US Postal Inspection Service, and your bank. Document the entire transaction.
5 to 10 business days, even though banks make funds available within 1-2 days. The full verification with the issuing bank is what reveals fakes. Never spend or wire deposited funds until you've waited the full 10 business days.
File at reportfraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3 at ic3.gov, and the US Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report. Save the original check, envelope, and any communications as evidence.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-24 by the ScamRadar editorial team. We update this page when scammer tactics change or when official agencies issue new guidance.
ScamRadar · Blog · Scam Database · Is It Legit? · About