Secret shopper scam warning

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Trying to get your Christmas shopping done can be a daunting and expensive task. So when an offer of free money falls into your lap, it may be tempting. But instead of going on a shopping spree, you probably just want to throw it away.

A local viewer warned us about a scam she received in the mail recently. It was a letter saying they got her application to be a secret shopper. All she had to do was deposit the money order, keep $200 to spend at a local store, rate that store, then send the rest of the money back.

The problem was, it was a scam and if she would have fallen for it, she would have been out more than $700.

“When I first got the letter it had in there about taking the check or money order and putting it directly in and then drawing it instantly out. Well that triggered that there was something wrong and I just kept thinking about it and I thought nah, I better not do this,” explained Fort Myers resident Marion Baran.

WINK News took a closer look at the letter. We noticed some typos and grammar mistakes, details on where to wire the rest of the money and the money order was hand-written by an unknown individual, all big signs that this is a scam.

Scammers know times are tough and they’re counting on you to not be a smart consumer. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. And remember, no legitimate company or offer will send you more money than you need, and ask you to wire the rest back.