Police are warning job seekers of a mystery shopper ad scam currently operating in York region.

Victims are lured into the scam by ads posted online for "mystery shoppers," York Regional Police said in a statement Friday morning.

Mystery shoppers are used by market research companies, watchdogs and companies across Canada. People are hired to visit stores and pretend to be regular customers, then asked to report back on quality of service, compliance with company policy, or information on specific products and services.

Police outlined the scam in a statement:

  • The victim of the scam applies to an online ad looking for mystery shoppers.
  • He or she receives a letter in the mail with information on shopping tasks to complete. A cheque for a "large sum of money" is included with the letter.
  • The victim deposits the cheque in his or her bank account, and then uses some of the money to buy products as a mystery shopper.
  • He or she is then told to send the rest of the money back to a person or business.
  • A few days after completing the tasks, the victim finds out that the cheque is counterfeit, police said. He or she is then accountable for the money sent and withdrawn.

In the statement, police warned the public that banks may allow immediate access to funds deposited by cheque, but if the cheque is deemed fraudulent, the customer is responsible for any money spent.

Another common scam is overpayment, when someone selling or renting something advertised in a newspaper or online is paid with a cheque for an excessive amount. The seller is then asked to send back the extra money to the buyer. The cheque is later found to be counterfeit, and the seller is responsible for the money sent to the buyer.

"If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is," the statement said.

Investigators advise using online payment systems or certified cheques whenever possible, rather than personal cheques.

The York Regional Police fraud unit warned the public to be cautious and never give out personal information, passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).

Police also reminded business owners to be vigilant when sending out cheques and only use trusted shipping methods. The fraudulent checks being used by scammers are often stolen from businesses.

For more information on this and other scams, visit the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre or contact York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6612.