Nixon warns of ‘secret shopper’ scams

Nixon’s office this week began investigating a report by a consumer who answered a “secret shopper” newspaper ad in Jefferson City that promised cash and merchandise in exchange for evaluating customer service at retailers.

The consumer said she received a money order for $1,300 and was instructed to keep $100 and wire the remaining funds to an address in Canada. When she did so, the money order was determined to be fake.

“Con artists are increasingly using fake, but realistic-looking, money orders as part of their scams,” Nixon said in a news release. “If you receive a money order from someone you don’t know who wants you to send them money to cover fees, taxes or anything else, it’s a big red flag that it’s a scam.”

Nixon’s office will work with law enforcement agencies in Canada to investigate the report.

Nixon previously has received reports of this “overpayment” scam, primarily from people selling items over the Internet. The seller receives a money order for more than the agreed purchase price, with the buyer asking the seller to wire back the difference.

Most money order scams originate from outside the United States, according to Nixon’s office, which makes it more to difficult to recover lost money.