Is this mystery shopping job legit?

I recently received a mystery shopping letter saying I was approved to be one. I did not have to pay a fee to apply for this job. I was given an information letter, evaluation form, acceptance form, and a check for 3950 dollars. On all letters it says CRC (Consumer Research Centre). They want me to send back 3440 through moneygram after I have deposited the whole 3950 dollars into my banking acount. Also, the check has Jostens Inc. on it. I am supposed to be shopping at Staples, Circuit City, Home or Office Depot, Kmart, or Wal-Mart. The letter gave me a phone number to call to verify my participation in this program. Everything looks confidiential, from the letter to the check. Am I good to go?

Is this mystery shopping job legit?
SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!





I got one too. Needless to say the company dissapeard overnight. The guys name is Michael Daily is that sounds familiar to you. SCAM SCAM SCAM. Thankfully I have a friend that works at a bank and checked the bank and check they sent me and it came back counterfeit. When I tried calling the guy again he took down my number and said there must be a mistake and said he would call me back. The next day I called him since I never got a call back and the number had been disconnected. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me divinelycorrupt@yahoo.com.
Reply:I don't know. It sounds like a scam. If I were you, I wouldn't do it.
Reply:NO NO NO NO. Anytime something like this asks you to send money back to them, it is not legit. Their check will not technically be "cleared", then you will pay them, and you will be out the money you sent them, and be in trouble with their bad check. Do NOT do this! If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Reply:This does not sound legit you should not have to send any back after you cash the check. Maybe you can call the bank that the check is drawn on and ask them if it is legit. Most likely you will have to go in to the bank. Also do a reverse look up on the phone number and see who it is registered to. Hope this helps
Reply:SCAM SCAM SCAM.





The way this works is that the check they sent you is fake. However most tellers won't notice, and will let you deposit it into your account.





Then, when you send off your money back to the "company", their check will bounce for being fake. The bank will not only take back the entire $3950 from your account, but will also charge you a fee for depositing a bad check. This may not happen for a month or two.





Meanwhile, the "company" will have disappeared...along with the cash (your cash!) you mailed to them.





My wife does mystery shops, and NONE of them have EVER asked her handle a check in this manner. If the particular job required her to buy something, they would either send her a gift card, or have her submit her receipts for reimbursement. She also did not have to pay anything to join the service.





Unfortunately, the authorities don't want to hear about these attempted scams unless you've actually lost money from them. This strikes me as rather stupid since right now, you have a valid address and contact for the thief, who is attempting to commit a federal crime. If you wait until you've lost money, then all they can do is take down your information, and tell you "don't do it again." Yeah, really helpful...
Reply:Sounds like a scam to me. Why do you have to send them back money? That would make no sense that they would give you a check and then tell you to send back most of it. It's a scam.
Reply:I agree. It's probably a fake check. You'll send them the money back ,and it will actually be your money, because the check will not have been deposited.


I wouldn't do it.