Police: Be Wary Of The ‘Mystery Shopper Scam’

The police are urging residents to be wary of the “mystery shopper scam,” which “entices local social media users by offering employment as a mystery shopper that allegedly has the potential to earn thousands of dollars.”

A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service is once again reminding residents to be wary of the mystery shopper scam.

“The scam entices local social media users by offering employment as a mystery shopper that allegedly has the potential to earn thousands of dollars by completing simple tasks – such as purchasing certain items, then reporting back on their shopping experience.

“If a local resident agrees to be a mystery shopper, they will usually receive a quantity of money into their personal bank account. A small amount of the total, they are told, can be kept as payment for their mystery shopper services.

“They are then asked to withdraw the remainder of the cash and instructed to send that money overseas via a local money service business.

“However, any funds deposited into local accounts through this scheme often originate from crime – mainly phishing scams or other electronic fraud – and local residents deceived by this scam are unwittingly being used to launder criminal proceeds.

“Local banks are already vigilant for this suspicious activity and are likely to freeze the assets of any resident’s account found to be involved in the mystery shopper scam.

“If you are unsure whether or not a potential opportunity is a scam – or wish to report any incidents of suspected internet fraud – please contact the Financial Crime Unit on telephone number 247-1757 or via the e-mail address fraud2@bps.bm.

“Advice on how to avoid and report scams can also be found here.“

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