Residents Being Deceived By Shopper Scam

The police continue to advise residents to be wary of the ‘mystery shopper scam’ saying that “despite previous warnings, members of the public are still being deceived by the offer of easy money.”

A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service continues to advise residents to be wary of the mystery shopper scam, also known as the secret shopper scam.

“Despite previous warnings, members of the public are still being deceived by the offer of easy money.

“The scam entices local social media users by offering employment as a mystery / secret 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 / secret shopper, they will usually receive up to $5,000 into their personal bank account. A small amount of that total, they are told, can be kept as payment for their mystery / secret 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 will freeze the assets of any resident’s account found to be involved in the mystery / secret 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.”

#Scams

Category: All, Crime, News, technology