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Findlay, OH – January 7, 2008 – A sophisticated mystery shopping scam continues to spread across the country, conning consumers out of millions of dollars, according to Corporate Research International (CRI), an Ohio-based mystery shopping and consumer satisfaction firm. The scam involves letters to consumers offering a mystery shopping job to evaluate one or more leading money wire services. The letter is accompanied by a cashier’s check for several thousand dollars with instructions to cash the check at a local bank and then wire the cash to a designated location in Canada. The consumer is directed to keep several hundred dollars as payment for evaluating the service received from the money wire service. The cashier’s check ultimately bounces and the customer is left liable for the funds. CRI’s name, along with those of other legitimate firms, has been fraudulently used in the letters to establish credibility with the unsuspecting recipient. “This is an ongoing problem that seems to be on the rise again,” said Mike Mallett, CEO of CRI. “Law enforcement is obviously involved on a large scale, but we want to do our part in making consumers aware of these scams.” According to the latest figures from the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, the legitimate mystery shopping industry is estimated at $600 million per year and growing. “There are many legitimate mystery shopping firms offering valuable services,” said Mallett. “But consumers need to be cautious. I tell people that they should never pay to become a mystery shopper and any offer that looks too good to be true is probably a scam.” CRI posted a warning on the company’s Web site and issued an alert to consumer protection agencies. The firm continues to work with local law enforcement as well as the FBI in the investigation. Consumers are urged to contact local officials if they receive a scam letter.
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