The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has issued a warning to two companies are conducting a mystery shopper scam, sending letters and cheques bearing the Insurance Institute of Canada’s name and logo to certain individuals, citing payment for a mystery shopper assignment.
The scam typically involves the companies My Shop Ltd. (using the email address info@myshopltd.org) or Mystery Global Survey Group (using the email address hrc@globalservicesurveygrp.org or an @globalservicesurveygrp.org email address) asking the individuals to deposit a cheque; keep a portion of the money in their account as payment; and wire a sum of money to another person’s account. However, the cheque will not clear and the individuals will not be able to recover the sum transferred.
These are fraudulent cheques and not authorized by the Insurance Institute of Canada, nor is the Insurance Institute of Canada affiliated with My Shop Inc. or Mystery Global Survey Group, in any way.
FSCO warns consumers to exercise caution if they are contacted by anyone from these companies and are encouraged not to deposit the cheque or contact the company.
Instead, FSCO is asking customers to forward copies of the materials received to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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