Hmmm - I'm not Jody - BUT the part where you aren't supposed to put that into your bank account - is because that is traceable - and if there is a problem with the check, etc. - then that could be tracked.

 

It might be legit - but honestly - it sounds like a money laundering scheme to me - much more so than anything having to do with being a mystery shopper (except so far as spending the $$$ part!!!)  Honestly - what would I do?  I would probably be on the phone to the cops and ask them. 

Oprah just had a repeat of a show she did about scams on yesterday.  I would check out her website and see what they have posted as ways to check this stuff out.

 

I know a couple people on there that got scammed went on to Yahoo groups and put in info from the "company" they were working for and got a list of scams going on with them.  There was an expert on there and he was talking about a way to check on banks and such that checks are written out of, but I can't remember...it might be on the website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last one looks to be a good article...and reiterates something I remember from Oprah...

 

if they are pressuring you with a quick deadline to cash a check and wire some money, it is probably not legit.  The last link I posted specifically talks about a bank in Canada.............

thanks ladies.. I looked at the last one & it sounds exactly like this, except they aren't pressuring me to cash the check within 48 hours.. within  a week..so I'm gonna call the sheriff's office & send an email to the local news so they can let people know.. then I will call them back &  then  depending on what the cops say.. I might let them know I won't be cashing their fake check that I turned it into the cops & the news.. so... thanks a bunch ladies..

 

People like this have warped minds don't they..

will let you know what the sheriff's office says..luv & hugs.. gina

Another thing the guy from Oprah said is that it takes about 2 weeks for a bank to authenticate a check...so even though the law says they have to make the funds available to you within 1 to 5 days, it can still be found fraudulent and bounce 2 weeks after you get the money............just FYI