We've recently been made aware of a scam targeting individuals with fraudulent checks, falsely claiming to be from Curion for a mystery shopping opportunity. It's crucial to understand the following:
The Checks Are Fraudulent:
- These checks are not issued by Curion.
- While ACE Mystery Shopper is a legitimate company, they explicitly state they do not send checks to individuals. Therefore these checks are also not from ACE Mystery Shopper.
How the Scam Works:
- You may receive a check in the mail with instructions to deposit it as payment for "evaluating" services.
- You are then typically asked to send a portion of that money elsewhere.
- The initial check will eventually bounce, leaving you responsible for the funds you sent.
Curion's Policy:
- Curion does not host in any mystery shop programs that involve sending checks.
- Any checks you receive claiming to be for mystery shopping, especially if they involve requests to forward money, are likely fraudulent and should be treated with extreme caution.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Check:
- Do not deposit the check.
- Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
Curion's Legitimate Payment Methods:
- Curion payments are always sent from our trusted payment partner, Tremendous.
- For additional information on how Curion payments are made, learn more here.
Verification:
- If you have any questions about the legitimacy of any Curion communications, please contact our consumer support team.
Please see the below image for an example of this scam:
Here is a screen capture of ACE Mystery Shopping's response to this scam.
Additional Resources:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- FTC articles on mystery shopping scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/mystery-shopping-scams
- ACE Mystery shopper website: https://www.acemysteryshopping.com/become-a-shopper