Scam guides › Fake check / mystery shopper scam
Fake check scams: "Deposit this check and send back the rest"
Updated . By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.
Short answer: Never use money from a check to send money, gift cards or crypto to anyone who asks. The FTC says these checks are fake, and it can take weeks for the bank to find out. By then you're on the hook to pay the bank back.
What it looks like
Congratulations, you're hired as a mystery shopper! Deposit the enclosed check for $2,950, keep $300 as your pay, and use the rest to buy gift cards. Send us photos of the cards.
A made-up example based on the mystery shopper scheme the FTC describes.
How the scam works
- You get a check from a "job", a buyer, or a prize, often for more than expected.
- They ask you to deposit it and send part back, or buy gift cards with it.
- The check bounces later, and you owe the bank the money you spent.
Red flags
- A check for more than you were owed
- Being asked to send back "the difference"
- Mystery shopper, car wrap or personal assistant jobs
- Buying gift cards with the money
What to do now
- Don't send any money back.
- Ask your bank to verify the check, and wait.
- If you already sent money or gift cards, contact the gift card company and your bank right away.
- Report it to the FTC.
Never send money, gift cards, crypto or verification codes because of a call, text or message. Hang up and call the real number.
Report it
Questions
The money showed up in my account. Doesn't that mean the check cleared?
Not always. The FTC says it can take weeks for a bank to discover a check is fake, and then you have to repay it.
Sources
- FTC: How to spot, avoid, and report fake check scams
- FTC consumer alert: Mystery shopping, (fake) checks, and gift cards (Apr 2024)
Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.
Get next week's scam before it reaches you
One short email a week: the newest scam going around, a real example, the warning signs, and exactly what to do. Free, always. Plus a free printable Scam-Proof Fridge Sheet and Family Safety Checklist.