Fraud Alert

People around the U.S. and Canada are receiving letters from Digital Research where the recipient of the letter is asked to become a mystery shopper and evaluate the service of Western Union. While some of the details of the scam vary, in most of the letters the scammers ask the recipient – in their role as a “mystery shopper” – to deposit into their bank account an attached check for up to $3,000 written out to the recipient. Then, the recipient is asked to evaluate the customer service of Western Union by wiring their own money to a designated Western Union account.  The check isn’t legitimate, and the individual has just wired and lost their own money.

Digital Research, whose name has been “hijacked” and illegally used to stage this fraud scheme has been busy addressing questions and complaints.  Digital Research itself never solicits money from participants in the research process.  Digital Research recommends these action steps regarding how to respond to the victims of such mail fraud schemes. Also, we have contacted local authorities about this matter.  If you have any questions, please feel to contact us immediately or the Kennebunk Police Department at 207-985-6121.

If you have received a letter similar to the one described above, Digital Research recommends the following:

• DO NOT attempt to cash or deposit the check (if the check has already been deposited, you should alert your bank immediately)
• DO NOT send any money to Western Union
• Contact your local post office, your state consumer protection agency (Visit www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General), and your local Western Union office
• Consider filing a complaint to the FTC via its consumer protection complaint form