Canadian classified ad scam costs Carson City woman thousands of dollars

A classified ad scam has left at least one Carson City resident out thousands of dollars.

The newspaper ad, which ran Sept. 8-14, sought "customer service evaluators" and boasted paid training and flexible hours, with a 604-area code phone number that returns to Vancouver, Canada.

According to a report filed with the Carson City Sheriff's Department on Friday, a woman answered the ad and was sent a letter that explained she would be a "Secret Shopper."

The letter directed the woman to cash an enclosed $2,560 check and go to MoneyGram at the nearest "Wall Mart," and send $2,215 to Patricia Munoz in Ontario, Canada. The balance was to be the woman's two-hour training fee and $45 service fee from MoneyGram. MoneyGram is an international service for sending cash electronically.

"The objective of this assignment will be to evaluate the effectiveness of (Money Gram)," the letter states.

The woman was then directed to call back the Vancouver number and inform them she'd completed the assignment.

After doing as directed, the victim learned the check was a fraud.

On Monday, an unidentified man who answered at the number listed in the ad hung up immediately when questioned by a reporter about the letter.

Carson City Sheriff's Service Technician Mike Shewbert said another victim came to report the same scam, but declined to file anything after he learned his bank would cover the loss.

According to Sierra Nevada Classifieds, the ad ran in the Nevada Appeal, Nevada Appeal Today, The Record-Courier and on their respective Internet sites.

"Unfortunately, this victim will likely be held responsible for paying back her bank," said Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong.

A phone call to MoneyGram's spokesperson was not returned Tuesday. However, the company addresses fraud on its Web site, moneygram.com.

"MoneyGram money transfers offer an efficient and speedy way to send money throughout the world. Unfortunately, fraud perpetrators have learned that they can dupe consumers with a variety of scams and may suggest to the consumer that the money be sent using MoneyGram," the Web site states. "Fraud perpetrators will typically pick up the money as soon as it is sent. Once the money has been paid out, there is no way for the sender to get it back."

MoneyGram offer the following tips:

• Be suspicious of a cashiers check or money order sent to you where you are asked to cash the item at your bank and use MoneyGram to send a portion of the funds to someone else. The check or money order may not be real and it can take weeks for your bank to learn that it has not cleared. Current scams associated with this type of fraud are mystery shoppers, employment opportunities and sales of goods on the Internet.

• Be sure that the person or company you are sending money to is someone you know and can trust.

• Once the money has been paid out to the person you name as the receiver, cancellation or refund is no longer possible.

• Be suspicious if you receive a telephone call telling you that you have won money or a prize and that you need to send money to pay for taxes, customs fees, etc.

• Be suspicious if the person you are dealing with instructs you to send money with the name of a friend or relative as the receiver to show "good faith" or to prove your identity.

If you're solicited by a suspicious offer, MoneyGram suggests you contact the Better Business Bureau or the attorney general before sending any money.

For Canadian issues, call Phone-Busters toll-free at 1-888-495-8501. For a list of fraud scenarios or to report a fraud, you can also go to www.consumer.gov/sentinel.

To report fraud to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, go to www.ifccfbi.gov.

"I wish that more people would become aware of the scams out there. Reputable, legitimate businesses just do not give money away," Furlong said.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.