Secret Shopper
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On August 1st, I saw a posting on craigslist.com for a customer service position so I responded to it. I recieved an email from a Jeffrey Kings ([email protected]) by email saying he was from the secret shopper company, he also sent an official email with the secret shopper and BBB logo on it. I was told to fill out an application and once I filled out the application I was then told I was hired and that my first assignment was to check the service of Western Union. I was to receive a check of $2800 by FedEx and keep a profit of $400 and wire the rest of the money. On August 3th I received the check from FedEx (From General Equip & Supply Inc, (565) 465 4443, PO Box 2145, Fargo ND 58107), tracking # 4961 4738 4r 352. I then deposited the check through ATM at my bank (USAA), being that this was the first time that I ever cashed a check this large I didn’t know all the rules and policies to do so. I immediately withdrew $500 to wire before my bank cut me off and told me that had to hold the check until they verified the funds. I told Mr. Kings the situation and he told me just to wire the $500 (MTCN 907-372-9725) and do the rest once the accounts were verified and that the check was good. I then went to the Kings Soopers on Hartsel Dr. in Colorado Springs, and wired $460 with the $40 fee to an “Alan Lige, 625 E Ontario St, Chicago IL 60621”. The next day (Aug 4), the funds were no longer off hold, I called the bank to verify that the funds were indeed good and that it was ok to cash the check and they told me that it was fine. I withdrew more money and went to the same King Soopers and wired the rest of the money (part cash and part debit) to Alan Lige again (MTCN 708-247-3121). On Aug 5th, I received another check and this time I was suppose to check on Money Gram, but this check was held a lot longer than the previous check. Then on Aug 9th, I was looking at my account and saw that one of the checks bounced, seeing the amount of time that had lapsed I assumed it was the second check I received, but it was the first check. I called my bank and explained to them the situation when they informed me that both checks were insufficient and to contact the authorities. When I contacted Mr. Kings, he re-iterated that I was not participating in a scam and then eventually told me that I needed to send $400 to receive my $2800 back and that if I couldn’t send another $400 then he wouldn’t help me. Then he stopped talking to me. On August 12th, I filed a police report with Deputy Paul Smith of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (case number 11-1017) and which I was informed this case would probably go cold. I work multiple jobs just to bring in $12000 a year, I’m just asking for help with recovery if possible.

*Mr. Kings also gave me the alternate email address of [email protected]
*Almost all of our transactions were through text messages from 92601
* I have all the text conversations and emails still saved.