Ive been trying to get help with this situation for a week already and no one seems to care to help me. I signed up to be a mystery shopper I received a letter from Walmart market the letter look ligit the check looked real so I did as it said. I deposited it into my wells Fargo account the next day my account looked weird so I called them. They told me there's a hold on the check and if it doesn't clear they would cancel it from my account and my account would be fine. The following day they put a freeze on my account (I still had not withdrew the money they made available) so I went into the bank took the letter, explained I knew nothing about it being a scam I thought it was a real job and asked if they could reconsider keeping my account open and working with me to resolve this. I was told no and I couldn't bank any where else ever again. So I gave him my debit card and left and since then I can not find any one to help with my situation what should I do?

O you need an acct for direct deposit? If not you can use money orders and purchase debut cards. That happened to me at a bank and years later someone with a lot of pull managed to open an acct for me. I prefer money orders when I don't need direct deposit

Go back. Talk to a higher bank officer. Get your debit card back. Why would you walk out on the rest of your money? I have never heard of a bank saying what this person said to you.
As for the scam - there are countless variations. Please don't ever fall for ANYTHING remotely so easy again. THINK THINK THINK - why would Walmart send out random checks and job offers?? They don't, and no one does. But now that Photoshop exists,fake checks are a dime a dozen.

OP can not get money if it esas a scam so I'm not sure what money became available?

OP can not get money if it esas a scam so I'm not sure what money became available?

Probably the money that was already in her bank account.

Usually if you have enough money in your account the check will clear right away. If not then it seems to me she was expecting the Bank to give her the scam money. OP doesn't mention other checks becoming available.

If 'no one will help,' I have a feeling that she did overdraw her account (despite saying she didn't), at least by some of the amount of the bogus check.

The result is that you may have been a 'victim' of a scam, but that doesn't absolve you from being cautious.

That's what Im guessing

Ok, that makes sense.

I'm curious as to what you were supposed to do with this check? Also I agree that I've never heard of a bank acting like this. And I would speak to someone else. But it does sound to me like you had no other money in the account.

Mystery Shoppers claim they will send you money for expenses to get started. They send you a list of stores and restaurants to spend money at and you evaluate the establishment. Not sure what the scammers were trying to pull here other than maybe hack her acct.

Mystery Shoppers claim they will send you money for expenses to get started. They send you a lust of stores and restaurants to spend money at and you evaluate the establishment. Not sure what the scammers were trying to pull here.

That's my point. I can see them sending a check to use for purchases. But if the OP uses them for purchases, then what benefit would the scammers get from it? Unless the OP was supposed to ship the items to them.

Mystery Shoppers get to keep their purchases. I think the way it works is the head corporations pay the [legitimate] Mystery Shopper company to have their franchises evaluated by the people like the OP. I always wanted to do that but was never sure how to find a legitimate Mystery Shopper program.

Different programs work differently. There are several firms that run Mystery Shopper programs for corporate clients. I don't know if any retailer manages their own program.

That is what caught my eye about the OP is that I doubt Wal-Mart has their own program. I would have called the Wal-Mart headquarters directly to confirm.

The question is what the scam is here. Usually when a fake check is sent, the recipient is told to send something back. I'm worried that not only did she deposit the fake check but that she gave out her bank account info, and it was compromised, and that's partly what the bank is mad at her about.

That's what I think is they were looking to hack her acct but the Bank was on the ball.

Well after they sent the check back my husband still had his direct deposited check in there (we have a joint account) so I'm sure that I didn't overdraw my account. His only is still in there but their suppost to send him a check and close the account

The question is what the scam is here. Usually when a fake check is sent, the recipient is told to send something back. I'm worried that not only did she deposit the fake check but that she gave out her bank account info, and it was compromised, and that's partly what the bank is mad at her about.

I don't see where she gave them scammers her bank info. But it is a possibility they were trying to use the cancelled check to hack the account. But then why shut her down, why not just close the account and open a new one?

Hopefully the OP will come back with some answers.

*money

I never gave no bank info I was told once I had the money in hand I had to go online and click one step one which now I'm probably sure it was to wire the money or something. I'm a stay at home mother with 4 kids and all I was doing was trying to help my husband out now it seems like I just messed it up for us I feel so bad

I'm thinking if anything they should take into consideration that the money they made available I didn't touch because I wanted to do things right (thinking it was a real job) if my account was overdrafted don't u think they would have took my husbands direct deposited check? The day after I deposited it I called they put a hold on the check because I was concerned about my account after that they froze it and said they will be closing it and then I couldn't bank at any bank

I don't see where she gave them scammers her bank info. But it is a possibility they were trying to use the cancelled check to hack the account. But then why shut her down, why not just close the account and open a new one?

Hopefully the OP will come back with some answers.

I never gave anyone my bank info I'm thinking if I would have touched the money they made available and did step one the scammers were telling me to do, that maybe they might have had me send them the money or something I'm not sure that's just what I'm hearing I never went back on that website since as for the overdraft my husband got paid the day before (direct deposited) and despite the check I deposited that has now been sent back charging us a small return fee my husband still has what money was in the bank before the check situation.

OK, yes, if you were supposed to send them money, then it was a scam. But I really don't understand why they would close your account and blackball you.


my husband still has what money was in the bank before the check situation.

This is confusing! If your husband still has the balance and can use the account then what is this about the account being closed? The whole thing is wrong. I can see them freezing your account pending an investigation, but not what you say was done. So Monday morning I would be at that bank and demand an explanation from the bank manager. At the very least, demand that your balance (less the amount of the deposited check) be returned to you. And if its not, tell them you will be reporting this to the police and the State (or Federal if it's a federally chartered bank) banking authorities. Then may threaten to call the police on you and charge you with fraud. Don't let that intimidate you. You were the victim here (though you fell for a common scam) and should not lose out because of it.

OK, yes, if you were supposed to send them money, then it was a scam. But I really don't understand why they would close your account and blackball you.



This is confusing! if your husband still has the balance and can use the account then what is this about the account being closed? The whole thing is wrong. I can see them freezing your account pending an investigation, but not what you say was done. So Monday morning I would be at that bank and demand an explanation from the bank manager. At the very least, demand that your balance (less the amount of the deposited check) be returned to you. And if its not, tell them you will be reporting this to the police and the State (or Federal if its a federally chartered bank) banking authorities. Then may threaten to call the police on you and charge you with fraud. Don't let that intimidate you. You were the victim here (though you fell for a common scam) and should not lose out because of it.
Well the bank is sending us a check of what money my husband had in there. I believe they said my account will be shut at the beginning of the week. I was told to call loss prevention department we did they don't want to help all I want is for my account to stay open. I fell for a scam I messed up but I didn't take the banks money or nothing so why would I not be able to bank there? I've been banking with them for several years already

'so why would I not be able to bank there?'

That's why we keep saying to go back to the bank and demand to talk to a manager.

'so why would I not be able to bank there?'

That's why we keep saying to go back to the bank and demand to talk to a manager.
Will do thanks everyone I appreciate your guys help

What Joy said. You are right, you didn't take any of the banks money. In fact you lost the bad check fee (and rightly so). But I see no reason why your account has to be closed. And especially why you wouldn't be able to bank elsewhere. That is wrong and you should, at least get an explanation.

Let us know what happens.

What Joy said. You are right, you didn't take any of the banks money. In fact you lost the bad check fee (and rightly so). But I see no reason why your account has to be closed. And especially why you wouldn't be able to bank elsewhere. That is wrong and you should, at least get an explanation.

Let us know what happens.
I sure will :)

An ex-boss once deposited a check that bounced into her account and they cancelled/closed her account immediately. They told her she can apply for another one after 5 years. It sounds like a normal procedure for Bank of America - other banks apparently do this as well.