[Tangelique92]

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?

[N0help4u]

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

[joypulv]

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.

[N0help4u]

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

[odinn7]

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.

[N0help4u]

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.

[joypulv]

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.

[N0help4u]

That's what Im guessing

[odinn7]

Ok, that makes sense.

[ScottGem]

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.

[N0help4u]

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.

[ScottGem]

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.

[N0help4u]

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.

[ScottGem]

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.

[N0help4u]

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.

[joypulv]

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.

[N0help4u]

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

[Tangelique92]

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

[ScottGem]

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.

[Tangelique92]

*money