State officials warn consumers about "secret shopper" scam - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

State officials warn consumers about "secret shopper" scam

Posted:
By Martha Boehm - email

MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions wants you to be aware of recent scams involving "secret shopper" programs and foreign lotteries.

The department says one of the main techniques the scammers use is to mail unsolicited checks to victims with instructions to cash the checks and then wire most of the money to an unknown location. Victims are then told they have either won a foreign lottery or they've been selected to participate in a "secret shopper" program.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service estimates that Americans have lost more than $42 million to scammers over the past three years.

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions says if you who have received offers that are bogus or appear to be bogus, you should contact Division of Securities Examiner James Lackey, Jr. at (608) 266-1365.

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