Four cases of fraud reported to law enforcement.

A mystery shopper scam hit Star Valley this month. To date four cases of fraudulent checks and shopping offers have been reported. Two reports were logged with Afton PD. Two reports were logged with the Sheriff Department.
“What we have here is an offer that sounds too good to be true. And it is,” said Afton Police Chief Tim Heggenstaller. “That is usually the way it works. If you receive a suspicious check or offer, have it checked out.”
The scam is fairly strait forward. Postal customers in the Star Valley area have received a check for $1,999. There is also a letter and shopping survey inclosed in the envelope. The letter outlines the recipient as being invited to participate in a paid consumer research program.
Program participants are asked to cash the $1,999 check and use a portion of those funds as a mystery shopper. A portion of the funds are also outlined to be used to test branches of the money transferring industry (such as Western Union of Money Gram).
The only problem is, the $1,999 check is fake. After a consumer cashes the check it is their own funds they are using to mystery shop and wire money.
“All of the wired money is going somewhere,” said Sheriff Shane Johnson. “But it is difficult to track. The chance of money being recovered is slim to none. The best way to put a stop to the scam is to prevent people from being scammed in the first place. If you receive a big check in the mail for no reason, question it.”
Both the Afton Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the scam. If you have received a check and mystery shopper letter, call the Sheriff Office at 885-5231.