JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A First Coast mom says her son was two hours from losing $2,000 in a fast cash deal by becoming a "Mystery Shopper."
Peg Moore had all the emails that spelled out the deal that would pay her teenager $250 after he cashed two checks sent to him with instructions to wire on $1,500 to another shopper.
"We were two hours away or less from losing $2,000 and a seven year credit problem with my son," said Moore from her Southside home.
Moore said she got involved when her son noticed at the Western Union where he wired the money a poster warning of problems with "Mystery Shopper" deals.
Mom says she contacted Western Union to stop payment on the checks.
"Unfortunately for kids like my son who are desperate for a job to bring a little money in, logic goes out the window," she said.
Moore said her son was sent two checks, which he cashed, and was told to keep $250 for shopping two businesses and pay to have the balance wired to another shopper with a New York City address.
Mom said she knows the checks were bad, but now has the cash back in her son's account to cover them.
The lure of fast cash, she says, is tempting, but comes with cost. In her case it was a close call since no money was lost in the deal.
First Coast News