Beware of mystery, clearing house scams

Holidays, seemingly, are bringing out the scammers this year. The Henry County Sheriff?s Office is warning residents about a pair of new scams in the area.

The first is the mystery shopper or Walmart scam.

The scam begins when someone is hired to act like a customer, but all the while they?re evaluating services at a business to report later.

The scammer may send a letter or an email, or possibly post in a newspaper or online message board, describing this seemingly ideal way to make extra money. It most likely will be described at a paid, stay-at-home job where people help evaluate large retail stores.

When someone responds to the letter or posting, the ?victim? gets an employment packet, which has a training assignment, a list of products to buy and a phony cashier?s check.

The training assignment is where the scammer gets his/her money ? the victim deposits the check into their bank account, takes out the amount provided for a salary and the amount used to buy the products, and then wires the remainder of the check to a given address. After the money is wired, the fake check bounces, leaving the victim responsible for refunding the bank the amount of the check.

Secondly, the sheriff?s office is warning about a Publisher?s Clearing House scam.

This scam begins when someone contacts you, claiming to be from Publisher?s Clearing House and tells you that you?ve won a prize award. They then ask the ?winner? to send a payment or money card in order to claim the prize. The sheriff?s office warns that the winner has not heard from the real Publisher?s Clearing House. At Publisher?s Clearing House, the winning is always free and no payment is required to claim a prize award.

Officials at the sheriff?s office said they have received several reports of both scams operating in the area.