A firm calling itself Edward Jones Market Research has been scamming consumers in several states, including Ohio and New York, the Better Business Bureau said Tuesday.
The firm purports to be located at 201 Progress Parkway in Maryland Heights, the same one used by the real Edward Jones, but appears to be located in Canada, the BBB said.
Consumers have told the BBB that they received a check in the mail from this firm for $3,915. They were told to deposit the money and then to purchase $150 worth of goods from stores such as Wal-Mart, Sears or K-mart, etc. as part of their “secret shopper” duties and then keep $415 as payment for their evaluation.
Their second duty was to test the effectiveness and efficiency of MoneyGram or Western Union by wiring the remaining $3,350 to one of several individuals at locations nationwide. The check eventually turns out to be counterfeit and consumers are held responsible for the money they took out of their bank.
This company is not associated with Edward Jones, the investment firm headquartered in St. Louis, the BBB said.