SHADY COVE, Ore. (AP) -- Shady Cove police say a Trail couple lost nearly $4,000 in a "mystery shopper" scam.
Sgt. Julie Denney says the couple learned of an opportunity to evaluate local branches of national retailers.
They received a series of money orders from the purported store-evaluation company on Dec. 30. They were directed to deposit the money into their bank account, then use that money to buy goods at the store being evaluated.
After shopping, they were instructed to keep several hundred dollars as payment and wire the remaining money back to the company via Western Union.
A bank teller later informed them that the money orders they had deposited were forged, so the money wired away had come from their personal account.
Denney advises people to be cautious when considering employment opportunities online or by mail.
