Oh, I'm well aware how the scam works.  People think a certified check won't bounce but that's not true.  Wiring won't bounce, that's for sure.  Try selling a used car on Craigslist and see how many 'car dealers' will pay you way more than you're asking, certified check, and ask you to pay them the difference because they only have the one big check for all the cars they're transporting.

We've all seen these scams in emails but my point was that this scam looked pretty legit & came in the mail.  They're usually obvious in the emails (Ryan has one he's been toying with who apparently got his email off our website) but this one was pretty crafty with the check which looked perfect barring the slight misspelling of the street on which Chicago Title is located.  Most people are wary of email scams but they targeted mystery shoppers and used familiar company logos and unfortunately I'm quite sure there will be some people who'll fall prey to this.  Best case is B of A puts out a fraud alert on these checks so they're returned immediately before people go spending money they don't have and returning $2,000 to these shysters.

William - the cash payments on the shops generally aren't worth the trouble unless you can knock out 8 short reports in one trip to the mall and maybe keep the shirt or you have nothing else to do.  I stick with the higher end dining and mid-level that will reimburse for all or most of the meal.  It's great when you're REQUIRED to get appetizers, drinks, two entrees, at least one dessert and it's free.  One near me pays $75 for their bar shop (nice Cheers-like place) and even with two of us, I have to bring home food (or leave the bar in a wheelbarrow) to get anywhere near that amount.