June 3, 2010 - This is a warning to alert all consumers, EOs, or NAHB members about an e-mail scam circulating through the Internet.

Anyone receiving an unsolicited e-mail about a Mystery Shopper Vacancy notifying you that you will receive a check via UPS to evaluate a Wal-mart store or other shopping outlet should understand that this is an Internet Scam. The e-mail will ask you to act as a mystery shopper and observe the store in question. As part of the fraudulent scheme, it calls on you to cash the check, take a cut, and transfer the rest of the funds through Western Union to a third party.

In some cases, scammers are sending the victims a fraudulent NAHB check and telling them to cash it.

NAHB has ABSOLUTELY NO AFFILIATION with the Mystery Shopper Vacancy e-mails.  We have notified the proper authorities and are taking steps to let our entire membership know about this unlawful swindle.

Anyone who receives this type of e-mail is urged to DISREGARD IT. Do not send them money or cash their check.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Robert Pflieger at NAHB at 1-800-368-5242, ext. 8403; Donna Reichle at ext. 8473; or Gwyn Donahue at ext. 8447.