ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Monday, June 9, 2008) - Comptroller Peter Franchot today warned Maryland taxpayers about a scam involving fraudulent state checks. A taxpayer, receiving a phony Maryland check and letter from The Shopping Group, alerted the agency to the con.

In the letter, the taxpayer was informed that she had been selected to participate in a "mystery shopper" program. She received a fake check for $4,975 from the state of Maryland that she was directed to cash at a local bank and then use to facilitate a mystery shopping transaction. The letter's instructions informed the recipient to take $3,995 in cash to any Money Gram store or Wal Mart location and send a payment to Thomas Bailey of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The remaining $980 was billed as training pay and service charges.

"The state of Maryland is not working with any mystery shopping program," said Comptroller Franchot. "While we do not know the scope of the illegal activity, taxpayers who are solicited to participate shouldn't take the bait," he added.

If an individual attempted to cash the check and complete the transaction, he or she would be subject to fraudulent check charges, likely be assessed an insufficient funds fee and be ultimately responsible for the check's full amount to the bank.

State officials have alerted the Attorney General's Office and US Postal Inspectors about the scam.

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Contact: Christine Duray, 410-260-6346 (office), 443-336-0215 (cell)