Crystal Lake Man Faces Federal Charges in 'Secret Shopper' Scheme

Crystal Lake resident Michael S. Mackay, 46, has been charged with two federal counts of mail fraud for his role in a 'secret shopper' scam that ran from Sept. 2011 through May 16, 2012, the Northwest Herald reports.

Mackay allegedly sent out more than $1 million in counterfeit money orders that looked like those issued by the U.S. Postal Service, American Express, Capital One Bank, National Bank of Texas, First National Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union, the story said.

Recipients were asked to deposit the money orders, ranging from $900 to $2,000, at their banks, and then go to a Western Union site to wire a certain percentage back. Mackay received at least $10,000 from at least 665 victims across the U.S., the Northwest Herald reports.