Avoid the Mystery Shopper Check Scam
The mystery shopper check scam is a variation on a long-running scam where the scammer sends a check and asks their intended victim to wire most of the money back to them or another party, often in a foreign country. Every day there are reports of more people getting caught up in this scam, often losing thousands of dollars.
The National Consumers League has launched a web site designed to educate consumers about these scams at http://www.FakeChecks.org/. The site explains how the scams work, the signs of a scam, and how to protect yourself. Although FakeChecks.org does not specifically mention the mystery shopper scam, it works much the same way as the other fake check scams.
If you receive a check from a company that says you have been selected to be a mystery shopper, do not cash it. You can report it to your local police or the FBI, or just destroy the check.
Educate yourself to keep your money safe.
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on October 24th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I received this email and I am trying to find out if it is real or a scam.
From: Mrs. Mary Peterson (“Mrs. Mary Peterson”@omr3.networksolutionsemail.com)
Medium riskYou may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Sat 10/24/09 12:22 PM
To: mp23200@googlemail.com
Dear Friend,
We have a job opening for the position of Mystery Shopper officer, Mystery Evaluation Inc is a well established Evaluation Firm, We are a company that conduct surveys and evaluate other companies. We get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers in order to know how the staffs are handling their services in relation to their customers. Once we have a contract to do, you would be directed to the company or outlet or restaurant, and you would be given the funds for the job (either to purchase things or require services), after which you would write a comment on the staff’s activities and give a detailed record of your experience.
Examples of details you would forward to us are:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Smartness of the attendant
3) Customer service professionalism
4) Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they react to clients.
When they get tensed (under pressure), we turn the information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving their services. Most companies employ our assistance when people give complaints about their services, or when they feel there’s need for them to improve their customer service.
Here is a chance for you to get a free shopping and dinner out, if you will like to be a Mystery Shoppers.You are to evaluate and give comment on customers services in different Stores,shops and restaurant in your area code. You will be paid to shop and dine out, you will also have access to free meals, free merchandise, free services, free travel, free entertainment and lot more. Your identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid $150 for every survey you carry out and bonus on your transportation allowance, also funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty.
Your job here will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area. No commitment is made on this job and you would have flexible hours as it suits you. If you are interested, you have to fill the list below so we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service into, and your address would also be needed for your payments.
Job Requirements:
You must be RELIABLE, detail-oriented, and write reasonably well, also you must have access to a computer with Microsoft Word and a reliable internet connection, must be 19 years old and above, No experience needed .
Fill the list below:
Application info needed:
First Name :
Middle Name :
Last Name :
Phone 1 :
Phone 2 :
Address 1 :
Address 2 :
City :
State :
Country United States
Zip Code :
Year of Birth :
Gender :
Disability :
Thanks
Master Hiring
HR Department
Mrs. Mary Peterson
Mystery Evaluation Inc.
on October 24th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
This email, like virtually all of these unsolicited emails claiming to offer mystery shopping jobs, is a scam. No doubt about it.
A few clues:
The sender uses a free email address. Most mystery shopping company representatives use email addresses through the company’s website.
The email is horribly written. The grammar is atrocious.
Mystery shoppers usually are not, “required to upset the attendant, to see how they react to clients.” Most mystery shops involve trying not to be memorable or doing anything out of the ordinary.
Scam.
Simple mystery shops do not pay $150. If it sounds too good to be true…
on December 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I also received this email. In the email address, “shopper” is spelled incorrectly.
mysteryevalutionshoper@yahoo.com.hk
on December 4th, 2009 at 10:39 am
LOL! Misspelling “shopper” is always a good start when they are trying to convince you they are a mystery shopping company. ;o)