Comments on: How Mystery Shopping Companies Spot Fraudulent Shops http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops Tips for being a successful professional shopper Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:53:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: coryj http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-162 coryj Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:02:08 +0000 http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-162 Great post Cathy. As a mystery shopping company owner for the last 4 1/2 years, we have only had a handful of shoppers falsify a report. The most brazen was a shopper who called the location and asked for employee names. They continued by saying they were doing an audit for us and, if they provided her the information they needed, she would ensure they got a 100%. When I confronted her, she simply acted dumb saying "why would I do that?" and "How would I even know how to ensure they got 100%?" The funny thing is, she has never complained since we de-activated her account and never paid her for that assignment. By the way, we found out because our client reported it to us. I think most companies strive to have good relationships with their clients and the clients, most definitely, will tell the mystery shopping company if they think something is fraudulent. You are also right that they will check their video record of that time frame. They may also check receipt records and, in many cases, their employees will spot the discrepancy. Great post Cathy. As a mystery shopping company owner for the last 4 1/2 years, we have only had a handful of shoppers falsify a report. The most brazen was a shopper who called the location and asked for employee names. They continued by saying they were doing an audit for us and, if they provided her the information they needed, she would ensure they got a 100%.

When I confronted her, she simply acted dumb saying “why would I do that?” and “How would I even know how to ensure they got 100%?” The funny thing is, she has never complained since we de-activated her account and never paid her for that assignment.

By the way, we found out because our client reported it to us. I think most companies strive to have good relationships with their clients and the clients, most definitely, will tell the mystery shopping company if they think something is fraudulent. You are also right that they will check their video record of that time frame. They may also check receipt records and, in many cases, their employees will spot the discrepancy.

]]> By: Cathy Stucker http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-161 Cathy Stucker Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:36:18 +0000 http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-161 @crawdaddydoo92: "Sad but true" sums it up well. @jj: There will always be people who want to take what they see as the easy way. It is true everywhere, not just in secret shopping. Fortunately, there are not many of those people. Most mystery shoppers (just like most people in general) are honest. @crawdaddydoo92: “Sad but true” sums it up well.

@jj: There will always be people who want to take what they see as the easy way. It is true everywhere, not just in secret shopping. Fortunately, there are not many of those people. Most mystery shoppers (just like most people in general) are honest.

]]> By: jj http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-160 jj Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:41:55 +0000 http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-160 I never thought any one would even think of doing something like that. I hope that we don't have any more of those situations because it is not very fair to the rest of us Shoppers, Clients or Schedulers. I suppose they are fair about not letting you shop for their company again. For the most part, I suppose most of us will be honest about our shopping. Let's hope that this kind of behaviours does not continue besides it is a fun thing to do I haven't worked to much shopping, but what I have done was rewarding. It makes you feel good doing it and taking back the datum that the client's and scheduler's need. I never thought any one would even think of doing something like that. I hope that we don’t have any more of those situations because it is not very fair to the rest of us Shoppers, Clients or Schedulers. I suppose they are fair about not letting you shop for their company again. For the most part, I suppose most of us will be honest about our shopping. Let’s hope that this kind of behaviours does not continue besides it is a fun thing to do I haven’t worked to much shopping, but what I have done was rewarding. It makes you feel good doing it and taking back the datum that the client’s and scheduler’s need.

]]> By: crawdaddydoo92 http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-159 crawdaddydoo92 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:27:51 +0000 http://www.mysteryshoppersmanual.com/how-mystery-shopping-companies-spot-fraudulent-shops#comment-159 Another great write up Cathy. I think I'll need to file this in my "sad but true" folder. Another great write up Cathy. I think I’ll need to file this in my “sad but true” folder.

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