Scammers lie. It’s what they do. Anyone who is willing to steal thousands of dollars from you has no problem telling a couple of lies.
Honest people tend to take what scammers say at face value. They believe them, because as honest people their first instinct isn’t to lie and cheat people. To protect yourself from scammers, you have to understand that everyone doesn’t think and act as you do, and you cannot assume that random strangers on the Internet are honest and have your best interests at heart.
Here are eight lies that mystery shop scammers tell:
You were (seemingly randomly) chosen to be a mystery shopper for us. Mystery shopping companies do not send spam emails to people at random to offer them assignments. If you didn’t fill out an application at the company’s website, they are not going to send you assignments.
We represent a legitimate mystery shopping company. Scammers often use the names of legitimate mystery shopping companies, but do not be fooled. Their emails typically come from a free account, and not the website domain owned by the mystery shopping company. If the email address is @hotmail, @yahoo or @gmail, they are probably not with the company they claim to represent.
You will make $200 (or more) per shop. On a typical mystery shopping assignment, you might be paid a fee and/or reimbursed for a purchase of $5 – $50, more on some that have large required purchases (such as fine dining shops, hotels, etc.). The shops that pay in the high range are not going to be given to a shopper with whom they have never worked.
We guarantee that you will be able to earn hundreds of dollars every week. Mystery shoppers are usually independent contractors. We are not required to take specific assignments, and we are not promised a specific number of assignments or amount of compensation.
We are members of the Better Business Bureau and the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. They are not. They are scammers. If they are using the name of a legitimate company, that company may belong to organizations such as BBB and MSPA, but the scammer does not. Do not be fooled by logos and other trust symbols in their emails.
We have big name clients, like Wal-Mart, McDonald’s and Home Depot. Again, no they do not. They are scammers. They have no clients, only victims. Just because they say something it doesn’t mean that it is true. Some scammers put the logos of well-known companies in their letters and emails to convince victims that they are legitimate, but those logos do not mean anything.
The check we sent you is real. This can seem to be true when your bank releases the funds a few days after you deposited the scammer’s check. However, the bank is required to make funds available within a few days. That is Federal law. It doesn’t mean that the check has actually cleared. It could be weeks before they discover the check is fraudulent. When that happens, they will want their money back. If you have wired it off to the scammer, you are stuck figuring out how to pay it back.
If you don’t send the money, we will have you arrested by the FBI. This is my favorite lie! When a potential victim starts to figure out that something is wrong and they get nervous about sending off the money, the scammer may threaten to have the victim arrested. Seriously. It can be scary, because the victims are honest people who do not get in trouble with the law. Being told that they could be arrested is upsetting. But think about it. This is a scam. The check is fake. What are they going to do? Maybe they could call the FBI and say, “Hello, FBI? I would like you to arrest this person. They refused to allow me to scam them.” Really? I don’t think so. Just ignore them and they will move along to the next victim.
These scams are still common because people keep falling for them. Put an end to them by refusing to be scammed and warning your friends about the fake check scam.
I was scammed but I didn’t cash the fake cashiers check the e-mail address was not real invalided e mail address . They wanted me to send $900.00 to two persons $900.00. It sound fakey to me
I’m from BC Canada. I’ve been ask to be a mystery shopper. Went to open a bank account for it. I was adviced to check if it is a scam.
Mr. John Robertson Director of Operation is sending a check for 4,725.50 . I also have his phone #s 800 769 4901 and address is 69 yonge st. Toronto. Ont,
With him sending money could this be Over payment to forged or stolen?
I don’t have the letter yet, and I’m to phone him when I get it.
Thank you Lynda
Lynda, it is a scam. Whenever someone sends a large check like this it is always a scam. The check is fake. Do not have any contact with the scammer. Do not call him when you get the check, do not respond if he calls or emails you. Just ignore him.
Lynda, my boyfriend received the same thing for this JohnRobertson. We are from Nova Scotia. He took the cheque to the bank and wanted us to send out around 2000 through western union, telling us the cheque went through on his end, however it didn’t go through on the bank. My boyfriend went to the bank and John Robertson withdrawn the cheque. The bank said it was a scam and I believe he tried to get the 2000 and withdrawn his cheque even though he said he didn’t. Please don’t fall for it! Hope this helps you. God bless
Whenever you receive a large check in the mail from someone you do not know, it is more than likely a scam. When they want you to wire money somewhere, it is 100% a scam. Always.
I have recieved asking if I was interested in becoming a ms I replied as yes.
now i am trying to figure out if it is real.The company name is Mystery Global Survey. How do i check on their status?
It doesn’t matter what company name they use. If they sent you an unsolicited email asking you to be a mystery shopper, it is a scam. Mystery shopping companies do not troll the Internet looking for shoppers. They deal with the people who are already in their databases.
Sign up with some of the legitimate mystery shopping companies on my list here.
Cathy,
You stated that those companies which send unsolicited email asking a person to mystery shop is a scam. What if your bank where your accounts are “housed” sends an email requesting that you become a regular mystery shopper? In the past, I have written a couple of reviews for certain branches I visit. If this is a scam, I’m already in trouble because I’ve already performed one shop for them so far. I hope its legit!
Charlene, if you have a relationship with a company, then it is not an unsolicited email out of the blue. If the email is from your bank, it is likely legitimate. There are some banks that do this. Contact your bank directly (not by clicking on links in the email or replying to the email) and ask if it is a legitimate opportunity.
I received a check from k3 interprises in NC, for 2,186.77. Nothing else and a text have you received your first assignment, sounds too good to be true. It was emailed to me
Kim, as you have probably figured out, it is a scam. These are always scams.
I applied online a couple weeks ago and recieved a cheque in the mail today for 4250 dollars . I was given the usual crap — cash the cheque at your bank and send an email confirmimg this and then send money ! I promply took the letter and cheque to the local police , indeed a scam .
I have been working with Second to None for a year now. They weren’t listed on your website as a legitimate company, but I can assure you that they are.
Their directions are clear and precise and they have always paid me on time when they said they would. I have even received a 1099 form (I’m in the US) at the end of the year.
The only downside is that they only have limited assignments in my area, otherwise I’d love to work with them more.
Theresa, I am not sure why Second to None was not on the list of companies. They certainly are a good, legitimate company. They are on the list now–thanks for letting me know.