Unfortunately, there are some mystery shopper scams. As the old saying goes, "You don't counterfeit something that's not real." Secret shopping is a genuine way to make money. But make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and don't fall for promises of making big money fast as a mystery shopper.
Here are some scams that you need to watch out for.
Mystery Shopper Scams Promising Huge Payments
If you receive an offer to purchase a book, membership, or directory of mystery shopping companies which pay very high sums of money, beware. Most companies pay modest amounts, especially to beginning shoppers. Don't buy into promises that if you buy this or that directory you will soon be making hundreds of dollars per day!
Yes, there are legitimate and helpful books and directories available such as those found on our
Mystery Shopper Books Webpage.
Just use discretion for what you purchase.
Check Cashing Scam
One "secret shopper" offer that is now circulating is an offer to take a large cashier's check to the bank and deposit it into your account. Then you are supposed to wire most of the money to another bank account and keep the rest for yourself.
This offer might be put in terms of reporting on the customer service you receive at the bank. The large amount of payment involved makes it sound appealing. But the fact is that the check is no good, and you will be stuck for the wiring charges and the bounced check.
To read a news report about variations of this scam,
Click Here.
As you probably know, calling a 900 number results in a charge to your phone bill. If you see an ad that requires you to call a 900 number for Secret Shopper info, ignore it! One tactic is to put you on hold and switch you around from one person to the next. All the while, your phone bill is being run up because you are being charged by the minute.
You could end up with a $40 phone charge and never receive any information that is any different than what you can find right here on this free internet site!
Don't Fall For Certification Scams
One of the new mystery shopper scams on the scene is the creation of false "Mystery Shopper Certification" programs. With these you are asked to pay money to become certified so that you can become qualified for higher pay from mystery shopper provider companies. By enticing "newbies" with Secret Shopper ads, people that perpetuate this fraud scam folks out of money that doesn't need to be spent. The "certifications" turn out to be worthless. The only real certification that I am aware of is that which you can obtain through
the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
This certification is not required to do mystery shopping, but some companies give preferred shopping jobs to those with this certification.
Report Mystery Shopper Scams to Us
I am gathering information on mystery shopper scams. If you come across any, please fill out the form below and submit it to me so that I can publish the info on this web page. Your input could help save someone from falling for a deceptive offer!