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Editor’s Note: This story was originally Penny Horder.
Whether you’re a college student, a stay-at-home mom, or a retiree, mystery shopping is a fun and legitimate way to earn extra income. lots of extra cash.
But secret shoppers beware. mystery shopper scam Thing.
So if you’re considering one of these gigs, you should be on the lookout for a shady secret shopping job.
The Most Common Mystery Shopper Scams
Like most cons, mystery shopper scams come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Here are some of the most common ones you might come across while looking for secret shopper jobs.
“Oops, We Overpaid You” Scam
One of the most common mystery shopping scams is forcing victims to provide their name and mailing address.
If the victim receives a check larger than expected, the fake company will instruct the victim to deposit it into their personal bank account and wire the excess amount.
(Hint: If your company asks you to wire money, it’s probably a scam!)
You guessed it. The check bounces and the victim loses all the money she sent to her fake company and is never seen again.
US Postal Service Warn against similar scams Includes unsolicited emails from scammers luring people into mystery shoppers.
Check out the actual fake checks and letter copies to see how convincing these scammers are.
“Buy me a gift card” scam
A less fun twist on fake check fraud is gift card fraud.
Scammers impersonate real businesses to trick mystery shoppers into sending prepaid gift cards.
Here’s an example of how this works. A Fake Company will send you a check for $500.They tell you to buy $500 worth the goal Gift cards with the money they sent.
Next, you will be asked to send a photo of the gift card redemption code. Unfortunate ending: the check is bounced and the gift card is used. You lost $500.
What’s the point? If you get a fat check before starting work, it’s probably a scam.
“Pay us to find the best shops” scam
This scam is based on our natural desire to navigate the hundreds, if not thousands, of mystery shopping jobs available on the internet.
For a fee, these fake companies promise to find you the best, highest paying, most enjoyable jobs in your area.
They may claim to have special search features, access to unadvertised mystery shops online, or recruiting well-known mystery shopping companies.
don’t you believe that?
Legitimate companies don’t hide jobs from applicants or require special search tools to find them.
Drop these crooks like radioactive waste.You can find a long list of real opportunities for free rights here, On the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website.
“Weird Specific Invitation” Scam
AARP to track scammers of all kinds Fraud monitoring networkreports that there have been fake mystery shopping gigs for some time now.
Amy Nofziger, Regional Director of the AARP Foundation, said:
“Scammers use these to zero in on a job seeker’s previous experience and personalize their pitches for a specific job seeker,” she said. “They still use these methods today.”
If you’ve been invited to apply for a Secret Shopper position, it sounds a little too perfect, but be careful.
“Make $9,000 a month!” Scam
Here at Penny Hoarder HQ, we love mystery shopping, even if it happens to fail.
Some of us do secret shopping as a side business, but we know it’s not a full-time job.
Indeed, some shops $45 to check out the church to $100 to buy a trench coat.
Opportunities for mystery shoppers, however, are rare.
Most legitimate covert online shopping opportunities are like $5-$10 per gig, or just booze (well, that’s good enough).
With that knowledge, I’m very skeptical of any company that promises to make enough money to drive a Lexus while munching on caviar at traffic lights just by shopping in secret.
Protect yourself from secret shopper scams
New mystery shopping scams are popping up all the time, so having your best defenses is a good enough attack.
When deciding whether to apply for a mystery shopper job or run away with your hair on fire, keep these tips in mind.
1. Research.Then investigate further
You probably already knew what I was going to tell you to do your homework, but it really is the number one way to protect yourself from scams.
Don’t be afraid to go all Sherlock to the company you’re thinking of signing up with.
check them out Better Business Bureaurun them BBB scam tracker, and enter the name in your browser’s search tool to see what pops up. (“[Company Name] Fraud” is a particularly useful search string. )
Another great resource is the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association’s Fraud warning page. This is a regularly updated list of scams, complete with real links and texts these fake companies are sending.
If you’re scrutinizing an opportunity and spot it on the MSPA’s Scam Alerts page, do it!
2. Do not respond to mystery shopping companies that find you
Do not reply to unsolicited emails about mystery shopping jobs, no matter how attractive they may appear.
Throw in the mystery shopper snail email you sent and hang up on the company that suddenly calls you.
Reputable mystery shopping companies don’t spend money and time recruiting shoppers by calling or emailing random people across the country.
3. Keep your hard earned cash
You want to make money as a mystery shopper, not spend it.
Mystery shopping firms that ask for money in exchange for plum assignments, application fees, or background checks don’t have your best interests at heart.
Federal Trade Commission That’s perfect: “Honest companies don’t charge you, they pay you to work for them…”
What to do if you spot a Secret Shopper scam
If you come across a job listing that looks like a mystery shopper scam, don’t bother calling.
Instead, report it!
They are experts in handling this kind of thing. File a complaint now and get back to the job of finding a legitimate mystery he shopper job.
be vigilant
Nofziger points out that while mystery shopper fraud can occur at any time, it is more common during recessions and at certain times of the year.
“We often see an uptick during the holidays when people are looking to earn extra income from holiday shopping,” she says.
“Scammers often spend this same season saying, ‘We need the additional staff needed for these secret shopper positions during the holiday shopping season because businesses want to ensure excellent customer service.’ We use it as a way to sound more legitimate by advertising as
Nofziger advises that vigilance and consumer education are your best weapons to avoid falling for fake mystery shopper gigs.
“These scammers are very clever in their behavior and the way they trick people.”
Remember, there are many opportunities for 100% legitimate mystery shoppers. Heed the red flags and enjoy the side hustle without getting scammed.