How to Find Legitimate Secret Shopper Companies
If you are interested in working as a secret shopper, you have probably realized that there are a lot of companies out there trying to scam you out of money. You might wonder how a company that is supposed to be paying you ends up scamming you out of your time, effort and sometimes cash. Here are some tips for finding legitimate secret shopper companies that will honestly pay you for your efforts.
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Instructions
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Read online forums to find experienced secret shoppers talking about companies they have worked for. These forums frequently have a thread that allows secret shoppers to identify companies to stay away from. There is no better way to judge a company than to hear others' experiences.
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Avoid companies that ask for a fee, solicit you through email or promise unbelievable fees for work. No matter how good the offers seem, these are almost always scams.
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Search for a company name online before signing up for their program. Even if the secret shopper company seems legit, always search the internet to find other secret shoppers' opinions of the company.
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Find out if the secret shopper company is a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). This is a legitimate professional trade association that looks out for the best interests of secret shoppers (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
If a secret shopper company that you have never contacted emails you about work, it is almost always a scam. Legitimate secret shopper companies do not send mass emails about huge money making offers.
Never pay for secret shopping work or job lists. Legitimate secret shopping companies always pay you, not the other way around.
Resources
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Comments
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I have questions about secret shoppers....where do I go to get answers fast.
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Wow, this happened to me today! This guy named Larry e-mailed me, I fell for it today I brought the 1,800 ck to the bank and the teller told me this does not even feel real and it was a scam and I should take the check the police. The teller said if it is too good to be true it probably is. I was told if I was able to cash the check it could have bounced and I would have been charged and the scammers would of had my checking information. A women in line said this same thing happened to her and the teller said the Fedex tracking #was probably no good either. I am glad the teller was on her game, it could have cost me big time.
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Thank you for the information, I just inquired on a position from a secret shopper co. listed in a local free advertising news paper. Gave a number to call, they offered many a list of companies I could go visit and make $50.00 a shot for the report. They asked for my credit card no. immediately to pay a $2.95 fee for the internet site to set up my application. Sounded too good to be true, I could of went to 10 places per day and made $500.00 per day according to them. Then I looked up secret shoppers scams on the computer and found this site. This was really helpfull and thank your very much for the insight. I didn't know these things existed. Who knows how much money they could have taken out of my bank account. Once they asked for my bank card information I felt this was wrong so I investigated. Thank you for the warnings. I know secret shopper companies do exist, and now looking for help how to find the ligitamate place, and you gave some valuable information. Once again thank you, people beware.
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jpaint
Feb 02, 2009
The Western Union situation does sound a bit scammy to me! -
Alisiane
Oct 05, 2008
This is one of those jobs that you know exists, but which is so elusive because of all the scammers out there trying to trick people. Thanks for the info.
