How to Check for Fraud in Mystery Shopper Jobs

Real mystery shopping opportunities do exist, but it pays to be careful.

Mystery shopping is a part-time occupation for many Americans who want to make a little extra money while participating in an activity they already love---shopping. Mystery shoppers provide a valid service to companies and are able to do so as self-employed independent contractors. As with most other home-based self-employment opportunities, the mystery shopping world contains numerous horror stories of bank account draining scams. Because of the fairly high possibility of fraud, it is important to enter any mystery shopper job ready to assess the opportunity and check for fraud.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access

Instructions

1. Examine any mystery shopper offer you receive in the mail or any advertisement recruiting mystery shoppers in the newspaper with an exceedingly cautious eye. The FTC cautions that venues utilizing these recruitment methods are actually selling mystery shopping services instead of hiring mystery shoppers.

2. Learn the average parameters of mystery shopping payment and reimbursement. Mystery Shopping Providers Association spokeswoman Kelly Hancock stated through CBS Money Watch, "mystery shopping is not a big money-maker. Most jobs pay between $8 and $20," which means an offer carrying a $100 or more in payment is a definite red flag warranting further investigation for fraud.

3. Utilize the anti-fraud resources available online when you feel wary about a particular mystery shopper opportunity. FakeChecks.org is a website that contains educational materials on a variety of scams, and even a basic Internet search containing key points relating to your mystery shopping offer can yield results. Try searching for the telephone number and address for the company that contacted you. If you cannot establish a match, fraud is a very distinctive possibility.

4. Recognize basic fraud tactics. Most of the mystery shopping scams conducted through the mail or online offer shoppers a large check which should be used to purchase goods for an evaluation. The company then asks for you to wire the cash remaining from the check to them through Western Union or a similar service. Doing this is a mistake as these checks are counterfeit and will eventually bounce, leaving you owing a substantial sum of money in checking fees in addition to the money spent for the evaluation.

5. Use local contacts when you have exhausted larger resources. Your local sheriff's department and your personal bank will be able to help you verify whether or not a particular offer is valid virtually on the spot. Law enforcement personnel and bank employees are accustomed to seeing scams pass through their offices and have a well-trained eye for such situations.

6. Complain to the FTC if you are the victim of a scam or if you receive a mystery shopping offer that is fraudulent. The FTC deals with these cases on a regular basis and any information related to a particular scam ring can be used to protect you from further instances of fraud in the future.

References

• "CBS Money Watch": Mystery Shopper Scam Alert
• "The Federal Trade Commission": The Secrets of Mystery Shopping Revealed

Resources

• Fake Checks
• "Federal Trade Commission": How to File a Complaint with the FTC