If you are new to mystery shopping, you are likely extra vigilant about scams, and for good reason. For years, scam artists have preyed on mystery shoppers and would-be mystery shoppers alike, trying to turn a quick buck by conning and tricking honest people who simply want to make some extra cash. In fact, the mystery shopping industry is so plagued by scams that many people who don’t work in the business actually believe that mystery shopping in and of itself is a scam, and that there are no legitimate mystery shopping jobs to be found!
While there are quite a few scam artists that are targeting mystery shoppers just like you, fortunately there are far more legitimate jobs that offer you a convenient way to earn some extra cash. As a mystery shopper, it pays to be diligent and to always be aware of the possibility that a scam artists may be approaching you. Here are some of the things to look out for:
Check Cashing Scams. Check cashing scams have been around for years, and scam artists are still using this old trick to steal hundreds and even thousands of dollars from unsuspecting mystery shoppers. The scam involves the mystery shopping being asked to deposit a large check into their account and then quickly write a check for the same amount and send it off to the scam artist. Some deviations of this involve the mystery shopper wiring the funds out of his or her account. The cover story that the mystery shopper is told may be that they are shopping the bank teller. However, the trick is really on the mystery shopper when the first check that was deposited into the account doesn’t clear, but the second check that the mystery shopper wrote does clear! Keep in mind that legitimate bank assignments do exist, but you will not be required to deposit the “provider’s” check , write the provider a check for a legitimate assignment, or wire funds out of your account.
Too Good To Be True. If you have been mystery shopping for even a few days, you likely have realized that the vast majority of mystery shopping assignments don’t pay a ton of money. If you stumble across a great find by searching the job boards, you are likely OK completing that assignment. However, if you get a special email announcing a fabulous assignment, beware. This is true even if you recognize the company name as the name of a provider you currently work for. Some scam artists have been copycatting legitimate providers, even stealing their company name and setting up bogus email accounts that look incredibly similar to real provider’s email accounts. If you receive a suspicious email that you aren’t sure about, find the number of the provide on a separate email or website and give them a call to verify the assignment details. Keep in mind that the bogus email you received likely has a link to a bogus website and even a bogus phone number. So locate that provider’s number from your other sources, such as previous emails they have sent you or the normal website that you visit to search for jobs and so forth.
When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to hop onto the mystery shopping forums online and ask your fellow mystery shoppers about the job in question. Chances are, other mystery shoppers reading your forum post have either successfully completed the assignment and can offer you assurance, or they have knowledge that the job in question is a scam and can steer you clear of it.
Dear Maven, Thank you for the warnings about the scams out there. I started shopping this last October and I wished I had read that you don’t have to pay to get jobs. I saw a website for Shadow Shoppers and thought it was a good place to start. They wanted $4.95 to put you on a list for better assignments, unfortunately I didn’t read the part after so many days if you don’t discontinue, it costs $99.95 for a year. Not til I saw my credit card did I realize my mistake. I went on the computer to find a lot of people who signed up on Shadow Shopper made the same mistake. Now it will take me a year just to pay them for something I could of had for nothing using Mystery Shopping. I am 76 years old this month and having a hard time making ends meet. Thanks for listening, I know nobody really cares. Sherry
Thanks Sherry for the information about Shadow Shoppers.
Sherry,
I am sorry to hear that Shadow Shopper charged you for an annual fee. I started mystery shopping the same way and found that if you speak to someone that does taxes, you may be able to write that off this year. Obviously, you have to do some shops in order to show that it is a business expense but you should consider speaking to someone who could help you get a benefit from that cost. Also, since you are signed up, at least you will save some time from finding scams. Shadow Shopper actually started me with three companies I still work with. I hope this helps. Karen
I have to answer to what you said Sherry about nobody cares you have people that do have some type of emotion about right and wrong. I started out pretty much like you without a clue. I did know that there were sites that didn’t charge you for the application to start out. Make sure you stay with Volition or any of these sites that are referred to by the Maven I have gotten really good leads from them time and time again and met some really folks from here as well. The main thing that I got was a listening ear sometimes we do get some negatives but if we use our common sense which by the time we get to our ages we should have a little more than most people do:) than we can sort out what we should do and shouldn’t do. I started out with bank assignments which pay anywhere from $12-20 USD and some places more an assignment with most providers and then to I did auditing jobs to top off my money. I am 57 years old and work part-time so i too know the importance of saving a dollar here and there and knowing how to get the plumb assignments before the regulars snap them up. Sherry with practice you will get as good as the next person and don’t sell yourself short it gets better just keep at it. A friend in Wash. DC
Sherry, I am so sorry that happened to you.
Sherry: This same thing happened to me but I have gotten many good jobs from other companies through Shadow Shopper. I won’t be fooled next year so be sure and mark down the month they charge you this fee and cancel your membership with them before it comes due again and they get you for another $100!
Here are some of the companies I currently do work for: http://www.bestmark.com; http://www.sassieshop.com; http://www.sec.com; I got all these from Shadow Shoppers plus many more. Utilize your “investment” to the fullest and you will soon be making money as a mystery shopper.
I’m 70 years old and it made my grocery shopping very lean when they took the $100 out of my checking account, however, I have made that up many times over. I threw myself a “pity party” and then decided that I was going to make the best of my investment. I especially like the shops I get to the Casinos, restaurants, pizza places and even fast-food restaurants. The auto shops and the health insurance job (especially at this time of year) pay pretty well as do the apartment shops, etc.
Go get ‘um girl! You can do it! I did it and I know you can too!
Sherry, I am sorry that happened with Shadow Shoppers. I started in October with Shadow Shoppers but I found the link that you check if you don’t want to get automatically billed. I stayed the 30 days and my memebrship expired but they had another “special” if I would re-sign back up. I did and checked the box for voluntary instead of automatic renewal. however, I am finding most of jobs they are sending I am already signed up with so it is no longer useful to me. It was helpful for getting me started, but these forums and the list of companies posted are much more helpful.
I found Shadow Shopper quite helpful when I started shopping three years ago. They state quite clearly they do not get you jobs but they do tell you where the jobs are. I did not find their job information helpful but I found the information about the different companies working my part of the state invaluable. After one year I did not need them anymore as I had gotten all the info I needed. It is correct the price is a income tax write off. I also believe if you choose to you can cancel your membership an the difference will be paid back to you.