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What is mystery shopping- really?

June 25, 2014 06:13AM
So, I plan on going to the local police station tomorrow after work. Not fun. I believe I am a victim of a scam. I will not disclose the company that was misrepresented. I am so green when it comes to this and I am in shock. Does anyone have any advice on how to not get caught in this trap again? Everything that was sent to me bore the trademark of the company and they went to great lengths to do this to me and my family. I do not wish to remain in the dark. The idea of mystery shopping and flexible hours led me to try it out, but I found myself in a mess!
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June 25, 2014 11:20AM
So sorry you had this experience. However, since you did not provide us with any of the details it makes it difficult to tell you how not to get caught in that scam again.
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June 25, 2014 11:50AM
"Everything that was sent" to you would tell me that perhaps it was one of those fake check scams pretending to be from a legitimate company. Just my guess.


Otherwise if you sign up with LEGITIMATE companies such as those listed on this forum and do shops for them then mystery shopping really IS for real. I've been doing it for 21 years now and yes it is legitimate.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
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June 25, 2014 11:58AM
Disclosing the company that was misrepresnted might help others. Warnings signs:

1. Most, if not all, legitimate companies have a secure website on which you apply.
2. If you are contacted by a company with whom you have not applied, it probably is not legit.
3. Legitimate companies plan for collecting info because taxes will be due. No info collection or discussion of info collection probably means not legit.
4. Legit companies do not usually send you anything through the mail. Almost everything is done online through their website. Receiving money is advance usually means scam. Legit companies pay after you do a job and complete a report.
5. If you are offered a lot of money, it's probably not legit. Mystery shopping assignments generally pay $5-$20.
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June 25, 2014 05:10PM
Go ahead and name the company that was misrepresented. Many companies have warnings on their website, explaining that scammers will use the names of reputable companies.

Like AustinMom, I assume that you were caught in a fake-check-send-money-back-to-them scam. So, a good way to avoid being caught by that, is to ask yourself if a real business person would do business is this way. Would a business person send a large amount of money to a stranger that he or she had had no prior buisness dealings with, just hoping that some of the money would get sent back?

For more general advice, when in doubt, look up the company's website, and contact them through the website. E-mails can come from anywhere.
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July 12, 2014 07:18PM
Hey I'm as green as green can be when it come to mystery shopping. But the thing that rings in my mind all the time is, if they want money to get you a job FORGET IT!!!! I have only worked for two companies but every thing is done on line. And they want to make it clear that you are responsible for paying your own taxes. But like any legit company you must give them necessary information on yourself. So sorry to hear you were caught up in something like this. But I'm with everyone else who has posted. You would be helping the community out by giving the name of this so called company up. Although I'm new to this site it seems like it's all about helping others like yourself get ahead. And I love this kind of thing.

I hope this gets resolved for you. And yes mystery shopping is for real. Even though I have only been doing it for two months I must say I'm totally loving every minute of it.
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