New to this and very wary!
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Lets see. In about 9 minutes I will leave to go do a dinner shop for them and from past experience I will be paid/reimbursed as per their guidelines.
Company has been around quite a while. They used to be Gamefilm I think it was. If you are registering to work with them from the link on this website in the "Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies" at the bottom of each page of the forum, you are getting the real Reality Based and not some scam. Might also want to read other discussions while you are there since there will be links to other discussions.
Company has been around quite a while. They used to be Gamefilm I think it was. If you are registering to work with them from the link on this website in the "Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies" at the bottom of each page of the forum, you are getting the real Reality Based and not some scam. Might also want to read other discussions while you are there since there will be links to other discussions.
The question in my mind is how did they contact you? If you have not registered for mystery shopping somewhere it is suspicious. Without naming the client, what type of assignment were you offered, what is the pay and did they ask you to "register" via email or on a website?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I've done a handful of shops for them and I think they are great. I love their steak dinner shop because I love that restaurant. I also did a couple mattress and furniture shops for them that they needed done asap and because of the urgency, they paid within 48 hours. I haven't seen that since, but they are definitely legit and a company I enjoy working with!
Well, I haven't even given them my information just yet. I was contacted through my school's job website. This is in fact the first time I have been contacted by anyone entity through that website. I found it odd. I will be emailing the person who contacted me, Mrs Larissa McClain, in order to get more info. But have you had dealings with this company and if so, were they generally positive or negative?
So they emailed you? Reality Based Group is a legitimate mystery shopping company. I'm asking questions because scam artists often use the names of legitimate companies. It makes their little cons easier because the recipient can find a real company with that name.
Here is what you need to watch for before signing up:
1. Do they ask for all your contact details via email? The legitimate company will have you register via their website. You will provide all your information, including SSN on a secure site.
2. Are they going to pay you an inordinate amount of money ($200 per assignment) and pay before you complete the assignment? These scream scam because most assignments pay between $5 and $15 and are never, ever, paid in advance. As independent contractors we are vendors and most vendors are paid once a month.
I've never heard of the person you mention, but that alone doesn't mean she is not a real employee of RBG. I did notice you refer to her as Mrs. McClain. In my experience neither shoppers or schedulers are in the habit of using Mr., Ms., or Mrs. in their correspondence. However, scammers located in places like Nigeria always use a title.
Here is what you need to watch for before signing up:
1. Do they ask for all your contact details via email? The legitimate company will have you register via their website. You will provide all your information, including SSN on a secure site.
2. Are they going to pay you an inordinate amount of money ($200 per assignment) and pay before you complete the assignment? These scream scam because most assignments pay between $5 and $15 and are never, ever, paid in advance. As independent contractors we are vendors and most vendors are paid once a month.
I've never heard of the person you mention, but that alone doesn't mean she is not a real employee of RBG. I did notice you refer to her as Mrs. McClain. In my experience neither shoppers or schedulers are in the habit of using Mr., Ms., or Mrs. in their correspondence. However, scammers located in places like Nigeria always use a title.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Hmmm.... This email is sound more and more fishy. They quoted me much higher payments. In fact, this is a direct quote from the email, "You will receive $250 on each survey you conduct at any time for any of our clients, and with the number of clients we currently work with, you could be conducting as much as 5-10 surveys weekly."
Although they have not asked for my private info, I am beginning to get a bad feeling about this. Thanks for all the help.
Although they have not asked for my private info, I am beginning to get a bad feeling about this. Thanks for all the help.
That's what I was waiting to hear. Mystery shopping is legitimate, but you have to ask yourself what skills you have to make you more valuable than say a neuro-surgeon
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Granted, I assume the skills found on my resume were what drew them to me. But $250 per assignment does sound a bit fictitious.
Normally the email states assignments take 15 to 30 minutes. I have an excellent resume, just not one that would command $500/hour. If that was the case, I would be sitting outside by my pool drinking much better wine.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Oh well, I'll chalk this up to being overly anxious. Thanks for the info.
Welcome SolarKing,
You can indeed chalk this episode with that email to being overly anxious and especially curious. However, by finding this forum you have found an awesome place to learn and discuss mystery shopping -- The legitimate version.
You can post questions like you did.
You can read discussions about hundreds of mystery shopping companies like Reality Based Group - the real company.
You can link to legitimate websites of legitimate companies and start shopping for them.
You can read reviews of more than 100 mystery shopping companies. Reality Based Group is one.
You can learn about the scams and how to separate the real from the frauds.
In other words, by bringing you here that experience has shown you a legitimate and helpful source to help you mystery shop if you are so inclined.
Good luck!
You can indeed chalk this episode with that email to being overly anxious and especially curious. However, by finding this forum you have found an awesome place to learn and discuss mystery shopping -- The legitimate version.
You can post questions like you did.
You can read discussions about hundreds of mystery shopping companies like Reality Based Group - the real company.
You can link to legitimate websites of legitimate companies and start shopping for them.
You can read reviews of more than 100 mystery shopping companies. Reality Based Group is one.
You can learn about the scams and how to separate the real from the frauds.
In other words, by bringing you here that experience has shown you a legitimate and helpful source to help you mystery shop if you are so inclined.
Good luck!
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
And to give you an example, I am just back from a real Reality Based Group dinner shop. Two of us, pleasant dinner, paid with my credit card, we stayed under the maximum reimbursement amount and there still was enough leftovers to haul home take out boxes that will at least cover lunch tomorrow but more likely dinner. I just put on the coffee and will write my report, which will take 45 minutes or so. There is no fee with this job but rather full reimbursement for a pleasant enough dinner for two.
Jobs with other companies may pay a fee only, or pay a fee and a reimbursement or like this one, just reimburse.
Jobs with other companies may pay a fee only, or pay a fee and a reimbursement or like this one, just reimburse.
Hello. This is Robin from Reality Based Group. I wanted to send a quick note to let you know, YES, we are a legitimate company, based in Austin TX. The company has been in business for over 20 years and has an A+ rating with the BBB. Sometimes when we are looking for shoppers in harder to fill areas, or in need of shoppers in a certain age group, we do reach out to colleges for help. I am not sure who you received an email from, if you would like to contact me off the board at rmyers@realitybasedgroup.com - I would be happy to let you know if the request for help you received was legitimate or not. Reality Based Group would never offer you large sums of money in advance or send you a check to cash. Those types of offers are always a scam.
Thanks so much.
Please visit our website at www.realitybasedgroup.com for more information regarding our company!
Robin Myers
rmyers@reaitybasedgroup.com
www.rbgshoppers.com
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/2015 07:21PM by RBGRobin.
Thanks so much.
Please visit our website at www.realitybasedgroup.com for more information regarding our company!
Robin Myers
rmyers@reaitybasedgroup.com
www.rbgshoppers.com
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/2015 07:21PM by RBGRobin.
Hello Steve,
We received notice today that someone is using our name to scam college students. The email is coming from the domain @realitybasedgrp.com which is not Reality Based Group. Any email coming from our company will be coming from @realitybasedgroup - with the identifying difference being "group".
When we recruit shoppers, we never request or offer large sums of money in advance and we never send a check for you to cash. If you receive an email, phone call, a piece of mail, or any other type of communication from a source claiming to be our company, and would like to verify its accuracy please call us at 1-866-334-3456.
We have been in business for 23 years and have an A+ rating with the BBB. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Reality Based Group, please visit our website at www.realitybasedgroup.com.
Shop safe and always make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
Best Regards,
RBG Customer Service
We received notice today that someone is using our name to scam college students. The email is coming from the domain @realitybasedgrp.com which is not Reality Based Group. Any email coming from our company will be coming from @realitybasedgroup - with the identifying difference being "group".
When we recruit shoppers, we never request or offer large sums of money in advance and we never send a check for you to cash. If you receive an email, phone call, a piece of mail, or any other type of communication from a source claiming to be our company, and would like to verify its accuracy please call us at 1-866-334-3456.
We have been in business for 23 years and have an A+ rating with the BBB. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Reality Based Group, please visit our website at www.realitybasedgroup.com.
Shop safe and always make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
Best Regards,
RBG Customer Service
Wow! Thanks to ALL the folks who responded to my questions in this forum. As a result of all the info passed on to me (and my own suspicious nature), I found the email from scammers posing as Reality Based Group to be fake. They sent me an $1860.00 check via FedEx this morning with instructions on what to do as a "Performance Evaluator". It involved me cashing the check and then going to my local Wal-Mart and wiring the money (minus my $250 commission) via MoneyGram to a person in the Philippines. Luckily, I was already wary (hence the title of this thread) of this in the first place. I've dealt with similar scams on while selling large items on craigslist. I really became suspicious when the check arrived and it was issued from an auto dealer's account in New Jersey! Then, the address of the bank was missing two digits in the zip code. So I called the bank and had them verify the check. Turns out, the account was closed. Yeah, this was certainly a scam. But with your help and some keen observation, this one got thwarted. Thanks!
*P.S. What really sucks is that today is my anniversary and initially when we saw the check we had that "YAY" moment followed by an "Awwwww" moment. C'est la vie!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/2015 10:05PM by SolarKing.
*P.S. What really sucks is that today is my anniversary and initially when we saw the check we had that "YAY" moment followed by an "Awwwww" moment. C'est la vie!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/2015 10:05PM by SolarKing.
Happy anniversary! And change that "awww" back to jumping for joy since you didn't fall for the scam
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Yeah, Happy Anniversary! Celebrate because you did not cash the $1860 check or you would have been poorer by that amount.
Awesome bunch you all are. And kudos to the RBG staff for piping in with clarification!
I received the same email from the same woman (Larissa) a few days ago. She immediately sent me a check for $1,860 which I deposited into my bank and then she told me to send the money after I deducted my commission via moneygram which I did. She then instructed me to evaluate the moneygram location which I did, she then sent me another check this time for $2,160 and told me to do the same thing. I am worried that I am being scammed in some way. I don't know quite how I am being scammed because the check went through and no money has been moved in my accounts but I am nervous that something is going to happen to me. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do about this situation?
In about 10 days your bank will be informed that the check was fraudulent and YOU will owe any money you took out to the bank!
THIS IS A SCAM!
THIS IS A SCAM!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Dude,
I wish you had read my earlier posts in this forum. I am sorry to say that you did get scammed. Don't cash that other check!!!! While the wording and requests are different, the method of the scam is the same as other Nigerian scams.
Luckily for me, I did my due diligence and found this forum where these good people alerted me to the scam (I was already suspicious anyway).
I wish you had read my earlier posts in this forum. I am sorry to say that you did get scammed. Don't cash that other check!!!! While the wording and requests are different, the method of the scam is the same as other Nigerian scams.
Luckily for me, I did my due diligence and found this forum where these good people alerted me to the scam (I was already suspicious anyway).
@LukeMann wrote:
I received the same email from the same woman (Larissa) a few days ago. She immediately sent me a check for $1,860 which I deposited into my bank and then she told me to send the money after I deducted my commission via moneygram which I did. She then instructed me to evaluate the moneygram location which I did, she then sent me another check this time for $2,160 and told me to do the same thing. I am worried that I am being scammed in some way. I don't know quite how I am being scammed because the check went through and no money has been moved in my accounts but I am nervous that something is going to happen to me. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do about this situation?
YES, YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED. It is too late to really do anything about it now but I would inform the bank BEFORE they come after you and maybe contact your local police department. I'm sure big city/high crime cities have better things to do but some smaller police departments do have an Internet / Senior Citizens Scam department. You will also be charged any bounced check/insufficient funds/overdraft charges by your bank. Whatever you do, do NOT try to cash the second check.
In the future, you might want to consider why someone would send you almost $2,000 for absolutely no reason at all. Unless you bought a lottery ticket, money is usually not given out just to be good-natured.
Oh my that is terribly sad news, LukeMann. I hope it wasn't money you needed for living expenses. My condolences. I hope you immediately called the authorities. It does take some time for the bank to realize that the check is fraudulent, between 5 to 10 days or so from what I have heard. Make sure you have enough funds to cover your losses on any checks you may have written on your account so that when the bank realizes that the check is a fake you don't go bouncing funds all over town.
So what do I do? I don't have the money to cover the funds that were sent if they call me about it. I didn't know what I was doing and I got taken for a ride I feel so stupid but I felt safe since they said they found my through my schools resume posting which I did post my resume on. I'm afraid the bank will tell me to reimburse whatever money I took out but I'm a broke college student I don't have enough to cover these funds. Why would the checks go through in the first place if they are fradulant doesn't the money have to come from somewhere? Any suggestions on what I should do?
I would suggest that proactively you go and talk with your bank. They may be able to make some suggestions or put the debt onto a payment plan when the check bounces. I'm sure that they have dealt with scams before and should be able to suggest to you the best way to save your credit and handle the problem.
But why does the bank allow me to take out the funds if the check is fradulant? I thought if a checked bounces it bounces right after you try to deposit it when the funds aren't available. I don't see why I am liable for this money if it is a scam, the money was available and no one said anything or alerted me to anything. I thought it really was RBG which I now know it is not. I'm just so upset by the whole situation I don't know what to do.
We have already suggested that you talk to your bank and go to the police. We do not work for the banks so we can not tell you how your bank will handle the situation. Most banks want their money and they will get their money one way or another.
The bank's preliminary check showed that funds were available in the account for which you presented a check. You would be unhappy if the bank sat on every check you deposited until it had completed its passage through the entire financial system to become 'good funds'. But when it turns out to be a forged check, which it undoubtedly is, it will come back to you with bounced check charges and suspicion that you deposited it knowing it was fraudulent. That is why it is so critical that Monday morning you be proactive and go talk to the bank.
Better yet. Call the bank as soon as possible. Many have phone lines open before Monday morning.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
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