I'm a New Mystery Shopper

Hi everyone. Well, I didn't know if this was a scam or what. Apparently it is not a scam. I've been doing research on this ever since I received my packet. I've been trying to communicate with GBW with no responses to any of my emails, texts or phone calls. I received a check for my assignment. Most of it is to purchase the items they wanted me to purchase. The rest was for me (which was quite substantial). It also included gas allowance and bank charges. The problem with this though is that the check is made out to somebody else not me. Also, they didn't include the form I am supposed to fill out. So, I can't do the assignment. I would really like to. We are retiring the end of the year and my husband is freaking out because we hadn't saved any money until this year. So, this would ease his mind and really look forward to the rest of our lives together. Any suggestions as to what to do. I've called and left messages, They've texted me as to whether or not I did the assignment and I've responded to them with my dilemma. I've emailed them and nothing. They email me asking me if I completed the assignment. What else can I do?

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SCAM SCAM SCAM No matter who the check is made out to, it is a SCAM. No MS company pays anyone in advance, least of all someone who does not have a long track record of doing their mystery shops. The average MS assignment pays $5-20. NOT some substantial sum!!

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.

Substantial compensation nearly always means a scam when front loaded with expense money. This is a scam as Wales Maven says.You don't say what they wanted you to purchase but it's probably gift cards with instructions to send the gift card numbers to them. DON'T. Take the stuff you were sent to the nearest post office and report the fraud.

Oh well. Total bummer, but I found this site and maybe I'll still consider doing it for a reputable company.
Thank you both for responding to me.

Now that I've been doing research on this company, I've found there are a whole lot of companies out there. Can anybody out there share with me some of the more reputable companies who pay on time and fairly good wage? I'd really appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks.

Janice,
If you post this request in the Mystery Shopping area, more people will see it. There are more than 200 reputable MSCs.

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.

Thank you.

Janice - If the check was mailed to you, it is mail fraud. Report it to the US Postal Inspectors. The more they know about these scams, the better the chance they have of shutting them down. Alas, there are probably more scammers than postal inspectors.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Janice, the scammers were not from the real GBW. There is a Gapbuster Worldwide that is legit. Scammers often use the name of a real MSC as a front. If you are interested in mystery shopping, there is a link to a list of companies at the bottom of this page.

You are SO lucky that the scammers screwed up and sent you the wrong check! You could be out a lot of money right now, not to mention some serious legal trouble for passing a fraudulent check. There are many others who were not so lucky. We have had people come into the forum and post about it AFTER they got scammed, and it was much too late to do anything about it then.

@JaniceN wrote:

The problem with this though is that the check is made out to somebody else not me. Also, they didn't include the form I am supposed to fill out. So, I can't do the assignment. I would really like to. We are retiring the end of the year and my husband is freaking out because we hadn't saved any money until this year. So, this would ease his mind and really look forward to the rest of our lives together. Any suggestions as to what to do. I've called and left messages, They've texted me as to whether or not I did the assignment and I've responded to them with my dilemma. I've emailed them and nothing. They email me asking me if I completed the assignment. What else can I do?

This is a scam, do not, I REPEAT DO NOT cash that check!!!

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