What are people's thoughts on this company? I've signed up, but am wary of places that have money transfer jobs (wire $50 somewhere and get reimbursed for that and paid $25).

That sounds like a scam using Bare's name. Have you been to Bare's actual website? Did you sign up with them on their Sassie site? Did the offer for the job come from their Sassie site?

I've done a bunch of shops for them and I like them. I've done a variety of things for them but have never heard anything about money transfer jobs. I'm thinking SCAM!!!! Run!!!! I've done mostly their bank platform shops, casual dining, apartments and demos. Their report forms are reasonable, their pay, athough I wouldn't call it high, is fair and is certainly not as low as some of the low-ball companies. Very nice schedulers/editors. I haven't had any problems.

I signed up through their site. I got there through a link from MSPA. They have some apartment management, hotel bar hospitality, retail jobs, and cell phone shops. It's not just the money transfer. I can't imagine trusting something like that, but if I got to the legitimate website and they actually pay for their jobs, perhaps I should give it a shot. How can I tell if I just got to a really good fake website? I'm fairly new to mystery shopping and don't know how best to protect myself.

[www.baidata.com]

This is a link to the actual login page. I know this is the legitimate link. If you still find the job there, go for it!

The real Bare International is a legitimate, if low paying, MSC.

Yup, that's the link and someone else has taking the western union shops in my area. Thanks!

With all the scams culminating in wire transferring money via Western Union, it is rather surprising that a legitimate company would do legitimate jobs for Western Union without all sorts of notes/comments that this was actually a legit shop.

Agreed, Flash.

My first thought when I saw the post about money transfer jobs was, "I wouldn't want to be that scheduler." Can you imagine the emails and hesitance you would get from shoppers about that.

It sounds much more like a real MSP if you have to send $50, fill out a long form and wait 60 days to get reimbursed. Bare also had a good enough rep and strong enough shopper base to pull off those shops.

Similarly scheduling a series of Walmart or HD shops that required an expenditure of more than a couple of bucks.

I looked at every US job they had and found none in any state at all that dealt with WU. I actually do not believe someone "took" all those jobs, I think they were scams sent under Bare's name. I think that is the reason you did not see them on their site anymore. I could be wrong, but I really doubt that they are doing WU check cashing shops. At any rate, they do have the following posting abou scams on their shopper site:
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR EVALUATORS
It has come to our attention that a new check cashing scam has surfaced using the BARE name. We have found several postings on craigslist and other groups asking for personal information, and in exchange a check would be sent for you to deposit and then transfer funds to another person. Most commonly the email address used for this scam is a yahoo.com, hotmail.com, or gmail.com account.
Please do not respond to any of these postings!

Please note that a BARE employee will NEVER use a generic email address (yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc) to contact you regarding a mystery shopping offer. Be sure that the email comes from an address at bareinternational.com. However due to "spoofing", just as importantly be sure that any response you send goes ONLY to an address at bareinternational.com.
If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of an email or posting on the internet, please contact us directly at: shopperinquiry@bareinternational.com
For further information on this scam and previous versions, please visit: MSPA Press Release
Sincerely,
The BARE International Fraud Prevention Team

I did a money transfer shop with them back in September. I was apprehensive as well, but then it checked out ok. I only took it because it was showing up on their job board and I knew Bare was a reliable company. Also, they weren't asking me to cash any checks and keep the money. They asked me to send $50 to a specified address and report on the process. They paid $25. I already got paid and reimbursed, so it was all legitimate.

I have not seen any more of these since that one time in September. But back then there were a bunch of them on their site.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2009 12:16AM by shop-a-holic.

shop-a-holic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I did a money transfer shop with them back in
> September. I was apprehensive as well, but then
> it checked out ok. I only took it because it was
> showing up on their job board and I knew Bare was
> a reliable company. Also, they weren't asking me
> to cash any checks and keep the money. They asked
> me to send $50 to a specified address and report
> on the process. They paid $25. I already got
> paid and reimbursed, so it was all legitimate.
>
> I have not seen any more of these since that one
> time in September. But back then there were a
> bunch of them on their site.



I am shocked. Really. I had no idea that these kind of shops existed legitimately. Only the scams.

I wonder if this was a pilot project only in certain areas. They haven't been offered here.

Yes, it must have been a pilot because I haven't seen the same shops go up on their board again. After doing that one shop and getting paid, I would gladly do it again. They are pretty easy shops and pay extremely well.

Hello everyone,

Yes there was a scam that went around for quite awhile and there is still a chance of it re-occuring. If you ever have any questions regarding Bare weather it be assignments, payment issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly at jbare@bareinternational.com or 800-296-6699 x3158.

Thanks!

Jason Bare

I work for Bare Int'l and they are an excellent Co. I hav not seen the job Shopaholic did, but if it is not on their site, just say no. Rina, you sound like your starting, be careful and do read these forums, you'll learn alot.

bareinternational Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello everyone,
>
> Yes there was a scam that went around for quite
> awhile and there is still a chance of it
> re-occuring. If you ever have any questions
> regarding Bare weather it be assignments, payment
> issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly at
> jbare@bareinternational.com or 800-296-6699
> x3158.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jason Bare


Dude. You want 'whether,' not 'weather.' You're also missing a few commas.

Drop me a line if you need an editor.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2010 11:35PM by Mantis.

bareinternational Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello everyone,
>
> Yes there was a scam that went around for quite
> awhile and there is still a chance of it
> re-occuring. If you ever have any questions
> regarding Bare weather it be assignments, payment
> issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly at
> jbare@bareinternational.com or 800-296-6699
> x3158.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jason Bare

Jason, thanks for the response. But shop-a-holic had a legit one per her post. Was this a pilot? Was her shop the only legitimate shop in a whole batch of scams? Will there be more shops like this? What is the story on the shop she did?

shop-a-holic said "I did a money transfer shop with them back in September. I was apprehensive as well, but then it checked out ok. I only took it because it was showing up on their job board and I knew Bare was a reliable company. Also, they weren't asking me to cash any checks and keep the money. They asked me to send $50 to a specified address and report on the process. They paid $25. I already got paid and reimbursed, so it was all legitimate.

I have not seen any more of these since that one time in September. But back then there were a bunch of them on their site."


Please tell!

My apologies for the spelling error. I had just signed up quickly and wanted to respond to the posts.

Mantis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bareinternational Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > Yes there was a scam that went around for quite
> > awhile and there is still a chance of it
> > re-occuring. If you ever have any questions
> > regarding Bare weather it be assignments,
> payment
> > issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly
> at
> > jbare@bareinternational.com or 800-296-6699
> > x3158.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Jason Bare
>
>
> Dude. You want 'whether,' not 'weather.' You're
> also missing a few commas.
>
> Drop me a line if you need an editor.

It's really hard to tell exactly what she completed and when. All of our jobs are posted on the job board and that is the legitimate way of seeing what we have available. If she would like to contact me, then I can look more into this assignment.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bareinternational Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > Yes there was a scam that went around for quite
> > awhile and there is still a chance of it
> > re-occuring. If you ever have any questions
> > regarding Bare weather it be assignments,
> payment
> > issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly
> at
> > jbare@bareinternational.com or 800-296-6699
> > x3158.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Jason Bare
>
> Jason, thanks for the response. But shop-a-holic
> had a legit one per her post. Was this a pilot?
> Was her shop the only legitimate shop in a whole
> batch of scams? Will there be more shops like
> this? What is the story on the shop she did?
>
> shop-a-holic said "I did a money transfer shop
> with them back in September. I was apprehensive as
> well, but then it checked out ok. I only took it
> because it was showing up on their job board and I
> knew Bare was a reliable company. Also, they
> weren't asking me to cash any checks and keep the
> money. They asked me to send $50 to a specified
> address and report on the process. They paid $25.
> I already got paid and reimbursed, so it was all
> legitimate.
>
> I have not seen any more of these since that one
> time in September. But back then there were a
> bunch of them on their site."
>
>
> Please tell!

Jason, thanks for your response. But, Jason, about shopaholic's shop vs. the scams, she wasn't unhappy about the assignment. She completed it successfully. You validated that yes, there were several scams using Bare's name that were similar to her shop, involving money transfers. But shopaholic did a money transfer shop successfully for Bare. My question was, although there were scams using the Bare name and involving money transfers, does Bare or did Bare do any legitimate money transfer shops? If so, can you give us a hint on how to tell the scams from the real thing? This is particularly important to me - I love Bare and take as many local shops as I can. I don't want to pass any up because they sound like scams but might be legit.

The shop must be on their site only, not come to you in a tell tale way...rule of thumb, if it's on their site, go for it, if not, stay away!!! I hate when our spelling is corrected in front of everyone, but, thanks for responding, love your company.

Thank you so much! We greatly appreciate all of the positive feedback!

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The shop must be on their site only, not come to
> you in a tell tale way...rule of thumb, if it's on
> their site, go for it, if not, stay away!!! I
> hate when our spelling is corrected in front of
> everyone, but, thanks for responding, love your
> company.

Add me to the list of Bare fans, BTW. The pay is generally commensurate with the amount of effort required for the shops, and Bare has always paid me in a timely manner. Also, I find it refreshing that the owner is now posting in this forum.

Thank you very much Mantis. We appreciate everything that you do for BARE. Keep up the great work!

I recently began shopping for Bare, and have had nothing but good experiences.

Reminds me..I'm hungry. Time to check the boards again!

I can't say the pickings here for this MSC are vast nor particularly great shops. It's more an every once in a while thing. No offense meant to Jason. Your clients are where your clients are.

Yeah, Jason, we love you, but get more clients so we can do more shops for you......

The first MSP I shopped with ~ ~ ~ Bare. I have fond memories of my first shop and paycheck