Take the mystery out of secret shopper offers
Be careful with secret shopper ads
[May 20, 2008]
You've seen the ads in the newspaper or online. "Earn money as a mystery shopper." "Get paid $100 an hour to shop."
Wow! Secret shoppers get paid to dine at their favorite restaurants and stores. And they get to keep the merchandise. Where do I sign up?
Some secret shopper employment offers come from bona fide research firms testing the market for a competing retailer or checking on customer service levels at existing stores. There's even an association of self-regulated companies who hire people called the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
But the Federal Trade Commission warns that many employment offers are a scam to prey on people desperate for easy work and big money. Here are some signs that the offer may be a con:
- The company sends you a big paycheck, and then tells you a mistake was made and you should send them a check for the overpayment. They pocket your good check, and you're stuck with their bogus paycheck. By the time it clears, you realize you've been had.
- To gain employment as a secret shopper, you're asked to pay an upfront fee. Hey! These are not employment agencies. You shouldn't have to pay someone to work.
- The company advertises for mystery shoppers in the local "Help Wanted" section or by e-mail. The FTC says that it's possible, but not likely, that a legitimate company would use general advertising to find mystery shoppers. Even if an ad shows up in the STCU Member Classifieds, be careful.
- They want to sell you "certification" to qualify you as a secret shopper. The FCC says that companies that use mystery shoppers generally do not require certification.
- They guarantee you a job as a mystery shopper.
- They charge for access to mystery shopping job opportunities or directories.
Finding a legitimate secret shopper job
As the nation's leading consumer protection agency, the FTC states that it should not cost you anything to become a legitimate mystery shopper for a legitimate company. Here's how the agency says to do it:
- Search the Internet for mystery shopping companies that are accepting applications. Legitimate companies don't charge an application fee. Many accept applications online.
- Do some homework about mystery shopping. Check libraries or bookstores for tips on how to find companies hiring mystery shoppers, as well as how to do the job effectively.
- Visit the mystery shopping association's website at http://www.mysteryshop.org/ for information on how to register to be a mystery shopper with a MSPA-member company, a database of available jobs, and additional information on the industry in general. In early May, for instance, the MSPA database listed 10 job possibilities in Spokane alone.
If you think you have encountered a mystery shopping scam, do not send them any money or provide credit card information. File a complaint with your local consumer protection agency, the
Better Business Bureau, the state attorney general, or the
FTC. Telephone complaints to the FTC are toll-free at (877) 382-4357.
