Learn more about Snapshot. Mystery shopper scams are becoming more common in our digital age. Wondering how you can avoid falling into these scams? Tips to avoid Mystery Shopper Scams. Do not deposit unexpected paper checks into your personal account and then wire funds or purchase and mail gift cards, as this is almost certainly a mystery shopper scam. You should never pay to become a Mystery Shopper Do not accept assignments involving evaluating money-transfer services Be cautious of any jobs with outlandish rewards or cash payments.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do not trust unsolicited emails if you did not already directly sign up with a legitimate company. Take the time to research and conduct due diligence on any company you might wish to work with and always contact them directly through a Google search or the MSPA industry trade association. Remember, if you wire money via Western Union or MoneyGram, it is almost impossible to retrieve the money once it is picked up at the other end.
Wire transfers can be picked up almost anywhere in the world. Therefore, the money is virtually untraceable, and United States law enforcement agencies may have little recourse in recovering the funds. Research the company before doing business with it. Contacting the Better Business Bureau or the Minnesota Secretary of State or performing an Internet search on the company will often reveal whether it is a legitimate company.
Beware if the company is based in a foreign country or requires you to contact or send money to an individual in a foreign county. Attempt to determine the authenticity of a check by researching and contacting the company and issuing bank listed on the check.
Obtain the contact information for these entities, however, through other legitimate sources. Do not use the contact information on the check. If you have received materials that you believe may be a Secret Shopper Scam, or you have fallen victim to such a scam, you may wish to contact the following agencies:.
Paul, MN www. Paul, MN or www. For years, scammers have duped people into wiring money using wire services.
Today, scammers are increasingly asking people to pay money with reloadable, pre-paid debit cards. The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.
Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General. The cashier's check is supposed to cover the cost of completing the required mystery shopper tasks and provide consumers with training pay.
Unfortunately for unsuspecting consumers, the check is a fake and the opportunity is a scam. According to the letter contained in the mailing, to become a mystery shopper all consumers have to do is complete a paid training assignment within a short time period. Consumers are even allowed to keep the products they buy. The retail shops are intended to make the scam seem legitimate. Penny, Burger King, and other major chains. The scam artists want consumers to believe that they are affiliated with these companies.
The company logos may even be on the letter included in the mailing.
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