Are these 'Mystery Shopping Assignments' a job scam? If so how?

They look very interesting!

Some temp agencies do it. I was a mystery shopper in the '80s.

They are based on a legitimate business, but the people who advertise are NOT the people doing the hiring. The people who are advertising for secret shoppers are most often "middlemen" who offer to SELL you a list of companies looking for secret shoppers, usually with no guarantee that those companies are actually in the market for that service. So you often end up paying good money for a worthless list of "prospective employers."

...yeah, I know--highly geeky, but I save tons of money.

People talk about being mystery shoppers routinely. We have a national messageboard, and I see
these messages go by. I don't pay a great deal of attention to them, but I can tell you that
there are legitimate mystery shoppers who get paid to go into stores, write about their experience
and mail the results to the company.

However, there are scams. I hear about those too.

If you like, I can ask about the reputable companies, if you want names.

...there's some lag time with this coupon board, so I probably won't get an answer until tomorrow.

When I do, I'll post it!

:)

As you can see, there are legitimate mystery shopping offers and some that are scams. You have
to be careful!

Here are the responses that I rec'd from my post:

Mystery Shoppers (5/27/2009 10:08:11 PM): I'm a certified financial counselor and this question comes up a lot. There are basically two ways to spot a scam. #1 is when you have to put money up front to get started. #2 and this one is the most common. When they send you a check BEFORE you do anything. You are supposed to deposit the check and then send them their fee out of that. Of course you find after you send them money that the check they sent you is bogus. I saved a client $3000. She was getting ready to deposit her check that day and start writing checks against it. I contacted the bank that the check was drawn and told them they were being scammed. They told me that the check was bogus and to please send them a copy. Be careful folks. There are a few legit companies out there but you usually just make a few bucks or get your food money back that you spent.
Good luck, hope that helps., Mark P, TX


---(5/27/2009 10:09:46 PM): Check out volition.com It is a website where they list and talk about all of the legitimate companies and there is a forum where the shoppers talk about all of the issues, questions about shopping. I have learned what companies are good ones from there., Susan V T, CA


--- (5/27/2009 11:14:08 PM): I am actually a certified mystery shopper. I work for a few companies shopping. Most of them pay by direct deposit. I have never been asked to cash a large check or anything like that. The website to check out is mysteryshop.org. It has a list of legitimate mystery shopping companies. HTH., Denise S, AZ


---(5/28/2009 3:44:40 AM): many mystery shopping companies along with a wide selection of retail marketing services. go to www.narms.com narms is the national association for retail marketing services. they list many different mystery shopping offers. i do mystery shopping for a number of clients i received through narms. good luck. , Jackie T, CO


---(5/28/2009 5:27:24 AM): http://www.pocket-change.com/mystery.htm
They have info on which states they have jobs too because most don't have assignments in all states. , Maryjane S, FL


---(5/28/2009 5:27:49 AM): https://www.mysteryguestinc.com/MGI/ is a very good company to sign up with. I do several mystery shops a year & am always paid within the month after submitting my observation., Linda H, FL


---(5/28/2009 5:39:10 AM): Mystery shopper providers association or voilition.com both have great mystery shopping companies to work for and they do not cost anything to join. I have mystery shopped for many years and it can be fun. It is not a get rich opportunity as the shops take time., Kim T, MD


---(5/28/2009 8:40:39 AM): There are a lot of legitimate sites. You should try sites like beyondhello.com, intellishop.com, servicesleuths.com, sassieshops.com, serviceintelligence, and long list of others on several work at home forums. , Tamona V, TX

Don't pay for anything, that's a guaranteed scam. My problem was that by the time I paid for gas to & from it was a break even.

I'm told that if you hang in long enough you get better assignments but I didn't have the patience or time.

free - but it pays so little - you could get a McD job and pay for the stuff yourself and have money left over