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Published: February 1, 2007
Surely by now, everyone has heard of the get-rich-quick scam involving secret shopping. If not, go to a search engine and type in secret shopping . Within seconds, the results are in, and there are hundreds of thousands of websites maintaining that a person can make tons of money by only devoting an hour or two a day to work .
These secret shopping scams are popping up like wildfire in e-mail inboxes throughout the United States and Canada. Secret shopping jobs claim that people who want to make an extra buck can receive money and free merchandise by being employed as secret shoppers. The perks seem lucrative, as the secret shopper can work full or part time, set their own hours, and seemingly make upwards of $24 USD. Secret shoppers are required to complete an hour of relatively easy tasks, such as shopping for a certain product or assessing a service.
If secret shopping sounds too good to be true, it's because it absolutely is. The catch is that many of these programs charge a one time fee from $20 to $100 to join. In theory, secret shoppers will soon be making so much money that it practically pays for itself. In reality, most of the referring websites contain dead links, non-existent e-mail addresses, and other outdated resources.
Do not be under the impression that because these websites are non-functioning that there is a way for the secret shopper to get a refund on the entrance fee. Even the customer service is shoddy, or in most cases, unavailable. Websites claiming that they have what the secret shopper needs by way of a perfect secret shopping service can be conjured up in a matter of hours, and taken down just as quickly.
Although there are a very select few legit secret shopping service websites available, they are hard to find, and it is now beginning to get even harder to locate such businesses. Lately, a new scam has been circulating the Internet. The scam website impersonates itself as a business that performs exposés on all of the other bad secret shopping job websites. Its purpose is to get the innocent consumer to join one (or all) of its listed safe mystery shopping service sites. These websites boast unrelenting customer service, and yes, they still charge the entrance fee.
The easiest way to detect a secret shopping scam is when a job offer sounds too good to be true. Secret shopping services also will usually charge a fee for joining, and then give the secret shopper dead links to follow as their secret shopping mission. Legitimate jobs and employers will never charge an employee to work for them. Also, be weary of ads claiming that one can work from home, set their own hours, and boast a possible six-figure income. These are typically scams as well.
Ever notice how most of the secret shopping scam e-mails wind up trapped in the junk mail filter? There is a reason for that, and it is because these fake websites are junk, and a scam. The bottom line is for the consumer to use his or her instinct. Do not be suckered in by sugary dialogue and beware of finding a secret shopping job offer that is too good to be true. Most of the time, it most certainly is.
Sources:
Mystery Shopper – Beware of Mystery Shopping Scam!. 2007. Sitereviews.com. 23 January 2007 <http://wwwsitereviews.com/mystery_shopping.php ?ad=st00324esusgg>.
Mystery Shopping Site Truth Uncovered. The Ultimate Review Site.2006. 23 Jan. 2007 <http://www.theultimatereviewsite.com/Shopping1 .html>.
Top 2006 Scams Exposed: Mystery Shopping Scams. 2006. 23 January 2007 <http://www.top2006scams.com/Mystery_Shopper_Co mpanies.cfm?pt=2&vid=1170360999_1X01X626189239 />
These secret shopping scams are popping up like wildfire in e-mail inboxes throughout the United States and Canada. Secret shopping jobs claim that people who want to make an extra buck can receive money and free merchandise by being employed as secret shoppers. The perks seem lucrative, as the secret shopper can work full or part time, set their own hours, and seemingly make upwards of $24 USD. Secret shoppers are required to complete an hour of relatively easy tasks, such as shopping for a certain product or assessing a service.
If secret shopping sounds too good to be true, it's because it absolutely is. The catch is that many of these programs charge a one time fee from $20 to $100 to join. In theory, secret shoppers will soon be making so much money that it practically pays for itself. In reality, most of the referring websites contain dead links, non-existent e-mail addresses, and other outdated resources.
Do not be under the impression that because these websites are non-functioning that there is a way for the secret shopper to get a refund on the entrance fee. Even the customer service is shoddy, or in most cases, unavailable. Websites claiming that they have what the secret shopper needs by way of a perfect secret shopping service can be conjured up in a matter of hours, and taken down just as quickly.
Although there are a very select few legit secret shopping service websites available, they are hard to find, and it is now beginning to get even harder to locate such businesses. Lately, a new scam has been circulating the Internet. The scam website impersonates itself as a business that performs exposés on all of the other bad secret shopping job websites. Its purpose is to get the innocent consumer to join one (or all) of its listed safe mystery shopping service sites. These websites boast unrelenting customer service, and yes, they still charge the entrance fee.
The easiest way to detect a secret shopping scam is when a job offer sounds too good to be true. Secret shopping services also will usually charge a fee for joining, and then give the secret shopper dead links to follow as their secret shopping mission. Legitimate jobs and employers will never charge an employee to work for them. Also, be weary of ads claiming that one can work from home, set their own hours, and boast a possible six-figure income. These are typically scams as well.
Ever notice how most of the secret shopping scam e-mails wind up trapped in the junk mail filter? There is a reason for that, and it is because these fake websites are junk, and a scam. The bottom line is for the consumer to use his or her instinct. Do not be suckered in by sugary dialogue and beware of finding a secret shopping job offer that is too good to be true. Most of the time, it most certainly is.
Sources:
Mystery Shopper – Beware of Mystery Shopping Scam!. 2007. Sitereviews.com. 23 January 2007 <http://wwwsitereviews.com/mystery_shopping.php ?ad=st00324esusgg>.
Mystery Shopping Site Truth Uncovered. The Ultimate Review Site.2006. 23 Jan. 2007 <http://www.theultimatereviewsite.com/Shopping1 .html>.
Top 2006 Scams Exposed: Mystery Shopping Scams. 2006. 23 January 2007 <http://www.top2006scams.com/Mystery_Shopper_Co mpanies.cfm?pt=2&vid=1170360999_1X01X626189239 />
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