» Secret Shopping Scams

There has been a lot of talk recently about a particular brand of secret shopping scam and how it has cheated a number of people. This has shown many aspects of anonymous shopping in a bad light. For businesses that have not tried anonymous shopping before and do not really know what it is about, these scams could make them think twice about taking the plunge. Before making any decisions, it is important to understand more about these scams and how they affect you.

Look Before You Shop

The first thing to bear in mind is that a secret shopping scam will mostly be aimed at the shopper. These are the kinds of scams that have come to light recently and they all follow the same routine. An unsuspecting person will answer a call for freelance anonymous shoppers – they then are given, among other training material, a check for a few thousand dollars. The shopper must wire this money to an address in Canada. Unfortunately, the check is fake – which means that the unsuspecting shopper will be liable for it.

The reason why so many people fall for this secret shopping scam is because it looks very legitimate. The training documents are professionally done and the check also seems to come from a real financial institution. Apart from that, a toll-free number is usually provided, in case the shopper has any questions. While it is true that the majority of anonymous shopping scams do hit the shopper, which does not mean that potential anonymous shopping clients are not at risk, as well. Before you even contact as anonymous shopping service, it is important to check out a few things to make sure the service is legitimate.

Keep Your Eyes Open

There are numerous well-established and reputed anonymous shopping services out there. There are also a number of things that these well-respected services simply will not do. First of all, they will not advertise their services in the classified or help wanted section of any newspaper. They will also not advertise for shoppers on the radio. Secondly, a anonymous shopping service will never charge their shoppers a fee – ideally, a shopper will be trained for the job. This means that apart from their reimbursement, they will also be paid a fee for their services. Any anonymous shopping company that does not do this will probably spell bad news for the people who hire them, as well. It also pays to be wary of any anonymous shopping service that is situated outside the country. Remember that you will need to keep in touch with a real person to develop your shopping strategy and do follow ups.

Another thing that many people do not know is that there is an association called the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Any legitimate anonymous shopping company should be listed here and have a good track record, as well. It is also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau. While the internet has certainly made creating a anonymous shopping scam much easier, it can also work in your favor. For example, a good anonymous shopping provider will also have up to date online technology. This should include secure remote access – you should be able to access your data whenever you need to. If the service can not provide that, then start looking elsewhere. The truth is that an anonymous shopping scam can hit both the shopper and the business who hired them.

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Most secret shopping scams seem to be aimed at cheating unsuspecting mystery shoppers. These scams can hit the businesses who hire these services as well. With the internet making it possible for almost anyone to set up a mystery shopping site, it is important to be aware of the scams that are out there and know how to avoid them. It is also important to learn how to spot a shoddy service from a legitimate one.

Checks And Transfers

One of the largest shopping scams that have duped a number of people across the country involves check cashing and money transfers. Prospective shoppers receive an email stating that they have been chosen for a mystery shopping job. They are given a check or money transfer to follow through and are asked to deduct their fee from the amount once it has been cashed. What happens is that these transfers do not go through or the checks bounce. The shopper loses money because they are the ones that have to pay back the amount of the check or transfer.

Of all the secret shopping scams out there, this one looks the most legitimate, which is why many people fall for it. The checks bear the name and address of a completely legitimate financial institution, the documents seem authentic and there is even a toll-free number to call. People who have called this number receive information that the checks are indeed authentic. Remember that no mystery shopping site will pay their shoppers in advance – payment is only released after the job is completed. Apart from that, any claims should always be checked with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. If they are not listed, chances are that the operation is not completely genuine.

Businesses Beware

In order to avoid some of the most prelevant secret assurance scams, businesses should take precautions as well. When looking for a service to carry out mystery shopping strategies, make sure they have a good reputation with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Remember that you are depending on these people to collect and deliver information about your business performance at the ground level. If the information is compromised, incorrect or completely fabricated, it is not going to help you in any way. It is essential that you only work with a service that has a solid reputation, good set of credentials and an established list of long-standing clients. It is always a good idea to ask other businesses which mystery shopping service they use or recommend.

With mystery shopping sites, it is always a good idea to check the contact information provided on the site. Avoid any service that tends to outsource the bulk of their employees. A number of sites may outsource their evaluators – if this is the case, make sure they undergo a legitimate training period.  The shoppers need to show proof that they did indeed visit the store at the specified time. The site should be accessible via remote access and be completely secure, as well. You should be able to access your data whenever you need it.

The bad news is that as the vocation becomes more popular, these anonymous mystery scams will probably keep popping up in the future. The good news is that you can keep yourself informed to avoid trouble.

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