Secret Shoppers And Businesses Beware

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.

Bogart Household Storage

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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