I’ve been warning you about Mystery Shopping Scams
Here’s the sad story of Andrea. I wouldn’t say not to get involved in LEGITIMATE mystery shopping. Those assignments pay “play money” … they don’t offer huge bogus rewards for doing nothing as this scam does though!I found plenty of legitimate mystery shopping offers through Survey Scout for example. So there ARE legitimate programs out there, but they are nothing like these scams.
Here’s what happened to a person disclosing their identity only as “Andrea”.
I am a victim of a mystery shopping scam. I received a letter along with a check for $4,850.00. In the letter it stated that I was suspost to us part of the money to shop, part of it was for a sign on bonus and the rest was to be sent back to them in a money gram as part of the mystery shopping to rate the service of the money gram. At the time I received this scam I was unemployed with 4 children. So to me it was a answered prayer. I should have looked further into this but I was so excited to have found a job, I didnt put two and two together. To make along story short. I was arrested for Uttery of a Fraudulant Item and am now faceing up to 5 years in prision. So I have been reading everyones story and have yet to come accross anyone like myself that has actually beening charged with a crime. So, STAY AWAY FROM MYSTERY SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jules on June 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
I received a similar letter about a week ago. I always like to research things before getting into something. So I called them last night and I hit an extension for a woman…I forget the name….but a man picked up the line. I asked them how long they were in business and he said 2 years, but they have offices around the country “like Dallas”. I asked to speak to a sup and he said call back today. I called again today selected a different extension and it was the same guy. I asked to speak with the sup and he said she did not come in, but perhaps he could help me. I advised him I could not find the business online anywhere(including the BBB). I asked them if they have a website and he said NO(that was another red flag). The check they sent me was for $3, 460 and was supposed to be used in a particular order. I think we all could really use some extra money, but I figured that this was not worth the risk of my freedom. I’m so sorry that happened to you and I wish you the best of luck. Keep me posted if you can,
Zulema Fajardo on June 11th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Well sad to say they are still up to it, I was looking for a PT job and I saw this mystery shopping so I emailed them. Now supposedly I have recieved a check from them for $2610. Something just didnt seem right so I started to Google and could find nothing on this Dr. Fredrick Smith. Then I came across this website and figured that they were pulling my leg. It is sad what people do..to survive. I hope we can warn others and stop them from falling into these traps in times of need.
Sarah on June 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I was a victim to this so called “mystery shopping” this past week. Earlier this month I found an ad online about mystery shopping and a friend of mine used to do it in college so I thought it was legit. The man whom emailed me was named Jack McCallister and he had an acct. with gmail. He emailed me regularly telling me what I would have to do when I recieved the funds. I received the check of 3,000 dollars on June 24th, 2009 and deposited it into my bank acct. the next day. The check was from a business in Atlanta Georgia and is called Schlumberger Industries, which I googled and it is a legit industry, but nothing to do with mystery shopping which was odd. I waited for the funds to clear, which took a couple days and then I sent 2500$ to a Miles Mcfadden that lives in San Antonio Texas. Today the check came back to the bank and now I’m way overdrawn in my acct and I had to discuss this matter with the Bank Manager and she advised me to get all the information and file a police report to cover my tracks because the fraud dept of my bank would be contacting me. These people are ruthless and are making ALOT of money off of people like me. The police officer who filed my report informed me that this thing happens ALL the time and that it is so hard to trace these people because there aren’t enough detectives willing to break the case.
Work At Home Business Opportunities Weblog | Another Mystery Shopping Scam Revealed! on June 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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Another Mystery Shopping Scam Revealed! « Work At Home on July 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am
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Jennifer Fisher on July 18th, 2009 at 6:30 am
I am sorry to hear about Andrea’s legal situation. Things like this make my blood boil.
Unfortunately unless you have been able to hook up with a legit mystery shopping company, you might not realize that they NEVER “pre-pay” by sending you a check in advance. Normal fees also fall into the cost of the item and around $5-12 for your time.
Legit companies also do not send out emails looking for ‘shoppers’. They get plenty of referrals coming to them. Rarely if ever is there a need to send unsolicited emails and NEVER from a free email account.
Thanks for the post.
~Jennifer
james on October 27th, 2010 at 2:52 am
I am also a victim of mystery shoper. i got an email from Lutz Kaplan that I have selected to be a mystery shopper for their company. I live in Budapest Hungary. I received a cheque for Euro 1000. with in a few minutes the cheque get encashed. I made a file about the back how they behaved and how much time they took to make my cheque clear. I send the euro 800 by money gram. after couple of days bank called me and i get stuck with a lots of problems. i am paying the whole euro 1000 back to bank in installments but as i am jobless so i have pending installments and police case seperately. police is behaving so rudely as i took the whole amount myself. instead of finding the master mind person they are making problems for me.
it is a waring for people who received these types of email, simply delete them. if they receive any cheque don’t encash it as it is a fake cheque.
br
james