As the holiday season approaches, many of us could be looking for opportunities to make a little extra spending money. Seasoned shoppers will probably be tempted by “mystery shopper” programs that offer the opportunity to get paid to shop. The problem is that not all mystery shopper programs are created equal. In fact, some are complete scams.
What is a mystery shopper?
Mystery shoppers are hired by retail stores to evaluate service quality in stores. The shoppers make purchases according to specific instructions and may be paid for their time. For those that enjoy shopping, a part-time job as a mystery shopper can be an enjoyable way to get out and do something fun while making money.
What is the scam?
The scam involves you paying someone else to participate in a mystery shopper program. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC – ftc.gov), “Dishonest promoters use newspaper ads and emails to create the impression that mystery shopping jobs are a gateway to a high-paying job with reputable companies. They often create websites where you can “register” to become a mystery shopper, but first you have to pay a fee — for information about a certification program, a directory of mystery shopping companies, or a guarantee of a mystery shopping job.”
It costs nothing to become a legitimate mystery shopper, yet all too often, people are taken in by the idea of a “certification.” The FTC article also said, “The certification offered is almost always worthless. A list of companies that hire mystery shoppers is available for free, and legitimate mystery shopper jobs are listed on the internet for free.”
How to find legitimate opportunities
Do an internet search for “mystery shopper jobs.” There are industry organizations designed to help you find a mystery shopper job. Some of those that turn up in the search will charge fees to be a member, others will not. In evaluating the opportunities, bear in mind the FTC warnings about paying to be a shopper. After finding a company that seems promising:
- Search for reviews and/or comments about the company.
- Keep looking since some companies will pay to have fake review posted.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org to see whether the company is rated. Just because a website displays a high BBB rating does not mean the rating is legitimate.
- Never wire money as part of a mystery shopping assignment.
How about it? Have you ever been tempted to become a mystery shopper? If you’ve been one, how did it work out?
