Mystery Shopper Scam Fighting and Resources:

1. Consumer Information
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.

2. Onguard Online
When the check turns out to be a fake, you'll owe the bank the money you withdrew. By law, banks must make the funds from deposited checks available within days, but it can take weeks to uncover a fake check. It may seem that the check has cleared and that the money is in your account, but sooner or later the bank will be contacting you to get their money back.

3. Loss Weight Quickly
Anytime a scam involves a cashier's check, official check, or money order from a financial institution and you believe that it could be counterfeit, you should contact the issuing bank directly to report receipt of the check and to verify authenticity. Only the issuing bank can verify the authenticity of the item. When contacting the bank, do NOT use the telephone number provided on the instrument, as this number is generally not associated with the financial institution but rather with the scam artist.

4. Attorney General
Police agencies across Michigan are reporting a recent rash of unsolicited mailings offering consumers the opportunity to earn $300 to $800 per week while acting as a "mystery" or "secret" shopper. The mailing generally includes an authentic-looking cashier's check for around $5,000. The cashier's check is supposed to cover the cost of completing the required mystery shopper tasks and provide consumers with training pay. Unfortunately for unsuspecting consumers, the check is a fake and the opportunity is a scam.

5. fraudsters
Mystery shopper scams, sometimes referred to as secret shopping, have become more common. There are legitimate mystery shopper jobs, but scammers also like to use this potential business opportunity as an avenue to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. A "mystery shopper" is an individual hired to "act" like a customer, and evaluate services at a business.

6. BBB Issues
"BBB is warning people to exercise extreme caution when responding to unsolicited emails, text messages and high-paying job offers. With nearly 10 consumer inquiries in the past two weeks about a mystery shopper scam, BBB is spreading the word about secret shopping scams. "

7. Avoid Scams
Scammers are operating by pretending to be the MSPA or our member companies, and seeking shopper details by email or telephone. MSPA North America neither advises shoppers to respond to any email requesting payment from them in advance of conducting assessments, nor to any requests that they cash checks and wire the funds to someone else.

8. ID Theft Blog
Though this is a fictional account written to prove a point, there are many stories just like this all over the country. Consumers often have a tough time spotting these types of scams for one simple reason: "Mystery Shopping" IS a legitimate industry. Retailers have been using this practice to evaluate their employee's, products and services for years. There are legitimate services and opportunities.

9. Scamwatch
If you have replied to a mystery shopper job scam and have been sent travellers cheques, do NOT cash them as you may be committing an offence. If you get further emails from the scammer pressuring you to cash the cheques don't respond. Delete their emails.

10. Scams and Schemes
The victim receives an employment packet containing training materials, along with a check that is made out for $2,000-$3,000. The instructions for this assignment instruct the victim to act as a customer at either their own bank or at a bank specified by the sender to cash the check and then have the funds wired to a specific address.

11. National Consumers Link
Businesses often arrange for mystery shoppers through independent companies, many of which are members of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). For more information go to www.mysteryshop.org. If you think you have encountered a mystery shopping scam, please visit NCL's Fraud Center and file a complaint.

12. UW Credit Union
The secret shopper scam has become more common and has recently hit UW Credit Union members and branches. Scammers have preyed upon consumers for countless years. Sometimes, even the savviest of consumers can be duped because scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to take advantage of people.

13. Shopper Scams
More and more shoppers are now falling victims to these scams, due to the fact that they are not paying close enough attention to the emails they receive. Although the emails can often be of good quality, and may have MSPA and/or mystery shopping company logos included, there are always clues that the emails are not genuine