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We break the silence on silent shopper scams

Any Legitimate Mystery Shopping Company will tell you that in this industry, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. In response to an increase in fraudulent mystery-shopper activity, one reputable international company is speaking out. Shoppers Confidential has been providing mystery shopping services since 2005. They play a key role in accelerating clients’ customer service and revenue goals. They’re warning consumers to do their due diligence and research companies online before signing on, accepting money or completing work, noting that any legitimate company will be a member of the Mystery Shopping Provider Association of North America (MSPA). Scammers will often use existing company names to lure employees, along with fraudulent cheques or money orders instructing the recipient to keep a portion and ‘wire’ the rest back to the company – something a legitimate company would never do. Consumers should be wary of any employment offers they receive by text or mail and should always direct questions to the contact number on a company’s website, never to the number listed in the letter or message. Shoppers Confidential lists three key principles that legitimate companies practice. 1.     100% won’t pay before the work has been done 2.     100% won’t ask you to send them money 3.     99% will pay using PayPal, other digital platforms or e-transfer (not by cheque, or unbranded cheque) If an offer seems too good to be true or involves very little work for a promised large payout, be wary.  There have been many reports of people being asked to purchase gift cards and then forward the gift card numbers to the company, prior to any reimbursement and without any insight (or very little) into the process or the cards. The scammers then use the numbers provided to them to clean out the card and essentially steal your money.   If you have been approached with a suspicious offer, check out the company. 
  • Do they have a BBB listing? 
  • Do they have a social media presence? 
  • Are they registered with the MSPA or other credible organizations?
If you believe a scam offer is being sent in the name of a legitimate MSP, call the company's office (using the phone number on its website) and ask about the opportunity before you proceed. To learn more about identifying mystery shopping scams, watch this video.   Associated links ·      CBC News article ·      Shoppers Confidential

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