Just got the "Mystery Shopper" email scam.

[trof]

(BTW, this came unsolicited.)

Thank you for your interest in the Mystery Shopper position.
Our company conducts surveys and evaluates other companies in order to help them achieve their performance goals.
We offer an integrated suite of business solutions that enables corporations to achieve tangible results in the
marketplace.

We get hired by other companies and act like customers to find out how they are handling their services in relation
to their customers.

Mystery Shopping is the most accurate and reliable tool a business can use to gather information regarding their
actual customer service performance at the moment of truth. This moment of truth is not when the staff is on their
best behavior because the boss is around - it is when they interact with customers during their normal daily
routines.

This is where you, the Mystery Shopper, come in. You pose as an ordinary customer and provide feedback of both
factual observations (ex...the floor was free of debris) and your own opinions (ex...I felt that the temperature in
the establishment was too cold).
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/406/RipOff0406283.htm

:rofl:

[ddeclue]

1. Got that one beat...

Hello,
You have been chosen as a potential employee.
Our company is a developing provider of logistics services in Europe and USA. Our team consists of experienced sales and logistics professionals. The number of our clients in Europe and U.S. is continuously rising and we strive to attract new clients and partners by offering the most competitive price in international shipping services. Cooperating with our multiple intermediaries and partners throughout the U.S. and Europe, we are widely specialized in worldwide transportation, customs clearance, freight insurance, warehousing and distribution.
We are currently expanding our business in the U.S. and Europe and our recruitment program has been recently started. We are looking for responsible and motivated individuals to fill the vacancies of our local representatives throughout the various states and cities, to help us negotiate with our customers in their region, process basic financial tasks, coordinate packages. The starting job positions are the parcel coordinator and the local representative/financial assistant. Opportunities for advancement are offered for responsible employees after completing the initial three-month probationary period.
A successfully hired individual will perform further actions:
Negotiate with potential clients in his region, filling in various forms and papers, process the basic financial tasks, coordinate the received packages and make reports while working from home office. You will receive detailed instructions and orders for each task from our company's manager via e-mail or by phone.

*Qualifications for applicants:
* Full legal age (21)
* College degree preferred, but not mandatory.
* Knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel) and basic Internet skills.
* Must have Internet access at home.
* Must be available for Email correspondence during the day.
* Must be available to be contacted by phone during the day.
* Must be able to timely process manager's orders.
* Must be flexible to work overtime if required.
* Responsibility and punctuality.
* U.S. or UK residence.
Experience is not necessary if you have the right attributes and meet the requirements. During the three-month probationary period every task will be supported by detailed instructions. This will help you to gain experience to successfully advance to a full time position after the probationary period.
We offer qualified candidates a competitive based salary as well as benefits commensurate with qualifications! (401k plan, medical, dental and life insurance benefits).We offer a flexible schedule (less than 35 hours a week) and an income of minimum $2700 USD as your monthly salary ($35000 USD a year). You will receive additional 5% commission for each financial task processed. You will be offered weekly salary during the probationary period. Your maximum monthly income depends on the number of tasks completed during the month.


In order to apply for this vacancy, visit our recruitment program website for U.S. residents

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. I actually have worked as a "mystery shopper" for a while

I worked in food service for several years in my yough, as both staff and management in two different chains (Whataburger and McDonalds.) While a manager for a Whataburger franchise, we would get a shopper about once a week, with reports sent to me by the owner every month. Latter, I spent a few months as a shopper, basically getting paid a free meal to visit the store as a customer and write my way through a checklist. So yes, there are such people.

I was hired as a shopper directly by the owner, though. About a year after I left their employ (on good terms: I had graduated and got a better job) I ran into the owner, who remembered me. He asked if I would be interested in being "kind of" rehired. I was assigned two stores, and had to eat in each one once a week for different meals, then do a write-up on the good and bad. I would get $25 for the two reports as reimbursement for the tab, and I could keep the money that was left over (typically between $12 to $15.)

But yes, getting an unsolicited email for something like this seems pretty suspicious. :hi:

[drm604]

6. I also did it at one time.

I got some very nice meals at some very nice restaurants for free and was paid for my time. I also evaluated a Kinkos and some movie theaters.

However, emails about mystery shopping and ads on Craigslist are very likely to be scams.

And if they're asking you to cash checks for them, run away quickly!

There are (or at least were) legitimate companies out there that do this. I wish that I could remember the name of the one I did the work for. They were legit and they paid.

[drm604]

7. Found them!

"Second to None"

http://www.second-to-none.com/

Since I'm currently "between positions" I may apply to do some work for them again.

On their front page they have a link to a government alert about check cashing scams. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre40.shtm

[montanacowboy]

3. They are advertising on Craig's List Now

I went along with the scam to see what happened; I got two checks delivered by overnight UPS each for $2,085 each. I was supposed to cash these at my bank (i.e., deposit to my checking) and then take all the money minus #300 which I was to "keep" as my fee and wire this money to a person in California because they were "checking" on reports of the wire company that they were not doing their job.

Well by the time you wire the cash to the scam artist at the other end, they have cleaned out your checking account as the checks are bogus and your bank will then issue NSF to you - I reported it to the proper govt. authorities and to Craig's List but I see they are still doing it.

I can see where they might get innocent naive people to go along with this scam.

[el_bryanto]

4. If I were a mystery shopper i would wear a floor length cape and a paper bag over my head

See that's mysterious.

Bryant

[trof]

5. ROFL. Really.

:rofl:
See?