How To Spot Mystery Shopping Scams
Have you ever heard of a professional
shopper? Perhaps you would like to be one. Simply put, a secret shopper gets
paid to work when they want, however often they want and where they want. For
many, getting paid to shop for a living is nothing short of a dream come true.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), however, not all mystery
shopping opportunities provide the dream job that they promise. The truth is
that there are legitimate companies that hire secret shoppers to evaluate their
business while posing as a customer, but it's important to realize how to spot
the real deal versus a real ripoff.
In most instances, a mystery shopper
will be assigned a specific task within a business and will then provide the
company with a written evaluation of their experience. Generally, the secret
shopper will be reimbursed for their purchase, which means the product is theirs
to keep at no charge. In addition, secret shoppers are paid for their time. The
actual rate of pay will depend on the job, the time spent and the company's
policy.
Due to the popularity of the mystery shopping industry, scams are
a growing problem. Because mystery shopping does not require any type of special
certification, it is recommended that consumers remain cautious of any company
that charges a fee in exchange for information relating to a certification
program. A few of the most common places for these scams to appear include
newspaper advertisements and in unsolicited e-mail. The FTC warns that, "The
shopping certification offered in advertising or unsolicited e-mail is almost
always worthless".
As is the case with any industry, it's nearly
impossible to guarantee someone a job. The same is true with mystery shopping
and consumers should be mindful of any business that promotes a guarantee of a
job or a specific income amount. Every mystery shopping job is unique, along
with its rate of pay, which is why it is especially beneficial for anyone
interested in becoming a secret shopper to be familiar with realistic and
legitimate advertising practices.
There is an old saying that says, "If
something sounds to good to be true, it probably is". Today, that saying rings
true in almost every aspect of life, including business. If a mystery shopping
opportunity sounds to good and promises to much, it would be wise to research
the company before becoming a member. You can conduct your own, independent
investigation by checking with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for any
potential complaints lodged against the company and/or to determine whether or
not their record is satisfactory.
With the internet being a wealth of
information relating to almost any topic, mystery shopping opportunities are
easy to find. Legitimate companies looking to hire a secret shopper can easily
be found with a few clicks of the mouse and, best of all, most accept
applications via the internet. One of the best ways to learn about valuable
mystery shopping opportunities is, much like the industry itself, through a
third-party independent evaluation. If you have the opportunity to read one or
more reviews about a particular mystery shopping company, this may provide you
with the information needed to begin your career in professional and profitable
shopping.
About the Author
Brian Dolezal is a contributing editor for
TopConsumerReviews.com (http://www.topconsumerreviews.com), a leading provider
of independent reviews and rankings for hundreds of consumer products. You can
find out how top mystery shopping programs compare by visiting
TopConsumerReviews.com today.