Top 10 Scams of the decade # 8 - Secret Shoppers shop stores secretly selecting stuff

Secret shopping is not wondering what where all your money went when the wife visited the store.   It is a much more involved scam than that.  Though if that mystery can be solved let me know.


This is one of those tricky scams because it is grounded in reality.   There really are market research companies that do indeed hire consultants to shop stores and evaluate a store.   The thing to remember is that these consultants are trained professional retail marketers.  This is not a job that just anybody can do.   These real marketing experts must provide reports and suggestion for improvements to signage, store layout, customer service, products offered, and a whole range of other retail aspects that the normal shopper should never even notice.  Sometimes they do offers a small promotional incentive to regular folk to visit a store and fill out a survey.  By small promotional incentive I mean somewhere in the less than $50 range.  Mostly in the less than $10 range.  Which is about enough to buy the gas.


Scammers take the opportunity to turn what seems to be a dream job this into cash by offering what seem like the dream job.  "Get paid to buy things where you already shop".   "Keep the merchandise".    That is to lure you in like the great big "Today only 50% off sigh that is fading in the store window.  Then they can push the courses you can buy to become "certified" and other services to make sure you become a success.   


As with other job scams a recruiter may charge you a handling fee, finders fee, registration fee, or fee by any other name.   Real recruiters never do this.


Read what the FT has to say here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt151.shtm




To see real jobs in this field visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association here.  www.mysteryshop.org .   Note that many of these jobs do not pay very well so do not think this will make you rich, but hey a lttle money is better than no money.   Just make sure the opportunity is real.


Now which store is my wife in now? and Where is my wallet?





Sphere: Related Content