The Federal Trade Commission is alerting consumers about an uptick in Mystery Shopper Scams.
Excerpt from the Federal Trade Commission article "Mystery Shopper Scams"
Don't Pay to Be a Mystery Shopper:
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.
It's unnecessary to pay anyone to get into the mystery shopper business. The certification offered is almost always worthless. A list of companies that hire mystery shoppers is available for free, and legitimate mystery shopper jobs are listed on the internet for free. If you try to get a refund from the promoters, you will be out of luck. Either the business won’t return your phone calls, or if it does, it’s to try another pitch.
Read more for what you need to know about protecting yourself against Mystery Shopper scams.
