Mystery Shoppers are being targeted by fraudsters, who are trying to cash in on this increasingly popular part-time activity.
Internet-based tricksters send tempting emails to would-be mystery shoppers asking them for personal information and bank account details.
Unsuspecting people, who want to earn extra income by monitoring customer service standards in retail businesses and public organisations, risk falling prey to a series of scams by bogus companies.
Potential victims are targeted by huge volumes of unsolicited emails on random lists.
The fraudsters have angered genuine Mystery Shopping companies, like Retail Active, which has a wide variety of clients in the Automotive, Food and Drink, Government, Hotels, Leisure, Retail and Travel sectors.
The company gets dozens of calls a week from people all over the world worried that they have been duped – or are about to be.
Retail Active’s managing director, Julian Chamberlain says: “
“We have received reports of people being asked for personal details, which are then sold off to use on marketing lists – or for other uses, such as fraudulently accessing people banks accounts.
“No reputable Mystery Shopping company would ever ask for money – so that is the first way to establish whether a company is genuine or not.
“Mystery Shopping is becoming increasingly popular and provides a valuable service to industry.
“We are very angry that fraudsters are trying to exploit people who genuinely want to help improve levels of customer service – and earn some much-needed extra income as well.
“We’ve drawn up a five point guide to help mystery shoppers avoid being conned.
1. Do not apply to be a mystery shopper through an email, list, club or agency. Always apply directly to mystery shopping companies.
2. All reputable mystery shopping companies provide online training as part of the application process. If there is no training then the likelihood is that you are being conned.
3. If in doubt phone. All genuine mystery shopping companies such as Retail Active advertise their telephone number and can be contacted directly.
4. Never, ever part with cash in advance. If you do then there is a high probability that you are being defrauded.
5. There are hundreds of thousands of active mystery shoppers in the UK, ask a friend if they are a mystery shopper. The chances are that they are or at least know someone that does. Ask them who the best mystery shopping companies are.
If in doubt register with mystery shopping company Retail Active at www.retailactive.com.
