Fraudsters Target Mystery Shoppers - Here's How to Spot the Scams

Britain’s “Undercover army” of Mystery Shoppers is being targeted by fraudsters, who are trying to cash in on this increasingly popular part-time activity.

Thousands of people, who want to earn valuable extra income by monitoring customer service standards in retail businesses and public organisations across the country, risk falling prey to a series of scams by bogus companies.

The internet-based tricksters ask would-be mystery shoppers to carry out assignments and then demand an “advance fee” or a registration charge.

The advance fee scam promises to fund the undercover assignment in advance, with a money order which comes to more than the cost of carrying out the work. The shopper is then asked to send the surplus money back to the company – only to discover the money order isn’t valid.

Other scams involve an up-front registration fee. Potential victims are targeted by huge volumes of unsolicited emails on random lists.

The fraudsters have angered genuine Mystery Shopping companies, like Oxford-based 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 worried that they have been duped – or are about to be.

Elizabeth Mallah, from Hampton, Middx fell for one of the scams after she responded to an unsolicited request from a bogus company on Facebook.

It asked for a £34 registration fee, with a money back guarantee if she didn’t enjoy mystery shopping.

Elizabeth said: “The total bill finally came to £40, with extra money included for “currency exchange.” All they sent me was a list of mystery shopping companies – which I could have got for myself for nothing on the internet.

“I’ve been asking for my money back – but they haven’t responded to any of my requests.

“It is a scam and should be exposed.”

Retail Active’s managing director, Julian Chamberlain says: “This time last year there were virtually no calls like this – now we are getting up to four a day. Many of the on-line scams are offering people unrealistic prospects – at a cost.

“We have also received reports of people being asked for personal details, which are then sold off to use on marketing lists – or for other uses.

“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 and a very welcome source of part-time income for thousands of people, especially at a time when cash may be tight.

“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 a list, club or agency. Always apply directly to mystery shopping companies.

2. All reputable mystery shopping 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.