Posted by Becca_FL on 11/10/08 4:36pm
Msg #269394
Mystery Shopping scams
I know many have been taking on mystery shopping and merchandising assignments to supplement their NSA business so I thought I would post an email I received today to warn others of some of the scams that are out there. While I can't say for sure with 100% certainty that this is a scam, I am pretty sure it is due to the lack of information provided, ie: website address, yahoo email, improper grammar, spelling and writing style. I know most that read this forum are smart enough to spot a scam, but if this post saves one person it will be worth posting.
Mystery Shopper
Monday, November 10, 2008 4:03 PM
From: <"Barry Leonard" <[e-mail address]>
To: undisclosed-recipients
Hello,
I'm Barry, am working for a company (Shoppers Guide int.) that conducts surveys and evaluates other companies. The scope of the evaluation/survey is all about
mystery shopping.
What is Mystery Shopping.....?
A vast amount of companies are interested in knowing what their customers/clients think of their services and/or products in order to right what may be wrong and help them to improve customer service and productivity. To obtain this crucial data from a non biased viewpoint they hire Mystery Shopping agencies/recruiters like us, who are trained market researchers, to gather the information on their behalf. We get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers in order to know how the staffs are handling their services
in relation to their customers. This is where you come in...
Once we have a contract to do so, as a Mystery Shopper you will pose as a regular customer but will actually be collecting essential data set by the
client and briefed to you. Assignments vary from restaurants to shops, banks to
fitness centers, the list is endless. You would actually be directed to the
company or outlet, and you would be given the funds you need to do the job (
either purchase things or require services), after which you would write a
comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed record of your experience.
Examples of details you would forward to us are:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Smartness of the attendant
3) Customer service professionalism
4) Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they react
to clients when they get tensed.
Sounds like fun? It is but it's no joke, your reports are vital material, so
you've got to be committed and be able to complete each job as specified on your
worksheet by us. It is important we bring to you knowledge that our management
is always on the lookout for trustworthy and reliable people to carry out
assignments for us.
What qualifications or skills do I need?
You don't need any particular qualifications to become a mystery shopper,
basically anyone can do it, any age, any background. However, you must be
reliable, observant, have a good memory and be able to give an accurate,
unbiased view of your findings. The job also requires discretion as in effect
you are akin to an undercover reporter, therefore at no time must you reveal
that you are a mystery shopper during an assignment.
How much money can I earn?
You will be paid one hundread and twenty five hundred United States Dollars ($125.00) on every research
information which you record for the company. You will also be given extra funds
in a case whereby you are evaluating or studying the activities of a place where
spending is required of you (e.g Restaurants, clothing stores, bars
or a situation where by mobility is required).
What to do after an assignment is completed?
After completing an assignment you are usually required to email our
representative a detailed record of your experience within a set time frame,
this is usually between 8 - 24 hours of job completion. The best thing to do is
contact our representative via email with your results as soon as you can while
the details are still fresh in your mind.
No commitment is made on this job, and you would have flexible hours as it suits
you while you are still working at your present place of work. Our website is
under repairs, as soon as the website is re-constructed the link will be
forwarded to you. In the main time, you can forward to me all your
correspondence to : [e-mail address] If you are interested in this job,
kindly send in your full name contact address and telephone number so we can
look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service,
and your address will also be need for your payments.
Many Thanks.
Barry Leonard
Shoppers Guide int.
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Reply by Michelle/AL on 11/10/08 6:48pm
Msg #269399
I agree w/Becca
I would not respond to this email. Mystery Shops that pay this amount usually get snatched up quickly by those shoppers who are registered with MSPA. I'm not an expert, nor do I profess to know all there is to know about the subject, but I've been a shopper for 12 months and that shop fee is not in line with 90% of the jobs I've been offered.
If you're serious about getting onto this business, use the orange button and search for past posts on this subject. You'll find links and other information that will direct you to reputable sites where you can sign-up, and forums where you can ask the experts about Shoppers Guide int.
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