Postal Letter

Do you think this is a scam?

Got this is an email: Greetings, We have a mystery shopping assignment in your area and we would like you to participate" Secret Shopper® is accepting applications for qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers. It's fun and rewarding, and you choose when and where you want to shop. You are never obligated to accept an assignment. There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need previous experience. After you sign up, you will have access to training materials via e-mail, fax or postal mail if neccesary. ABOUT US Secret Shopper® is the premier mystery shopping company, serving clients across US and Canada with over 500,000 shoppers available and ready to help businesses better serve their customers. Continual investment in the latest internet and communication technologies coupled with over 16 years of know-how means working with Secret Shopper® is a satisfying and rewarding experience. Secret shopping as seen on ABC NEWS, NBC NEWS, L.A.TIMES. Stores and organizations such as The Gap, Walmart, Pizza Hut, and Banks. One amongst many others pay for Secret Shoppers to shop in their establishments and report their experiences. On top of being paid for shopping you are also allowed to keep purchases for free. Secret Shopper® NEVER charge fees to the shopper. Training, tips for improvement, and shopping opportunities are provided free to registered shoppers. Mystery shoppers are either paid a pre-arranged fee for a particular shop, a reimbursement for a purchase or a combination of both.Secret Shopper® has available for immediate assignment an inspection of the customer service of any store or outlet specified for you in your area. You are to shop secretly. This fee will be paid upfront. During this shop you will visit the location and make several observations as regards the customer service. You will be required to interact with the shop clerk. You may conduct the shop alone or as a couple. The assignment will pay $150.00 per duty. Kindly Fill Out the application form below and we will get back to you shortly with the assignment: PERSONAL INFORMATION: First Name.......................... .................. Middle Name............................................. Last Name............................................ Street Address.......................................... City, State, Zip Code............................................. Cell Phone Number .............................................. Home Phone Number .............................................. Age..................................................................... Current Occupation.................................................. Alternate Email Address .............................................. AVAILABILITY: Days/Hours Available Monday ..X............................................. Tuesday ..X........................................... Wednesday X.............................................. Thursday .X.............................................. Friday ...X........................................... Saturday .X........................................... Sunday ............................................ Hours Available: from _ ______ to _____We await your urgent response. Thank you for your help. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Matt Klizek Secret Shopper® What do you think?

Public Comments

1. I think its a scam. On their actual website, you have to agree to policies, and do a certification test. See the " apply" tab. http://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/shopperIntro.asp This is the scam warning -- http://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/ScamAlert.asp
2. Yes its a scam, the real Secret Shopper company never sends out unsolicited emails, you can only work for them if you apply thru their website. They even have warnings on the real site about scam First of all "The assignment will pay $150.00 per duty." is completely false, you only get paid $15-20 per assignment. and these lines from their post are not true: "and you choose when and where you want to shop." -- this is never true, you can only go where they want you to go, and often when they want you to go. If they tell you to go on a weekday morning, that's when you have to go or you don't get paid. "You are never obligated to accept an assignment." - that's true but if you turn down several assignments you will probably be dropped "After you sign up, you will have access to training materials via e-mail, fax or postal mail if neccesary." - not true at all, sounds like they want you to pay for training materials. With real mystery shopping you have to go to their office for an introductory meeting before you can start working or they email guidelines to you but not training materials. You should copy that email with the full header and email it to the real Secret Shopper company so they can contact law enforcement and get these criminals shut down http://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/contact1.asp Also report it to the FBIs Internet Crime partnership IC3 http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
3. There is a Secret Shopper, but you have to apply for it, they don't just solicit people through blind ads like this. Of course, this is a scam. If they were asking you to apply, they'd know and use your first name. This thing didn't, of course!
4. Did you have contact with this company, Joel? A legitimate business gets all the information they need from you in your resume, references, and follow up interviews. They work out all question and answers BEFORE they say that you are hired. And, if they do want to hire you, they will NOT send you an E-mail about it. This a scam to get your personal information and/or your money, or both! Do not respond to it. Report it, forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and to the abuse desk of the sender's ISP. For yahoo, report them here: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/ya… Choose Fraud as the reason for the violation you're reporting on. Also, if the E-mail appears to be impersonating a bank or other company or organization, forward the message to the actual organization. You really need to get yourself some employment etiquette and knowledge fast. The first being that job hunting online, is just asking for people to try to scam you. Looking on the Internet is risky at best, as it is much too easy to lie and cheat online. If you are serious about finding work, use an employment agency.
5. Is more likely than not a scam. Check the email address. Go to http://scamvictimsunited.com/secret_shopper.htm to learn more about Secret shopper or Mystery shopper scams. Shawn, co-founder of ScamVictimsUnited has stated a petition for Scam Education and Awareness Programs. If you live in the US and are over the age of 18 then go to http://scamvictimsunited.com/phpBB2/view… to read the post or go to http://www.change.org/actions/view/creat… to read and sign the petition. Tell everyone you know about the petition.
6. Absolutely. As a home business owner, I can honestly tell you NOT to give your personal information.