With more and more people seeking employment, some scams are touching more victims than ever before. A scam known as the “Secret Shopper” scam is one of these. This scam appeals to people trying to make money — up to $700 a week, some ads claim — by shopping at certain stores and then writing a comprehensive review. A number of these Secret Shopper companies even provide detailed information about clients and Better Business Bureau ID numbers. The real secret is, however, that all of this information is fake and part of a scam to rob victims of potentially thousands of dollars! Find out what to look for to avoid falling prey to this sneaky con.
Even though this scam can go by a number of different company names, each incident has certain factors in common. After signing up as a secret shopper, victims are always asked to try out money transfer services. The company either wires money or sends a check to the victim’s account, asking them to take out a portion as their salary and wire the rest back to the company. Sounds harmless, right? Within weeks, victims receive calls that the money they received was stolen from another account, and now it’s their responsibility to replace it. Victims are left owing thousands to the bank, while the fake company is nowhere to be found.
The Better Business Bureau has called this trick the #1 scam in certain areas. While there are still a number of legitimate mystery shopping companies out there, this scam has a tell-tale sign: if you’re asked to wire money back to the company, it’s a scam. Be sure to report the incident to the Better Business Bureau in your state and don’t take any further action. And remember, if you are uncertain about an offer or job, research it and trust your instincts. It’s better to question a legitimate opportunity than fall prey to the latest scam.