[Tags: scam, internet, business]
These are big scam and most likely any mystery shopper job is either going to require you pay a fee for information that is otherwise free, is going to try and get you to wire money, or steal your banking information. You would never have to pay an upfront fee to apply to a legitimate job.
How do I spot a job scam?
1.) The message is for a position that you did not apply for
2.) The message is from or asking for a reply to an email address from a free email provider (ie: @yahoo.com, @gmail.com)
3.)The position is for a work at home job. Let's get real here most of these positions are hard to come by.
4.) The message provides no phone and/or no mailing address
5.) The company does not have a website or the website was created in the last year. Do a whois lookup to see when a domain was created.
6.) The job has few qualifications
7.) The message is written with poor english
8.) A google search for the company finds little or no history for the company
*** This list is not all inclusive. Remember if you have to ask yourself if it's a scam it probably is!
What should I do if I provided my information to scammers?
- Do not respond to further communications.
- If you sent bank Information: Call your bank immediately and tell them what happened. They should be able to change your account number or cancel your account.
- If you are still concerned you might want to enroll in credit monitoring such as LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention
- You can also file a claim with The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). They are probably overloaded with these types of claim though, so I would not expect an individual response.
- Post a comment below with any information you have on this scam to inform other people to try and avoid any future victims. Post the email you received with exact wording if different from original posted so when people search for terms they find this warning.
Thank you for your interest in the Mystery Shopper position.
Our company conducts surveys and evaluates other companies in order to help them achieve their performance goals.
We offer an integrated suite of business solutions that enables corporations to achieve tangible results in the marketplace.
We get hired by other companies and act like customers to find out how they are handling their services in relation to their customers.
Mystery Shopping is the most accurate and reliable tool a business can use to gather information regarding their actual customer service performance at the moment of truth. This moment of truth is not when the staff is on their best behavior because the boss is around - it is when they interact with customers during their normal daily routines.
This is where you, the Mystery Shopper, come in. You pose as an ordinary customer and provide feedback of both factual observations (ex...the floor was free of debris) and your own opinions (ex...I felt that the temperature in the establishment was too cold).
Mystery Shoppers must remain anonymous. You must act as a regular customer and be careful not to do anything that would reveal you as a shopper. An inexperienced shopper could tip off the staff to his/her identity by asking for the manager's name for no clear or appropriate reason. If you are going to be bringing someone with you on the shop, make sure you educate them about the process as well. Beware that even whispers can be overheard by employees. If anyone notices you are a shopper, you can bet that word will quickly spread around the establishment and you will get some of the best customer service in town.
No company can afford to have a gap between the promise of quality and its actual delivery, that's why leading corporations look to us, the nation's premiere mystery shopping and customer experience measurement company.
In order for a business to effectively compete in today's economy, they must be prepared to meet the challenge of increasing sales by:
* Retaining existing customers
* Acquiring new customers
* Creating word-of-mouth advocacy
* Improving customer loyalty
Once we have a contract to do so, you would be directed to the company or outlet, and you would be given the funds you need to do the job(either purchase merchandise or require services), after which you would
write a detailed report of your experience.
Examples of details you would forward to us are:
1) How long does it take to get served.
2) Politeness of the attendant.
3) Customer service professionalism.
4) Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they deal with difficult clients.
Then we turn the information over to the company executives and they will carry out their own duties in improving their services.
Most companies employ our assistance when people complain about their services, or when they feel there is a need for them to improve upon their customer service.
Our company partners with you to implement proven mystery shop auditing and surveying strategies that provide critical information about customer experiences.
You will be paid a commission of $100 for every duty you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance.
Your task will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of restaurants, retail stores, casinos, shopping malls, banks and hotels in your area.
Qualities of a good Mystery Shopper:
* Is 21 years of age or older
* Loves to go shopping
* Is fair and objective
* Is ON TIME
* Is very observant and able to focus on details
* Is fairly intelligent
* Has patience
* Is detail oriented
* Is practical
* Types well
* Is trustworthy
* Explains well in writing
* Is discreet
* Loves to learn
* Handles deadlines
* Has full internet access (at home or at work)
Mystery Shopping is fun and exciting but also must be approached very seriously and is definitely not for everyone.
If you are interested in applying for consideration as a Mystery Shopper do send in your information only at our e-mail: michael.bernard58@gmail.com
Full Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Age:
Occupation:
As soon as we receive your information we will add you to our database and we will look for locations in your area that needs to be evaluated.
If you have any questions please reply on our e-mail: michael.bernard58@gmail.com
Thank you,
Michael Bernard
Best Surveys
505 Barranca Parkway
michael.bernard58@gmail.com
Irvine, CA 92604-3703
- Related Articles:
- JP Morgan TEXT SCAM
- Craigslist Job Scam: Alhamrani-Fuchs Petroleum Ltd
- SCAM: Notice of Underreported Income - IRS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Friday December 19, 2008 @ 09:57 AM
Thanks for setting up this website. I got the same email, and gave them my basic information. The next email, they asked me to do the first assignment by transfering $100 at a nearest Western Union. It sounds scammy. How could they assign me a task when there is no employment paperwork is done. I stopped there and serached for their company name, and luckily I found your website.
Friday December 19, 2008 @ 10:18 AM
Here's the 2nd email they sent to me:
Mystery Shopper Position.
Shopper's Guide wants you to run surveys on a few prominent western union locations in your area(the locations are within 10 miles
from your zip code, you will be filled with the exact details).
The Western Union location was reported for evaluation for the following reasons:
1) Customers have reported their money missing.
2) Slow services.
3) Unbalanced transfer charges.
4) Rudeness to customers.
5) Late opening time and Closing before time.
Your Evaluation at the first western union location would be:
1) To make a transfer of funds from this western union location to another mystery shopper (we will provide with the needed
funds).
2) You will have to record the time you spend sending the transfer.
3) You will also provide the name of the cashier that attended to you.
4) Make a detailed report about your personal impressions as an average customer.
To complete the surveys we will send you the money to cover your $100 commission and the money you need to use at the western
union location.
Upon receiving the funds, the exact instructions of the survey will be forwarded to you.
There is no specific time to do a survey, however the report is to be ready same day you receive the funds from us.
You will have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out and send it by fax to our office.
If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper confirm that you are ready by replying to this message with "I AGREE".
Thank you,
Michael Bernard
Best Surveys
505 Barranca Parkway
Irvine, CA 92604-3703
Wednesday December 24, 2008 @ 11:57 AM
I rec'd this same exact email and followed along with it until he asked me to open a CitiBank account and wire funds through Western Union! VERY FISHY! So I looked it up and I found YOU! Thank you so much! If it's too good to be true than IT IS!!! Merry Christmas!
Monday December 29, 2008 @ 09:24 PM
Thanks for the info. this is exactly the same info I received. thanks.
Tuesday January 6, 2009 @ 12:12 PM
I was also approached by this company. They sent out an introductory email a couple of weeks before they solicited me, asking if I was interested in a Secret Shopper job. I didn't realize it was a scam until they asked for bank account information. When I got on line, this "Michael Bernard" was all over the place as a fraud!
Thursday January 15, 2009 @ 06:10 PM
Michael Bernard is a scam, Michael asked me to open a new account with CITIBANK online only. Because this was the only way the company could deposit funds. I did open the account and a friend told me she was concerned. So i googled and used the work scam...and bingo. When I did a google without the work scam I did not see you information. Thank you for posting. You saved me...
Wednesday January 28, 2009 @ 05:26 PM
I unfortunately read all of this after I did it...and am a victim of Michael Bernard! I am doing everything I can do report this to police, FBI, etc, so there is an end to it. I fell for it for a variety of reasons. It is unbelievable this is happening to so many people.
Friday January 30, 2009 @ 12:24 PM
Yeah...I researched this guy AFTER I responded to a couple of emails. He has my address, name...etc...what am I supposed to do now?
Sunday February 8, 2009 @ 10:51 PM
Yes, I received this identical email and was suspicious. When I googled for info, I got your web site. Thank you very much. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I recently was scammed by a local general contractor and am using the 'net to bring him to justice, so this is very interesting to me i.e. criminals that have found ways to commit multiple crimes with little or no retribution. This is not right, and I would like to stop it wherever it occurs.
Sunday February 22, 2009 @ 10:22 PM
Before I even get myself deep into this, I decided to look up his name and company info for scam info, thanks to this I am able to be aware. Thank you very much!!!!
Wednesday February 25, 2009 @ 09:21 AM
I got 2 emails from 2 different people: I am posting their email so you know. But their letters are still signed by that CEO Michael.
"Isa Gleason" <oymescal[at]amorgroup.com.mx
"Russell Clements" <gdevote[at]mail.nbptt.zj.cn>
Saturday March 28, 2009 @ 12:19 AM
Wow!!! considering the application i got from craiglist posted above its exaclty lik the origal post in this blog i guess now their using a diferent name always go with u'r gut feeling something didnt sound right in this reply i had received so i did research and here i landed in this website that helped alot, thanx
Wednesday April 8, 2009 @ 10:44 PM
I respect your honesty and integrity to aware others of the dishonesty people do over the internet.
Wednesday May 6, 2009 @ 08:13 PM
I just got one of these "Mystery Shopper position" emails... only differences... I was to reply to ChadMontoyaQK[at]gmail.com. It was signed:
Michael McDowell
WA Surveys
410 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
The IP address listed, 190.214.63.124, is in Ecuador. Needless to say, I won't respond.
Monday May 18, 2009 @ 01:21 PM
Intrestingly I received this spam as well and they are using MY EMAIL address to spam people...
No wonder my email is now spammed by filter spam automatically.
F.
Monday June 1, 2009 @ 02:00 PM
I also replied back with my name, address, email, etc. but then they didnt send anymore after that. should i b worried or did they get scared.
Wednesday June 3, 2009 @ 08:17 AM
Same email, another name here:
"If you are interested in applying for consideration as a Mystery Shopper do send in your information: Burton[at]aurora-es.com
Full Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Age:
Occupation:
As soon as we receive your information we will add you to our database and we will look for locations in your area that needs to be evaluated.
Thank you,
Michael McDowell
WA Surveys
410 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105"
Needless to say, not responding as I can spot a scam a mile away.
Suprised so maky people out there get taken in by this kind of thing to be honest - how naieve can you be? Come on folks, it's blindingly obvious it's a con!
Wednesday June 3, 2009 @ 11:58 AM
I have had this mail 3 times todeay!
Tuesday June 23, 2009 @ 07:24 PM
Rather than respond to this phishing email,I decided to go to Google and type in the Company name and address. It went right to this page which was exactly what I expected. Caveat Emptor!
Friday December 5, 2008 @ 09:55 PM
Thank you for posting this, I got the scam email and I'm happy I read this before falling for it.