Thought I was signing up to be a secret shopper- Attention this could be CRIME

[acurtsinger2]

yes and warn your bank that those criminals are contacting people in your area

[bhiett]

There are so many scams out there.  Just remember, if it is an offer you did not initiate and requires you to send any amount of money somewhere, it is a scam.  Also beware of cash "awards" or "prizes" that ask for your bank account number or social security number.

[raven1114]

Do not cash the check. Throw it out or take it to the police.

[sgluckadoo]

Don't cash it. Your bank may be able to advise you to. Definitely a scam and probably some way that they are able to get information about your account too. Who knows these days.

[moon29]

big scam run.  secret shoppers are legitimate but there are a lot of fake companies online that run a scam.  typically how secret shoppers work is that you will go and purchase the item in question then you are reimbursed for the money you spent as well as for the time it took you to purchase the item.

[betlynjua]

big scam run.  secret shoppers are legitimate but there are a lot of fake companies online that run a scam.  typically how secret shoppers work is that you will go and purchase the item in question then you are reimbursed for the money you spent as well as for the time it took you to purchase the item.

Yes, you are correct.  Secret Shopping is a very legit business.  I've done it a couple of times some years ago.  In addition to your comment, which is true, Secret Shopping makes modest reimbursements, which in time add up.  No one will ever earn hundreds or thousands of dollars from one or two shops like these crooks are advertising.

[lgemini]

Stuff like this scam you need to do some research. If it is to good to be true it is.

[stretch1967]

Yeah that one is a scam. One of the ones that I use is shadowshopper. They have a free level and then they have gold member level. They do pay.

[keauhou]

Remember words to live by: If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't!

[JaniceSW]

I agree...you are handling it intelligently and it is good that you were suspicious.  I had something similar happen just about a month ago.  I was contacted in my email by someone calling themself "Selena" and wanted to send me a check for about $2500 to shop at WalMart.  I didn't get all the details, but it started to smell like fish and I always go by the saying, "If it seems too good to be true..."

I had registered with 2 mystery shopping sites and somehow Selena and her group "hijacked" that I was a member sometimes searching their database.  It is a prominent, large mystery shopping site so I reported it to them and their response was they was going to "flag her and no longer do business with this person!!!!!"

BEWARE everyone. If it seems too easy money, there's a catch.

[gaylasue]

I received on delivered by FedEx on a Saturday.  I knew better than to try to cash it.  It helped start a bonfire.

[stretch1967]

I will put a list n here for the ones that pay. One of them that does pay is shadowshopper. You can join a gold level I think its called but I never did. It is supposed to give you higher jobs. I will have to locate my list to add more.

[moon29]

something similar happend to me recently.  i filed a report with the post office and fraud they were very nice got back to me and are currently having me hold onto the check incase they need it to prosecute.

[betlynjua]

something similar happend to me recently.  i filed a report with the post office and fraud they were very nice got back to me and are currently having me hold onto the check incase they need it to prosecute.

That is great advice.  Thank you for sharing this.  I will keep your suggestion in mind if I ever run into this kind of thing again.

[freedomcash11]

yes this classic scam, they always try to get me with it, not budging. Note if it is too good to be true, it probably isn't true.