The Mystery Shopping scam
Discussion
You may know of 'mystery shoppers' - researchers who are paid to buy stuff in shops and then report back on the service etc. I've often thought I'd be quite good at that.
So when a spam e-mail arrived looking for mystery shoppers, I indicated interest. The reply said:
This morning I got this:
(ETA Maybe 'Matt Black' woud have been more appropriate. Oops, can I say that?)
So when a spam e-mail arrived looking for mystery shoppers, I indicated interest. The reply said:
Mystery Shopping Bloke said:
We are a company that conducts surveys and evaluate the services companies. 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. 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 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 why they get tensed.
And we turn the information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving there services. Most companies employ our assistance when people give complains about their services, or when they feel there are needs for them to improve their customer service. your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid 250pounds for every duty you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance, and funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area. No commitment is made on this job, and you would have flexible hours as it suits you. If you are interested do send in these information as below...
So we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service onto.
N.B: No fees required
Regards,
Matt White
I guessed from 'zip code' that it might have been US-based, but entered the basics and sent them over.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 why they get tensed.
And we turn the information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving there services. Most companies employ our assistance when people give complains about their services, or when they feel there are needs for them to improve their customer service. your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret shopper) you would be paid 250pounds for every duty you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance, and funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area. No commitment is made on this job, and you would have flexible hours as it suits you. If you are interested do send in these information as below...
So we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service onto.
N.B: No fees required
Regards,
Matt White
This morning I got this:
Bloke Pretending to be Mystery Shopping Agent said:
Shopper's Guide wants you to run a survey on a company in your area.You will run a survey on a Western Union Agent.There has been reports about laps in the services of their Management and some of their staffs in the particular western union location,Their complains were based on reports which customers forwarded anonymously and Phone calls which were also made to the head office.The Western union Agent
has been recommended for evaluation because of the following reasons:
I) Unbalanced transfer charges
ii) Slow services(reluctant attitude)
iii)incomplete funds sent to the receiver.Your Secret Evaluation would be
1) To make a transfer of fund from this western union location to another of our Mystery shopper,And the funds would be picked up by another mystery shopper at another location Which a customer reported
her funds missing.
2) You would have to record the time at which you go to the location and how many minutes it took you to get service.
3) You would be sent a check/Money order which would cover your payment of $2500GBP and also for the duty. As soon as you receive the check/money order, you would cash in at your bank and also do an
evaluation of the bank for how long it took them to cash the check/money order,and deduct your 150.00GBP, and use the rest of the money for the services.
4) Upon receiving the funds,the Name and address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made to would be forwarded to you. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out.
5) You would also provide me with the name of the cashier that attended to you. The western union Agent for evaluation is around your Location.
Regards,
Matt White
Well of course that set the SCAM Bell ringing loud and clear. I only one more e-mail to Matt White matt.white.matt@gmail.com, asking him to check he wasn't a Nigerian Prince!has been recommended for evaluation because of the following reasons:
I) Unbalanced transfer charges
ii) Slow services(reluctant attitude)
iii)incomplete funds sent to the receiver.Your Secret Evaluation would be
1) To make a transfer of fund from this western union location to another of our Mystery shopper,And the funds would be picked up by another mystery shopper at another location Which a customer reported
her funds missing.
2) You would have to record the time at which you go to the location and how many minutes it took you to get service.
3) You would be sent a check/Money order which would cover your payment of $2500GBP and also for the duty. As soon as you receive the check/money order, you would cash in at your bank and also do an
evaluation of the bank for how long it took them to cash the check/money order,and deduct your 150.00GBP, and use the rest of the money for the services.
4) Upon receiving the funds,the Name and address of whom the Mystery shoppers transfer would be made to would be forwarded to you. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out.
5) You would also provide me with the name of the cashier that attended to you. The western union Agent for evaluation is around your Location.
Regards,
Matt White
(ETA Maybe 'Matt Black' woud have been more appropriate. Oops, can I say that?)
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 30th November 10:35
Simpo Two said:
hornetrider said:
You've painted a scary picture of mystery shopping there Simpo me lad.
You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
I did briefly flirt with the idea of collecting the £2500 and doing a runner - in which case the scammer can mark himself 'FAIL' You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
Simpo Two said:
hornetrider said:
You've painted a scary picture of mystery shopping there Simpo me lad.
You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
I did briefly flirt with the idea of collecting the £2500 and doing a runner - in which case the scammer can mark himself 'FAIL' You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
Geronimo said:
Simpo Two said:
hornetrider said:
You've painted a scary picture of mystery shopping there Simpo me lad.
You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
I did briefly flirt with the idea of collecting the £2500 and doing a runner - in which case the scammer can mark himself 'FAIL' You also might want to brush up on your scam detecting skills.
(I realise the O/P was $2500 and the amount of reward was changed to £150, just using these figures for clarity)
o.versteer said:
You didn't seriously think the first one was genuine, did you?
It's a reasonably accurate summary of what mystery shoppers do, though they are often so inundated with applicants that advertising via span isn't required.Women are generally better mystery shoppers because faffing in shops during working hours looks genuine.
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