Mystery Shoppers: Real or Fake?

In times like these we could all use some extra cash. And mystery shopping might be a way to do that. Mystery Shopping is a legitimate marketing tactic, but you have to be careful, what looks like a dream job could end up a nightmare.

Last November, Joseph Cruz received an email offering him a job to become a mystery shopper through a company called Global Marketing Incorporated.

Joseph filled out the online form and later received a letter with a check. At first, he though it was a fraud, but after the bank cleared the check, he thought it was legit. So Joseph withdrew the money and followed the specific instructions. He was to keep $200 as his salary, wire $720 using a money gram, and then go to various stores while evaluating the stores business services.

A week went by and Joseph completed his assignments and when he went to wire the money to Canada, the bank informed him that the check was a fake. Joseph called back Global Marketing Inc., but could not get an answer.

Joseph was in disbelief, he thought that the bank should have spotted the fake check. But it can take up to a week or much longer for a bank to determine whether a check is counterfeit, especially if the check is from an institution located outside the United States.

And because the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) requires banks to make money from certified, cashier's, or teller's checks available in 1-5 days, Joseph was able to quickly withdraw the funds, and start his assignments.

Luckily, Joseph didn't wire the money, but it was too late. He became a victim of a check cashing scam and now is responsible for the amount of the bad check plus any other fees.

What you should know is that Mystery Shopping is a legitimate marketing tactic and there are bonafide jobs out there. But how do you know what's real and what's fake?

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

* Be aware of unsolicited emails. Legitimate mystery shopper companies generally do not advertise for jobs in this manner.

* If they charge a fee just to access mystery shopping job opportunities. You should not pay any fee to apply or to obtain job information.

* If the company does not have an established office nearby that you can visit in person, be very cautious. Be wary of companies with just post office boxes.

It is always a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau and investigate any business offering this sort of employment.

Real Mystery Shopping companies are out there. You just have to do some research. A good site to check out is Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Companies that are affiliated with this site have to go through an approval process and agree to uphold ethical standards. You can learn which companies are members at the MSPA website.

You can't assume that a company is not legit if it doesn't belong to the MSPA, but if a company is a member of MSPA, more than likely it's a company you can trust.