Job Offer: Shoppers Needed!

There are several tip-offs that tell a critical thinker that this email opportunity to be a Mystery Shopper is a SCAM.

#1 Even though the "from" email address looks legitimate, the reply to address is not the same.

#2 Mystery Shopping companies do NOT prepay you.  You shop and then turn in your receipts with your report. Very rarely if ever if anyone paid a fee as high as $200.00

#3  The grammar is not good.    I've underlined the poor grammar.

#4 Legitimate Mystery Shopping companies DO NOT send out unsolicited emails.  They get plenty of referrals.

#5 No legitimate company ends an email with "Thanks For Your Total Understanding and Moral Cooperation and we hope to read from you soon ."

Here's the email:

From:  "Surveyadminstration@mysteryshopper.com" tgear@btconnect.com

Thanks for the interest.
About Us .

We are a company that conducts surveys and evaluate other companies. We get hired to go to other people's 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 products or required 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 the services requested.
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 .

We turn these information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving their 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/mystery shopper) you would be paid $200 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 think you have what it takes to join a fast-pace, professional environment, then please apply immediately as soon as possible via e-mail as this position will be filled quickly but before you fill the list below make sure you read the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT attached to this mail.

FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS (no P.O.Box please):
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
CELL PHONE:
HOME PHONE:
GENDER:
PRESENT JOB STATUS/POSITION:
EMAIL:

As soon as you respond, we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service into, and your address would also be need for your payments.

Thanks For Your Total Understanding and Moral Cooperation and we hope to read from you soon .

Warmest Regards,
Karlsson James.
-Hiring Manager
MYSTERY SHOPPER INC

So, what's the REAL DEAL?  Well, I would suspect you are going to be sent a check, money order or cashier's check to cash.  And of course, you are going to need to send the company back a portion of what was paid to you.  Thus, you have just laundered bad money for good.

In some cases you are instructed to purchase items and send them elsewhere.  In any case, you are going to be stuck holding the bag and it's going to be empty!

~ Jennifer Fisher