But secret shoppers beware: Mystery shopper scams are a thing.
Here are some of the most common ones you might encounter when looking for a secret shopper job.
(Hint: if a company asks you to wire money, its probably a scam!)
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
Postal Servicewarns against a similar scaminvolving unsolicited mailings from scammers inviting people to become mystery shoppers.
Heres an example of how it works.
Fake Company sends you a check for $500.
They instruct you to buy a $500 valueTargetgift card with the money they sent.
Then, they ask you to send pictures of the gift card redemption codes.
The unhappy ending: The check bounces and they use the gift card.
Youre out $500.
Did you know?
you’re able to Get Paid Up to $140/Month Just for Sharing Your Honest Opinion
Bottom line?
If you get a fat check before youve ever started working, its probably a scam.
Dont you believe it.
Legitimate companies dont hide their jobs from applicants or require special search tools to find.
Drop these fraudsters like radioactive waste.
Thats one of the warning signs that youre being scammed.
The Make $9,000 a Month!
True, some shops can net yousome serious money.
But those mystery shopper opportunities are rare.
1 way to protect yourself from scams.
Dont be afraid to go all Sherlock on the company youre thinking of signing up for.
([Company Name] scam is a particularly useful search string.)
If you are vetting an opportunity and find it on the MSPAs Scam Alerts page, run!
Keep Your Hard-Earned Cash
You want tomakemoney as a mystery shopper, not spend it.
Instead, report em!
Theyre the experts in handling this kind of thing.
So file a quick complaint and get back to the business of finding a legitimate mystery shopper job.
Nofziger advised that vigilance and consumer education are the best weapons against falling for fake mystery shopper gigs.
These scammers are very clever at what they do and in the ways that they trick people.
Remember, there are many mystery shopper opportunities out there that are one hundred percent legitimate.
Ciara McLaren contributed to this report.
McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, MoneyGeek, and The Penny Hoarder.
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?