Don't pay to become a mystery shopper

Don't pay to become a mystery shopper

March 8, 2006

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- You may have heard a radio commercial or gotten an email about making big money as a mystery shopper. What you don't know, however, is that you may be charged to find out the information. And if you are, it's a scam.

A mystery shopper is someone hired by a company to pose as a customer, to evaluate the services or purchase pre-selected merchandise.

Becoming a mystery shopper is free. It doesn't cost a penny to find out about shopping opportunities.

Lots of people get emails on this business. Being a mystery shopper is a way to earn extra cash in your spare time as a market researcher. But be careful of commercials and emails claiming there are hundreds of mystery shopping jobs and you can get rich fast doing them.

Beverly Gleason showed 6 On Your Side an email on how to become a mystery shopper. "Once you click to step two, immediately they want you to pay $29.95."

From their office in West Knoxville, Beverly and her two daughters, Tiffany Gleason and Trish Amburn, operate a mystery shopper franchise for this area.

Tiffany Gleason showed 6 On Your Side their Web site. "If you're a shopper and you want to come and apply with us, you click on shoppers. Then it gives you an application."

"You don't have to pay anything for this?" 6 On Your Side asks. "No sir, not at all. No where on there do we ask for fees. Just ask for your contact information, address or email address," Tiffany says.

On the Web site is this disclaimer, "Mystery Shopper does not ask for or require money for any job opportunities."

If you get some emails, however, there's a $30 charge. But that information does not originate from the people who operate the real mystery shopper businesses.

"What we consider to be a scam is any company that guarantees you work, free items, free merchandise, but also includes asking to pay a fee," Tiffany says.

"These are two emails I just received this morning," Beverly says. "One of them says, 'Give me a refund.' This other one is from a gentleman who says he's very tired of getting the run-around. He doesn't understand why he has to pay to mystery shop."

That's the point. You don't have to pay to become a mystery shopper. Remember on their Web site, you sign up for free, then wait for a job offer.

The bogus companies charge you and some customers never hear back from them. "We have to explain to them, they've been scammed. They need to try to get the information from the people that they gave their money to and try to get their money back from them," Trish says.

"The key is, you do not pay anybody to sign up to mystery shop because you can sign up for free with any company you like," Beverly says.

There are many reputable mystery-shopping companies. You won't likely get rich mystery shopping, but the job provides a good supplemental income.

If you go online and apply to become a mystery shopper, look for the initials MSPA. That means the company is a reputable member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.