Mystery Shopping Illegal Check Cashing Scam Un-veiled

Now days there are millions of new ways to make extra cash ranging from multi-level marketing to mystery shopping. While many of them are legitimate, such as Mary Kay, Avon, Pre-paid Legal Services, Inc. and even market research companies that are registered with the Better Business Bureau, many are not.

For every legitimate marketing option, there is a fraudulent copy-cat that will not pay as promised, or worse- is out to get your money. These are popping up on-line, in newspaper ads and in your mailbox with tempting offers.

Market research is a growing industry around the world because companies are striving to beat the competition. They want to know how to improve their companies so they hire market research companies to research their products and customer service. These companies then train "secret shoppers," also known as "mystery shoppers," to be detail-oriented product and service evaluators.

Recently con artists have began piggy-backing on this industry to con un-suspecting individuals and are making millions. The most recent is a check cashing scheme that has people thinking they are starting a part-time job as a mystery shopper, but ending up overdrawn in their bank accounts and owing thousands of dollars.

These schemers place ads in newspapers across the country for customer service positions. When those inquiring call the 800-number they seem to have contacted a reputable market research company that is associated with the Better Business Bureau. The "associate" they speak with says that they are looking for market research representatives in the area and gets their mailing address to "send training materials and funds for their first assignment."

The associate asks that the trainee contact them when funds are received to ensure that funds are not used for anything other than what is specified. Days later an envelope arrives in the mail with no return address. The contents- a cashiers check supposedly issued by Wachovia, a form to request working hours for the next week, a write-up of the company's ethics policy, and an assignment and a form to return to the supposed market research company.