Mystery Shopping

The OFT is warning consumers not to respond to a new employment opportunity scam currently targeting the UK. 

The mailing from a business called ‘Paid Surveys’, states that it is a customer employment firm using ‘mystery shopping’ to assist companies in improving customer service. Recipients are told that they have been chosen as a secret shopper and will be paid £350 for their first assignment. This is said to involve posing as a potential customer at a number of retailers and evaluating their service. Recipients are asked to contact an agent for detailed instructions.

A cheque made out to the recipient and allegedly backed by a reputable bank, is attached to the mailing to cover pay and other expenses. The victim is instructed to cash the cheque and then to immediately complete one of their assignments by posing as a customer of a money transfer agency and wiring £1,500 to a fake ‘relative’ at an address in Canada. However, the cheque is counterfeit and the money wired to Canada is collected by the scammer. Victims could be liable for any funds they spend while waiting for the cheque to pass through the banking system, and end up losing over £1,500.

Consumers throughout the UK are being targeted by this scam, which appears to have originated from Canada.

Consumers can avoid falling victim to ‘Secret Shopper’ Scams by following these easy steps:

• never send money to a stranger using a money transfer service,
• do not take on face value the validity of a genuine looking cheque, and
• do not be pressurised into sending your own money in any ‘mystery shopping’ exercise.