Secret Shopper Scams

If you enjoy shopping, dining out and trying out new products or services, the idea that someone would pay you to indulge in these pleasures and report on the experience could seem mighty alluring. But when it comes to “secret shopper” or “mystery shopper” job opportunities, let the buyer beware: Many are scams aimed at collecting your cash, not your feedback.

Some retail and market research companies do hire people to visit stores, restaurants, hotels, golf courses and tourist attractions and report back on things like customer service, cleanliness and product mix. You can find legitimate secret shopper opportunities through the Mystery Shoppers Professional Association (MSPA), a trade organization for companies that collect such customer-experience data.

In a real secret shopping job, you’ll be reimbursed for what you spend at the businesses you’re evaluating and often receive a small fee. It’s typically part-time or occasional work, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notes, not a replacement for a full-time job. 

Con artists advertise mystery shopping gigs on job boards or social media sites or reach out to targets directly by phone, text, email or paper mailers. They may use a fake company name, or impersonate legitimate research firms, well-known retailers or even MSPA itself. They’ll make the job sound much more lucrative than it actually is and, crucially, seek money up front for training, certification or lists of shop-for-pay opportunities.  

In another common ploy, the scammer will send a check or money order for several thousand dollars to cover your wages and whatever you’re supposed to buy. You’ll be instructed to deposit the payment in your bank account then return a portion of the funds, via wire transfer or gift cards, to cover taxes or paperwork costs. The shopping gig will turn out to be fake, and so will the check — but by the time you find out, the scammers are long gone, and so is your money. 

Warning Signs

• A job listing or unsolicited call, text or email guarantees you’ll make lots of money as a secret shopper.
• A mystery shopper job requires you to pay up front to get started.
• Your “employer” sends you a check or money order with instructions to deposit it in your account and return a portion to the sender.