BBB Alert - Mystery Shopper Scam

From the BBB

DON’T FALL FOR MYSTERY SHOPPERS

After all the shopping is done for this holiday season, consumers may find themselves strapped for cash. Schemers are very aware of the draw-in of “easy” money. A “secret shopper” scam using the company name Master Research claims a Maryland address and is swindling consumers across the country out of their savings. The Better Business Bureau is urging all consumers to be aware of work-at-home scams like Master Research.

Master Research posts help wanted ads on CraigsList.com, CareerBuilder.com and newspapers seeking customer service evaluators, secret shoppers and temporary positions.

In the advertisements no company name is given. When the job-seeker calls to respond (866-883-6274) they reach a company representative and are asked only for their name and address, or they merely reach voicemail. Within a week, the candidate receives a package in the mail that explains they have been selected to participate in the Master Research program. In the package is a check for $2,990.00 for use in the “training process."

Participants are advised to go to Wal-Mart and wire money to Canada. They are instructed that, as a participant, they get to keep $300.00 for their services. Thus far, consumers have reported losses as great as $7,990.00 as a result of cashing these fraudulent checks.

The checks are falsely issued under a real financial institution, Chesapeake Bank, but include a phony Baltimore, MD address and phone number. Upon calling the number, BBB discovered a bogus “collections” agency who acknowledged Master Research as a “credible client.” The BBB representative was asked if she needed to verify a check number.

A Chesapeake Bank representative in Baltimore alerted BBB that the FBI has had an open investigation on Master Research since April, 2007.

Your BBB offers these tips to help you avoid being swindled by fake check scams:

Be suspicious of any check from an individual or business that you do not know.

• Independently verify that the check is drawn from an actual account at a legitimate financial institution.
• Do not rely on the telephone number listed on the check. Use directory assistance to get the telephone number of the financial institution and call them to verify the check.
• When a company claims to have a "secret shopper" position like Master Research, check with the Mystery Shopper Provider Association at http://www.mysteryshop.org/ to learn more about Mystery Shopping and to confirm the legitimacy of a company.
• Do not rely on the money until the funds have been finally collected by your financial institution. Funds 'available’ is not good enough.

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