Online users, be aware of "American Mystery Shopping Providers" scams like the one below, which claim that the recipients have mystery or secret shopping assignments in their areas and are asked to participate. The email messages are fraudulent, therefore, recipients of the same email messages should not respond to them with their personal information or any other information that is requested by the senders. The fake email messages are being sent by scammers/cybercriminals.
The victim of this scam will be provided with a fake or counterfeit check (cheque) and is advised to cash it and then asked to use some of the proceeds to do some form of mystery shopping. Also, the victim may be asked to take part in surveys or other promotional services. But, the counterfeit check will bounce and the victim who cashes the check will be held responsible for the money lost in the transaction and any additional fees imposed by his or her bank. They may even get arrested for fraud.
Remember, never send your personal information to anyone in an email message or send money to someone who contacted you via unsolicited email messages.
Sample of an "American Mystery Shopping Providers" Scam
From: <jangulo78@skynet.net>
Date: November 23, 2017 at 8:43:17 PM EST
Subject: Mystery.Shoppers>
We Invite You Join as An Evaluator.
You will be assigned to visit a shop.
You will then finish an online questionnaire to share us about your customer experience.
Requirement :_
18 -year old or Above, Can speak Local language well
Can read and write E.nglish
Jobs- pay :
You will get $500 For each assignment
Most of the time you will only need to spend 30 minutes on the visit
Give me information for register :
----First Name:
----Last Name:
----Email:
----Street :
----City:
----State :
----ZIP Code:
----Phone:
----Gender:
----Birth Year :
Thank you for your participation and being here with us.
Sincerely,
Sara Willcox
The MS applications team
(C) 2017 SR & I. All rights reserved
American Mystery Shopping Providers