"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams

M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment Scams

The unsolicited email message below, which claims the recipients will be paid $470 for a customer service survey assignment in their area, is just one of the many fake mystery survey scams being sent by cybercriminals or online scammers to their potential victims, to trick them into sending their personal information. Therefore, recipients of unsolicited email messages like the one below, which ask for personal information, are asked to delete and not follow the instructions in them.

A "M.S.P.A - Online Research Customer Assignment" Scam

From: database7@uniandes.edu.co

Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2017 04:33 p. m.

Subject: Welcome to M.S.P.A - Online Research

Hi,

We have a customer service survey assignments in your area, and we will pay $470/assignments. After you sign up, you will receive description of job assignment and have access the training material from us.

Provide the following information below to get started and we will get back shortly with an your assignments

* FULL-NAMES:

* Full Address:

* CITY:

* STATE:

* ZIP:

* Tel/Mobile Phone:

* AGE/GENDER:

Thank you for participation.

Regards,

Official Recruitment

<01-Project.jpg>

Scammers steal personal information from potential victims using bogus emails like the one above. Once they are in possession of their potential victims' personal information, the scammers will contact them and attempt to scam them or sell their information to other scammers.

Victims of these scams usually blame their banks, utility companies, ISPs or even the government, claiming they sold their information to the highest bidder, when in fact they were the ones who unknowingly gave the scammers their information when they fell for their phishing scams.

This is why online users are asked to be careful of messages which ask for personal information, especially the ones that promise quick money with little or no work. Scammers use the promise of quick money and get rich schemes to help lure potential victims into their traps.

Many of the mystery shopping scams that we have come across usually send potential victims fraudulent checks (cheque) and ask them to deposit them. The scammers will then ask the potential victims to take their share of the money from the fraudulent checks and send the balance to them. But, the checks will bounce and the potential victims will be responsible for paying the cost for processing the checks and paying back the money they have sent to the scammers; they may even get arrested.

Persons who have received the same checks are asked not to deposit them and report them to the police, and those who have already done so are asked to contact their banks immediately and let them know that they may have been a victim of the online mystery shopper scam.

Related articles:

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

Bookmark articleSave

Was this article helpful?

Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

To protect your privacy, please remove sensitive or identifiable information from your comments, questions, or reviews. We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users when you make a post. That location is not enough to find you.

Your post will be set as anonymous because you are not signed in. An anonymous post cannot be edited or deleted, therefore, review it carefully before posting. Sign-in.

February 24, 2020 at 7:00 AM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
info

"From: system.tc@sfrbusinessteam.fr <system.tc@sfrbusinessteam.fr>

Sent: Friday, February 14, 2020 8:09 PM

Cc: system.tc@sfrbusinessteam.fr

Subject: MS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Dear Candidate,

We have customer service servey assignments in your location,

and will pay you $500

which would come [in] the form of money order for your

assignments.

The Job Entail's an Evaluation proses such a visiting Wal-Mart/K-

mart, Etc.

Please enter your detail information below to get started;

>> ms.serv1ces@aol.com

* Full name:

* Address:

* City, state, & zip code:

* Age, Gender:

* Phone:

We will contact you immediately as your application has been

received.

Regards,

Whitney J Murphy

MSPA Research Apps. (C) 2020 SR & I. All Rights Reserved"

Here is another scam.

Delete

December 10, 2018 at 6:09 PM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
an anonymous user from: Chicago, Illinois, United States

I just received a check for $1,850.00 suppose to be for a few mystery shops.

It is typed on stationary that has the Better Business logo. It has a header from MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association).

Instructions include a Wal-Mart Evaluation and two more at a choice of 4 other stores.

The kicker is that I am to purchase ITune Cards 3 X $100,4 X $50, and 1 for $15 which are to be returned to the company.

As much as I would like to have money for Christmas I do not want to be behind and in hot water at the early days of 2019

Delete

July 11, 2018 at 6:07 AM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: noreply50q@mail.med.upenn.edu

Date: 7/11/18 5:31 AM (GMT-05:00)

Subject: #Welcome to MSPA Recruitment agent application,

Welcome to recruitment agent of MSPA application network.

We are a specialized agency in customer service research, We need to recruit candidates as a shop evaluator to help us complete the assignment we will provide.

As shop evaluator, You will be assigned to visit shopping store in your location, You will then share with us an online questionnaire detailing your customer experience. Complete the assignment and you will get paid $450 for each assignment. This is a part time job, At least two assignment a week will be assigned.

If you interested to receive the assignment, please confirm your details information as requested below :

# Name

# Address

# City, State and Zip code

# Country

# Phone

# Current job

After you sign up, you will contacted via phone/email from us for instruction and details your assignment.

Thank you,

Regards

The MSPA official team"

Delete

March 28, 2018 at 2:22 AM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: David MSPA <secretshopper0331@gmail.com>

Date: March 26, 2018 at 5:46:06 PM CDT

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Subject: Application Accepted{MYSTERY SHOPPER}

Dear Member

You have signed up for an account on the MSPA system.

Your membership ID is: INT005

you must verify your membership by replying to these email (secretshopper0331@gmail.com ) with the Below Information

Member ID:

Full Name:

Phone number:

Email:

Shortly after this, you should be receiving mystery shop Assignment package.

For assistance on this account, please email : MSPA101@qualityservice.com.

Thank You,

MSPA MYSTERY SHOPPING PROVIDER ASSOCIATION."

Delete

January 25, 2018 at 3:52 PM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: 112as12@ca.JHU.EDU <112as12@ca.JHU.EDU>

Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 12:49 AM

Subject: # Welcome to MSPA-INC Online Research

Hello ...

Do not reply or ignore this message, if you have ever received before ..!

WE HAVE CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY ASSIGNMENTS IN YOUR AREA.

YOU WILL GET $255 USD/ASSIGNMENT, WHICH WOULD COME [IN] THE

FORM OF A MONEY ORDER FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENTS. THE JOB ENTAILS

AN EVALUATION PROCESS SUCH AS VISITING THE GAP, WAL-MART/K-MART,ETC.

FILL-OUT DETAIL INFORMATION BELOW TO GET STARTED;

> NAME: _

> ADDRESS-LINE: _

> C.I.T.Y: _

> S.T.A.T.E: _

> C.O.D.E ZIP: _

> PHONE?: _

> AGE/GENDER: _

NOTE : PLEASE NOTE THAT IS A PART TIME JOB,

THANK YOU #

BEST,

RUTH Y OLIVIA

CS/APPLICATION TEAMS"

Delete

December 13, 2017 at 6:31 PM by
"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams
info

Here is another scam:

"From: network7@cci.fsu.edu <network7@cci.fsu.edu>

Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 10:16 AM

Subject: ~ Welcome to M.S.P.A - Service Online

# Hi,..

We are (MS-PA Certified) which looking for persons to perform our job assignment as evaluator surveys. After you sign up, you will receive instructions and access training materials via email in your location.

It's fun and rewarding, we will pay (up to $420) each assignments.

# Please respond by providing your information as requested below:

1. Full Name :

2. Full Addresss :

3. City, State, ZIP,Country, :

4. Occupation :

5. Age & S*x :

6. E-Mail :

7. Cell & Home Phone # :

Your response would be greatly Appreciated

Best

Tiffanni Mallett

MS-Selection (c) 2017.

Delete

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

"M.S.P.A Online Research Customer Assignment" Scams