So many others may know about this but it was a new twist for me. I found an opportunity to sign up as a mystery shopper and once I did I was offered better opportunities for shops by becoming a "gold" member. BUT, the twist is they want my credit card. Then I get emails that they are desparate for shoppers, offer a free two week membership but still want my credit card information. Scam? I think so. What do you think?

Which MSC? There are some that do offer "memberships" to supposedly receive the premium shops. They are not really considered a scam like an identity theft situation. Besides workshops, training and certifications, I have never paid to MS. From years of experience, building relationships and submitting good reports on time, I have earned the right for premium jobs without having to hand over my cc.

The company is Shadow Shopper. It doesn't mention certifications for the fee.

Shadow Shopper is not a scam per se.

"Shadow Shopper is basically a website that charges users for a list of companies that hire mystery shoppers also known as secret shoppers... ShadowShopper.com is very much like the various websites you find on the web that offer lists of survey opportunities for a fee. The problem with these websites and why they’re often viewed as scams or have negative reviews is because you can get the information they’re selling you for free. Personally it’s hard for me to call theses sites scams because honestly books, newspapers and magazines are also offering you a lot of information you can get for free if you know where to look."

But don't bvother to pay them.....I've worked with them for several years and never paid them.

Don't give them one red cent! Save your money for the shops, where you need to purchase something....

Schedulers have to pay to utilize the service as well.

You don't need to pay to be a mystery shopper. That is the general rule. There are scams out there that use the names of legitimate companies to scam people out of their money using a variation of the old Nigerian bank scam. Here is a check. Deposit it and send me most of the money and you get to keep the rest. Other websites have you pay a few dollars for access to a list of companies. You can get that free here on the forum.

That said there are a few things that are not scams that have varying levels of helpfulness, but are not necessary.
You need to research these individually to see if they are for you. Some other than Shadow Shopper are,

MSPA certification,
Jobslinger Pro,
Video Shopping certifications (from companies whose names escape me at the moment, Sorry)

Good luck

this isn't a mystery shopper program - but it is a company which has peopple PAY to sign up with them to do mystery shopping at their theatres: it is the biggest chain in canada: CINEPLEX ODEON.

I believe you pay something like 50 dollars a year once enrolled (there is a waiting list - thats right people are LINING UP to pay for this program). You are guaranteed a number of shops per year (i think its around 2-4). It includes reimbursement for a movie, and a limited amount of food for 2 people. The shop has to do with service at location, not the quality of the movie.

I know this isn't really the same idea as what the OP was posting about - but I thought this would be interesting to throw up here as a comparison of a legit program that people pay for (and which doesn't actually pay you for your mystery shop - just reimburses expenses)

I'm aware there are other MSC that do mystery shops for the production and distribution companies of movies tracking things like demographics feedback of people attending etc - but they have dropped the pay to ridiculous lows and I stopped doing them - although when they were at higher amounts I used to love the shops because I love movies. (my threshold for 'too low' is when the shop is paying me less than minimum wage for my time)

this isn't a violation of TOS : cineplex odeon is completely public about their mystery shopper program

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2015 03:56PM by silenthunder.

But it still might be against the forum rules.