First, welcome to the forum! This is a wonderful place to share information, without violating our ICAs, and to support one another.
Any time you get a check before you do the work, it is a scam. Accepting any MS assignment from a company with which you have not previously registered and provided you contact information and Social Security number in advance is risky. If an MSC with whom you have not registered suddenly contacts you and names a large if for shops IF you send your information to them by emails, that is a scam. Register only on the web sites of legitimate MSCs, not via email.
Some MSCs only pay by direct deposit; others by check or by Paypal. No one send money orders or cashier's checks in advance !!!!
What you need to do to protect yourself is to first, read the topics "pinned" to the top of the New Mystery Shoppers area of the forum. Then, begin to sign up with some of the 150+ legitimate MS companies (MSCs) listed at the bottom of the page on this forum.
You will find real shoppers and schedulers here who will be glad to help when you have questions.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2017 09:26PM by walesmaven.