has anyone dealt with ardent services? I'm new to all this mystery shopping. I researched them and they seem like a legit company, but when I look up the msc listing, they are not there?

I believe I am registered with them. If I recall correctly they mostly did the hospitality industry and I have never worked for them.

Just found them on here. I think I'm going to have my bank not cash the check they sent me. As I read the letter they sent my by priority mail, they want me to buy$ 2100 worth of ebay gift cards, scratch off the back and send them a pic of front and back. there is no contact info on the letter, the toner is faded, and it doesn't feel right. Wish I would have read further into these discussions. they said $308 if it is my compensation.

Oh no! A definite scam! Don’t cash those checks!

going to call bank tomorrow. they allowed me to have $200 of it, I'm giving it back and taking the letter up there. Thanks for giving me the 411! How do I get started with legitimate companies?

You had better get on it ASAP, as soon as the bank is open. The check is fake. You could be in some serious legal ramifications for depositing a fake check!!! Not to mention financial problems as well. Please, please do not delay.

There is a real company named Arden Services. Scammers use the names of real companies all the time to perpetuate this fraud. It's been an ongoing issue for years, and many, many people have fallen for it and been out a lot of money and then not been able to have checking accounts at any banks.

Real mystery shopping companies pay about $15 per shop and you get paid AFTER you do the work. It usually takes a month or more to get paid. There is a link (Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies) at the bottom of this page with legitimate companies that you can sign up with.

Oh no Ardent would never send you a check, no legitimate company would do that. Find out from your bank which federal agencies you need to report this to and please do so immediately. Also send the information to Ardent as well so they know that their name is being used. I am so sorry.

I just received a check as well for $2408.02 asking me to purchase $2100 in ebay gift cards. Same request Lsavell5744 received. This is definitely a scam! Here is another one to watch out for. Demotte State Bank. This one is a FEEDBACK SURVEY FIRST ASSIGNMENT (POST OFFICE EVALUATION). They send you a check for $2920.00 from this bank. Ask you to deposit it, wait for it to clear and go to the post office and obtain $2475 in 5 separate postal money orders. $100 mailing fee. $300 compensation for you and with the leftover $45 purchase a cashiers check for $10 and have it made out to American Red Cross. I called the bank there was no such check number. The manager said it was a fraudulent check. I made copies of everything and wrote FRAUD all over them and sent the copies back to the person who sent me the information and emailed the manager of the bank all of the documents and told them to distribute the information to their other branches. As a matter of fact the person who sent me the information was not the same person who the postal money orders are supposed to be mailed to or the same person who wrote the survey. Be Careful! The sad thing about this is, I'm sure there are some legitimate companies out there that would like you to do surveys for them but in my opinion things like this make me skeptical of participating in them.

FYI: No MSC sends a check before work is completed, EVER. Always report this if it happens and write it here so everyone gets the heads up. Thanks for the share and hope this helps with your future job searches.