how to handle illegal activities at a location
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
It is also very possible that the staff already approached the table and asked them to leave and the police were called. Or there is a policy not to have staff intervene unless the activity is disruptive.
To a certain extent, you have to let the business be responsible for itself. There are many ways to know what goes on in a place. No doubt they have managers on-site, district managers who visit, and even security staff. Mystery shopping is about capturing the customer experience. There is going to be some subjectivity, but shoppers should try to distance themselves from personal preferences. You can observe and see if other customers appear bothered. The information still needs to be reported in a neutral, factual way.
If you feel an obligation to make a report to the FBI, they'll probably also not tell you how they decided to respond. In my opinion, pressing it with the company is going too far. It shows a kind of investment in the outcome which is inappropriate for the job we do.
To a certain extent, you have to let the business be responsible for itself. There are many ways to know what goes on in a place. No doubt they have managers on-site, district managers who visit, and even security staff. Mystery shopping is about capturing the customer experience. There is going to be some subjectivity, but shoppers should try to distance themselves from personal preferences. You can observe and see if other customers appear bothered. The information still needs to be reported in a neutral, factual way.
If you feel an obligation to make a report to the FBI, they'll probably also not tell you how they decided to respond. In my opinion, pressing it with the company is going too far. It shows a kind of investment in the outcome which is inappropriate for the job we do.
I once did a mystery shop where the client offered me a kickback to make the purchase (more than $1000 back on a $5000 purchase). I had my audio recorder going and informed my scheduler. They asked me to email the recording in. I do not know if it went to the client but I know I did my part responsibly.
Which authority handles pirated cds? Prthaps an anonymous call outside of the shop itself to report the illegal behavior. If you explain the setup then you have given authorities the tools to do their job.
I know what the help desk would say because I've had a similar question before. They tell us to act like a 'normal customer' would who was at this location just buying food for themselves and contact the corporate office of the client and report it to them. Don't mention you were there as a mystery shopper, but just let them know what you saw and how it concerned you and you want them to be aware of what is going on at one of their restaurants. I guess you could also let the police know or speak to the manager at the location and ask why they are allowing that to happen.
I once watched as a gas station cashier sold a bottle of whiskey to three pubescent boys using the ID of an adult customer. I reported it to the MSC. To this day, I'm sorry I didn't report it to the police. I've also come across kiddie porn being sold in gas stations, which is totally illegal, and nothing gets done. I'm convinced the reports never make it to the client.
In the scenario you've given, I would not mention it in the mystery shopping report. It is plausible that management was unaware that someone had set up shop in their dining area. Now, if the person selling the illegal merchandise was wearing a company uniform, or the material was being sold from the counter next to the register, then I would mention it in the report.
Either way, I would alert authorities. They will conduct an investigation, look at security footage, etc., and determine if the business itself was involved in selling pirated media.
Either way, I would alert authorities. They will conduct an investigation, look at security footage, etc., and determine if the business itself was involved in selling pirated media.
@shoppingfool wrote:
I went to do a chicken shop today for MFI and the location had allowed a person to take over 2 or their 4 tables to set up business selling pirated cds and dvds. This is highly illegal in my state. How should i handle this
Here's the URL to a Forbes article. Would I report it, yes, but then, it is arguable that you practically don't need to, the reasoning is in the article that follows:
[www.forbes.com]
And yes, the article is pushing five and a half years old. Most simply put, that poor bastard that's selling the DVD's and CD's can easily be outpriced by a variety of legitimate sources for their wares, and what they're doing has no particular upward potential....
Now how exactly would I report it? Betcha in your state there is a sales and use tax agency, and that purveyor of vice is not collecting and turning in taxes to the state.
IMHO, it's like a totally awesome civic duty to report dingleberries who're stealing from the state, cause they're actually stealing from the public as a whole. Have fun, and I betcha your state offers a bounty for turning the bastards in, too!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2019 07:11PM by ap7isback.
It is a violation of federal law. In indiana, the State Excise Police handle it. Previously, it was permissible to bring in replica items so long as you did not have more than one of each style.
Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
You don't. It has nothing to do with you, I'd let it be.
I actually have called the credit card company and let them know what happened and have had my card replaced.
Yes, but sometimes they are just like political leaders: I want to know, but not really.
If you report it to the police, the owner will know it is happening.
If you report it to the police, the owner will know it is happening.
They make it to the company. It is just ignored. As a citizen, do what is right.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2019 10:17PM by DeaconJohnB@gmail.com.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2019 10:17PM by DeaconJohnB@gmail.com.
He had way more than 1 of each. While i was there i saw 7 people buy the exact same dvd. He was not even attempting to hide what he was doing.
Supposedly, our job is to be observant, unbiased, and accurate. With EVERY shop we are beat over the head with the same message. Read the guidelines, comment on all NO answers and document ALL infractions.
If I found a MS company or client that wanted me to omit an infractions, I just wouldn't apply there anymore.
I've had infractions from food safety to bare electrical. Whether the infraction is compliance or safety do your job. If they don't like the report they can change it.
There are hundreds of other companies that pay you for an honest, accurate report. You know why? Simple, infractions cost money.
They WILL put an end to that @#$%&. I've gone back to locations a week later and the change is shocking.
Your input is important. You're part of the solution not the problem. Give the client what they need to make positive changes and to reward those who are positive assets.
Calling the authorities to report a dangerous situation or to keep someone from harm is your responsibility. But I would be careful getting involved in anything other than that. It may look like pirating CD's on the surface but you have no idea what or who that will lead to.
If I found a MS company or client that wanted me to omit an infractions, I just wouldn't apply there anymore.
I've had infractions from food safety to bare electrical. Whether the infraction is compliance or safety do your job. If they don't like the report they can change it.
There are hundreds of other companies that pay you for an honest, accurate report. You know why? Simple, infractions cost money.
They WILL put an end to that @#$%&. I've gone back to locations a week later and the change is shocking.
Your input is important. You're part of the solution not the problem. Give the client what they need to make positive changes and to reward those who are positive assets.
Calling the authorities to report a dangerous situation or to keep someone from harm is your responsibility. But I would be careful getting involved in anything other than that. It may look like pirating CD's on the surface but you have no idea what or who that will lead to.
Include the observation in your report. Any other action is unecessary.
I think you make a great point and you should tell the police, yet I would not tell the MSC. I had my info on a debit card stolen while doing a shop and it was an unbelievable nightmare to get it resolved. I had to work hard and long to even get my $ back, as someone begin using it and I no clue for quite some time. It was really messed up, but as was said before, it's important to do the civic minded right thing. It feels like the current climate is keeping us isolated and sometimes unwilling to get involved. Still, I do think we should care about doing what is right and we are all in this together, basically so why not. Anyway, that is my 2 cents, but no judgement here, you have to decide what you can live with.
OMG. It's like most of us just want to go out and eat and these fast food workers have SNAPPED! Sonic also had some issues. I've decided to just use some cash. This is so scary to me I also saw some stories on the Youtube It seems like Sonic, Starbucks, and Gas Stations are places we need to use CASH because they seem like they try to take our info. That's not fair we work hard to make money. Very scary. I hope these videos help also.. . but alerts and checking our accounts can help be safe out there as well as contacting the bank immediately. Luckily they have CAMERAS just about every place.
[www.youtube.com]
Starbucks
[www.youtube.com]
Seriously I'm getting scared to use my credit/debit cards at Food, Gas places
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
Starbucks
[www.youtube.com]
Seriously I'm getting scared to use my credit/debit cards at Food, Gas places
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
I would just leave but yes that's a job for the authorities. If that type of stuff is going on it might not be safe to be there so I would DEFINITELY get out of there ASAP.
Hmm
Why did this get moderated?
From James in Chicago
The film industry gets real upset about pirated DVDs and Blue Rays, but I think that the FBI is only interested in the top people. They might lean on the street level sellers, but again, such investigations are not as important as "t" activity, hacking, cyber-theft, bank robberies...that kind of stuff.
ETA removed T word.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 08:36PM by SoCalMama.
Why did this get moderated?
From James in Chicago
The film industry gets real upset about pirated DVDs and Blue Rays, but I think that the FBI is only interested in the top people. They might lean on the street level sellers, but again, such investigations are not as important as "t" activity, hacking, cyber-theft, bank robberies...that kind of stuff.
ETA removed T word.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 08:36PM by SoCalMama.
I am coming to believe that using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay is the safest way to pay anywhere. The connection is made between my phone and the enabled terminal by very short range BlueTooth. I have been using Google Pay (started as a mystery shop) and at least for me, my linked bank provides a brand new number everything I wave my phone to pay at an enabled terminal. I can turn BlueTooth on and off as needed. The credit card number (last 4 digits on the receipt) is never the same as my actual credit card.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
The number on my receipt matched my card when I paid with my phone?@myst4au wrote:
I am coming to believe that using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay is the safest way to pay anywhere. The connection is made between my phone and the enabled terminal by very short range BlueTooth. I have been using Google Pay (started as a mystery shop) and at least for me, my linked bank provides a brand new number everything I wave my phone to pay at an enabled terminal. I can turn BlueTooth on and off as needed. The credit card number (last 4 digits on the receipt) is never the same as my actual credit card.
It is certainly possible that this is a "feature" added by Bank of America. I will have to try asking Erica (the BofA version of Siri and Iris).
@SoCalMama wrote:
The number on my receipt matched my card when I paid with my phone?
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Could be. I am using US Bank Visa today.@myst4au wrote:
It is certainly possible that this is a "feature" added by Bank of America. I will have to try asking Erica (the BofA version of Siri and Iris).
@SoCalMama wrote:
The number on my receipt matched my card when I paid with my phone?
I have Am Ex as a secondary card on my phone. I'll try that later (not on a shop).
BTW, when I cashiered, I always thought that pay with phone people were obnoxious.
Edited to add: well, that didn't work. I thought that I had embedded an emoticon for "crying" and then for "cool" and they showed up in the Preview. Now I am really sad. 
???? but striving to be ????
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 10:08PM by myst4au.
???? but striving to be ????
@SoCalMama wrote:
BTW, when I cashiered, I always thought that pay with phone people were obnoxious.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 10:08PM by myst4au.
@myst4au wrote:
Edited to add: well, that didn't work. I thought that I had embedded an emoticon for "crying" and then for "cool" and they showed up in the Preview. Now I am really sad.
???? but striving to be ????
@SoCalMama wrote:
BTW, when I cashiered, I always thought that pay with phone people were obnoxious.
Funny.
I'm headed to the bars. Peace out.
Increaasingly stores where I shop no longer accept cash. Cards only. They claim it is safer and less expensive than dealing with cash.
@Susan L. wrote:
Increaasingly stores where I shop no longer accept cash. Cards only. They claim it is safer and less expensive than dealing with cash.
...and yet many of these same stores charge a surcharge for using credit cards. I refuse to do business at a business which will not accept cash.
Not going to be a legal way of doing business in CA for much longer. Not allowing people to pay with cash discriminates against "people currently experiencing homelessness." (That's the same as homeless people for those of you who don't live in this crazy state.)@Susan L. wrote:
Increaasingly stores where I shop no longer accept cash. Cards only. They claim it is safer and less expensive than dealing with cash.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.