Has anyone done assignments for shoppers view? I got an postal money order for the assignment and wanted to be sure it’s not a scam.

If you got a postal money order from ANY mystery shopping company as part of an assignment, it is likely fake, and part of a scam.

It's a scam.

Shoppers' View is a legitimate mystery shopping company. They do not send money orders.

So glad you checked here first! SCAM! Mystery shopping is real, but this is a scam.

The money order may look real but it’s counterfeit and you will lose whatever you spend on what they ask you to buy for them.

What company would unsolicited send you money on the assumption your 'honesty' would have you go out and perform some service for them? It is as unlikely as the government calling you to tell you that you had an unidentified IRS debt or Social Security issue and wanting you to send them serial numbers off cash cards or Bitcoins or meet them at some third party location bringing cash so that you can avoid arrest. Or the Paypal pfish informing you that three transactions had been charged to your account they questioned and they want you to 'click below' on the email and enter your password to tell them whether the charges are real or not.

It is good that you inquired and good that you are skeptical. It will go a long way to keeping you safe.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2019 06:41PM by Flash.

Hi MonicaNordengreen,

I'm so glad you checked with the forum first!

Unfortunately, scams disguised as mystery shopping are out there. Shoppers' View is a legitimate company, but this money order was not from us. Do not cash it.

Here's what to look for to prevent becoming a victim of such scams and what you can do if you have already been victimized.

What mystery shopping scams look like:

• Emails/ads/letters/phone calls asking you to cash a money order/check, wire it back, and keep a large fee ($300-$1000) for yourself. Any company that sends you a check in the mail before you have contact with them is fraudulent. They will often state it is for a mystery shopping opportunity at Wal-Mart, MoneyGram, or Western Union. Shoppers' View only pays through PayPal to keep your account information private and secure. We do not issue checks or money orders.

• Emails/ads/letters/phone calls promising great deals and lucrative opportunities in mystery shopping but require a registration fee or subscription. Many times, these jobs do not exist, but if the job is legitimate, it can be found for free elsewhere. Real companies pay you to complete these projects, not the other way around. Shoppers' View never charges shoppers for mystery shopping opportunities or information.

• These "companies" often use the names, addresses, and letterheads of existing, legitimate companies. They mimic the email addresses and phone numbers of real companies and schedulers. There is only one Shoppers' View. We are located in Ada, MI. Any email from us will com from our domain, @shoppersview.com. We do not text at this time.

How to prevent becoming a victim:

• Never cash or deposit a money order/check that is issued before completion of an assignment or issued with an expectation to wire some or all of it back.

• Never pay anyone to mystery shop or for mystery shopping information.

• Research the company. Is it part of the MSPA [www.mspa-na.org/]? Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau [www.bbb.org]? Is it listed on the Mystery Shop Forum list of companies? [https://www.mysteryshopforum.com/companies/]. You can use this list to find the company's real website and contact information. Ask about it on [www.mysteryshopforum.com].

• Sign up with legitimate companies. Find them at: www.prestomap.com [www.mspa-na.org] www.jobslinger.com [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

What to can do if you are a victim or believe you have received a fake check with a "mystery shopping" offer

• Contact your local (non-emergency) number for the police.

• Report to the FTC at 877-382-4357 or www.ftc.gov

• File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center www.ic3.gov

• If you are in Canada, report to the Canadian PhoneBusters at 888-495-8501.

If you are interested in legitimate mystery shopping work, please visit our website to register (which is free): [shoppersview.com]. We are a member of the MSPA, which the FTC has stated is a safe place to find legitimate mystery shopping opportunities (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0053-mystery-shopper-scams#Tips).

If you would like to learn more about mystery shopping with us and/or watch a walkthrough on registering, please watch our videos here: [bit.ly]. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns! Thank you for your time, and we look forward to working with you!