This is one more example of a scammer using the name of a legitimate company. KSS International is actually a legitimate company. KSS is a scheduling company that schedules shops for multiple mystery shopping companies. KSS does not actually pay anyone, the mystery shopping companies accept the reports and pay the shoppers.
Be VERY suspicious if:
A company contacts you to work when you have not signed up with them on their secure website
A company sends a total stranger a check
Payment is made in advance (in legitimate mystery shopping, advance payment is very rare)
You are asked to provide SS#, address, etc., through email or by mail
A company offers to pay you to mystery shop without collecting your SS# or EIN# - how can they legally pay you? There's a clue there .......
You are asked to purchase gift cards for more than $25
You are asked to deposit a check, keep your fee, and send money to a third party (this is NOT something legitimate mystery shopping companies do)
You are offered a lot of money. The average mystery shop pays $5-$35. Even if a company has higher dollar shops (there are some high dollar shops), those shops go to shoppers with a shopping track record.
It sounds too good to be true. (It probably IS too good to be true!) Being paid $500 for purchasing 4 $500 gift cards is unbelievable - how long does it take to purchase a gift card? How much per hour is that? Why would a stranger with no required job skills be offered that kind of money? The Answer: They don't intent to pay you the $500. They are all about scamming you out of $2,000 in gift cards - they will rapidly empty the gift cards after they are sent a photo off the cards.
Good that you did not fall for it. It's surprising how many do. And sad.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2019 05:45PM by roflwofl.