Hi, is anyone having issues with getting paid for the shopping you do? I was sent a check, but my bank is not able to retrieve the funds from the ACE. I already purchased several cards with my own money before I realized that ACE's check didn't release the funds to my account. I am out with my own money and am now facing overdraft fees by my bank. What are others' experiences?
Thanks!

There is a legitimate mystery shopping company called ACE, but it sounds like you have been caught in a scam. The ACE that sent you the check is NOT the real ACE. It is extremely rare for a legitimate mystery shopping company to send a check and ask that a shopper buy gift cards. Legitimate companies almost always pay AFTER you complete the work and file the report. Did ACE mail you a check and tell you to deposit the check in your account and purchase several gift cards and keep the remainder as your fee? And the fee was very generous? Then the check was charged back to your account? Have you already send photos of the gift cards or provided the numbers and have the cards been emptied of funds? Had you gone on the ACE website previously and registered with the company and provided your social security number? Or did the company contact you out of the blue? Why would a company contact a stranger who is not registered with them and has not provided a SS# and send them a check? This is a pretty common scam.

I'm sorry, but you have been scammed. If you decide to do any mystery shopping in the future:

1. Register online with mystery shopping companies. They almost all have a short registration questionnaire and ask for your social security number. They explain how they operate and they tell you how you will be paid.
2. Do not accept any checks from "stranger" companies to deposit in your account. Legitimate companies rarely pay in advance.
3. Remember that scammers usually offer very high fees. They do it to draw you in - "too good to pass up" - and because they don't plan to pay you anyway.
4. Don't work with any company who you are not already registered with. Think about it: with massive unemployment due to corona, why would any company contact you without knowing anything about you and offer you a bunch of money to do a simple job?
5. Remember that most mystery shopping jobs pay $5-$20 and require a detailed report. A fee of more than $30 should make you a little suspicious.
6. There's a great list of mystery shopping companies here on the forum: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
7. Visit the New Mystery Shopper are for some tips on how to work as a mystery shopper: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2020 04:54PM by roflwofl.

^^^^ Such excellent advice, Rofl!!! ^^^^