How awkward are the $200 money transfer shops?

Hey all—

Just got an email for some money transfer shops — you go to a grocery store (a chain that I also MS for another MSP) send $200 to a foreign country, then “wait a few moments” and request reimbursement.

I usually stay far away from money transfer shops — mainly because the pay is usually too low for what seems to be a good bit of awkwardness... but these pay $40.

Has anyone done them? Seems to me that by requesting a refund on a money transfer, you are immediately flagging yourself as a shopper. “Oh I just spent all this time and a few bucks on service fees to send money to someone... oops changed my mind”... or does this happen more than I imagine and it’s no big deal?

If it was a case of doing the transfer, reporting it, and getting reimbursed by the MSP I’d question it less... this is a major MSP so not worried about scamming, more about outing myself at a store I do other projects at.

Thanks!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2021 10:04PM by ngbmediashop.

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Hi ngbmediashop - I'd be very cautious with this request. Even though it came by email and not through the USPS, I would do a lot of due diligence and make sure the company actually sent it to you (is there a direct contact phone, does the reply email address match the company name, etc.). This really does sound like one of the many scams that are going around so proceed with caution.

Since we aren’t naming clients — it came from Matt at Intellishop... seems legit... but awkward lol

I was also offered to do one of these by intellishop. It was an out of the way location, and I asked for $100. I was told that the most that they could offer was $42. I declined. But for $100 I'll do some really awkward stuff. I guess they didn't really need that location done, because it was on the board for over 2 months.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2021 11:37PM by thunderdeacon.

I've done them and they're easy. But I've only been asked to wire twenty bucks or so which I get back immediately.

I have only completed one shop in the category; it was to attempt to convince the cashier to break a rule. The up side, it was less than a mile from my house and for Intelli-shop, a company I trust. The only downside, but not for me, was the job needed to be finished in two hours; it was probably a flake. The report was medium length, with a fee of $45. Unfortunately, those I have seen since were either more involved and/or paid much less.

In the past, there have been many threads regarding having to get client/msc to reimburse you, as the shop locations were unable or refused to refund. I have done several inquiry shops of these types, but have stayed away from actually sending funds due to all the tales of hassles and problems with refunds.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2021 02:59AM by sbobgal.

I've done plenty of these shops but take note that Intellishop's main money transfer client switched over to BARE a few years ago, and as stated above the amount being wired is usually $20, not $200. I would go directly to the SASSIE job board for Intellishop to see if this is a legit shop which is posted and apply that way rather than via email. As for the shops themselves, I usually just come back and in a very apologetic tone say that someone else in my family sent the money. I've had one or two annoyed clerks but generally they just tell you to call the 1-800 number. In all but one instance I was able to get a complete refund (including fees) on the spot. The one time I didn't get the $5 fee back it was forwarded to me by the MSC within a few weeks without my having to contact them. These are usually either at small shops or at the custmer service desk of large supermarkets. The small shops tend to take less time because there's not much of a wait in line, but the supermarket employees tend to be more professional and helpful. If there's a long line you might be at the location for around 45 minutes.

@NinS wrote:

I've done plenty of these shops but take note that Intellishop's main money transfer client switched over to BARE a few years ago, and as stated above the amount being wired is usually $20, not $200. I would go directly to the SASSIE job board for Intellishop to see if this is a legit shop which is posted and apply that way rather than via email. As for the shops themselves, I usually just come back and in a very apologetic tone say that someone else in my family sent the money. I've had one or two annoyed clerks but generally they just tell you to call the 1-800 number. In all but one instance I was able to get a complete refund (including fees) on the spot. The one time I didn't get the $5 fee back it was forwarded to me by the MSC within a few weeks without my having to contact them. These are usually either at small shops or at the custmer service desk of large supermarkets. The small shops tend to take less time because there's not much of a wait in line, but the supermarket employees tend to be more professional and helpful. If there's a long line you might be at the location for around 45 minutes.

My experience has been very much like this. And I've never had a problem with the schedulers of the MSC. I don't mind doing them but don't like doing them at base price because you could be at a store up to an hour.

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Moderator Note:

You have mentioned the Client where the MSC was named several posts up. This is a Forum violation. Please feel free to post again after editing your post.

I did the similar shop at the same client using the same transfer company but without having to send the money. It was pretty fast and pretty easy. I personally do not think it would be as awkward as asking a bunch of questions and then not sending the money at all. You could just walk away for a few moments and then come back and say you just got a message that someone else sent money. I saw one of these in my market this morning but the fee was $30 and the only store left was not in my neighborhood but I wondered how to find a legit address in a city in another country. I know at the post office when you give a non existent address these days their computer tells them it is not a real address.

Sandyf, you aren't asked for the address of the person getting the money, just their name and city/country.

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How awkward are the $200 money transfer shops?

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