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Mystery shopping is a great opportunity to earn a few extra dollars or get a nice meal. It can be a super way to help improve customer service. But sometimes scammers try to take advantage of its allure to take your money! Don't let it happen to you!
Several scammers recently have used the MSPA name (and the names of many MSPA Member Companies) and give email address that LOOK LIKE but ARE NOT MSPA or member company email addresses (the addresses we have seen so far include: [email protected] and [email protected]. In other cases, the scammer claims to be our executive director and have even used his name. The scammer claims to represent MSPA or a member company and it looks almost legitimate, until you see that you are not responding to an MSPA or member company email address but, instead, an AOL address (the ones we've seen so far: [email protected] and [email protected]) or a *.sify address or a *.gmail address or some other unrelated address. The scammers are trying to trap shoppers into letting their guards down by claiming the message and its writer are from a legitimate organization...but they ARE NOT! MSPA will NEVER send you checks to cash and will never promise you mystery shopping assignments!
Other scammers use the MSPA logo or member company logos on websites or in emails. They are trying to clothe themselves in legitimacy...don't buy it! If you receive an email invitation to become a mystery shopper for MSPA, don't believe it! We don't engage mystery shoppers, only our member companies do.
Always look at the email addresses and web addresses these scammers use...they are seldom the "real" addresses of a legitimate company. If a shopper has any question about whether an email is legitimate or not, check it out thoroughly before sharing your personal information and NEVER cash a check sent to you in advance of an assignment...that's a sure sign the deal is a scam.
About the MSPA
With more than 275 member companies worldwide, the MSPA has a diverse membership, including marketing research and merchandising companies, private investigation firms, training organizations and companies that specialize in providing mystery shopping services. Its goals are to establish professional standards and ethics for the industry, educate providers, clients and shoppers to improve quality of service, improve the image of the industry and promote the membership to other industry associations and prospective clients. |
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