Job scams

Is the mystery shopper job a scam?

Quick answer

If they send you a check to 'evaluate money transfer services,' yes — it's a scam. Real mystery shopping companies exist (Marketforce, BestMark, etc.) but they pay you AFTER shop reports, never by sending a check upfront to deposit and forward.

Red flags to look for

1
Received a check before doing any work
2
Asked to 'evaluate' Western Union, MoneyGram, Walmart-to-Walmart, or Zelle by sending the money
3
Told to keep a 'commission' and send the rest
4
Hired without applying — they 'found you' on LinkedIn or by email
5
The check arrived by FedEx with no return address

Real examples

Letter with check

Welcome to Quality Shopper LLC! Enclosed is your $2,950 assignment check. Step 1: deposit. Step 2: use $2,700 to wire-transfer-test Western Union at a nearby store, sending to John Smith in Florida. Step 3: keep $250 for your evaluation report.

Likely Scam

Real mystery shopping never involves the shopper sending real money. The check is fake — by the time it bounces (5-10 days), you've already wired $2,700 to the scammer, and you owe your bank the $2,950.

What to do

Do not deposit the check.
Do not wire any money or send any Zelle/MoneyGram on instruction.
Report to the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (mspa-americas.org).
Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.
Shred the check and any materials.

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Why scammers use this approach

This scam combines fake employment with check fraud, exploiting the float between check deposit (provisional funds appear next day) and bounce confirmation (5-30 days). Victims become unwitting money mules.

Frequently asked questions

What about real mystery shopper jobs?

Real ones exist but never send you money upfront. You complete a shop with your own money (small amount, usually reimbursed) and submit a report. Find legitimate companies via mspa-americas.org.