SUDBURY – The Greater Sudbury Police have recently received a number of complaints involving a mystery shopper scam. These bogus offers are being received by citizens online and through email and text messages. The victim responding to the ad is asked to provide personal and employment information to apply for a job as a secret shopper. Once the victim is approved as a secret shopper, they receive correspondence indicating that a cheque and instructions have been sent. The victim is asked to cash the cheque and use a money transfer company to wire a portion of the funds to a specific person or place. When the victim later finds out the cheque is counterfeit, he or she is on the hook for the money sent. In some instances, the money being sent is purported to be for a MacBook and software that the victim will be using to complete the mystery shopper surveys. Here are some tips to help avoid these types of fraudulent mystery/secret shopper schemes:
- There are legitimate mystery/secret shopper programs available. Research the legitimacy on companies hiring mystery shoppers. Legitimate companies will not charge an application fee.
- No legitimate mystery/secret shopper program will send payment in advance and ask the employee to send a portion of it back.
- Avoid filling out forms contained in messages that ask for personal information.
For more information visit http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/
