Work from Home as a Mystery Shopper

Yes, it�s true, most everyone out there today would love to be able to work from home, but not everyone is capable of doing so. Sure, you have probably spent hours surfing the Internet, looking at all of the �great opportunities� you find there, and wondering if what they promise really could be possible. There are some truly good work at home jobs to be found on the Internet, but there are also many scams as well, so you do have to be careful about what you are getting into, as it isn�t always what it seems to be on the website.

One job that can be found online, and that is often legitimate, is mystery shopping. Many businesses use mystery shoppers to get feedback about their stores, and improve customer service. They know that their success depends on the happiness of their customers, so they do everything to ensure that their customers are treated well, so they want to return. As a mystery shopper, you pose as a customer, and then fill out a form, giving the owner the feedback he has requested. It is a simple job, in most instances, but is not really something that you should depend on for your sole source of income.

Mystery shopping jobs are better suited to stay at home moms who need some extra cash, students, and retirees. These people have other sources of income, or in some cases only themselves to support, and can get by with only working part time as a mystery shopper. You should know that not all mystery shopping jobs will pay the same, and some only reimburse you for the actual money that you spend, and that is it. For example, if you are assigned to give feedback on your local movie theater, then you may only be reimbursed for the cost of your ticket, and receive no other funds. The same holds true for many other jobs, such as reviewing restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, etc.

When you are looking for a job as a mystery shopper, you need to keep your guard up, and be on the lookout for potential scams as well. You shouldn�t be asked to send in money for an application fee, filing fee, information fee, etc. If a company truly wants you to work for them, and is on the up-and up, they are not going to ask you, the potential employee, for money. So if you find these situations, you should immediately look elsewhere, regardless of how good the job may sound.

You may have better luck going around to some local businesses, and letting them know that you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper, and asking them what company they use, if any, to provide their mystery shopping services. Then you, on your own, could contact that company about becoming a potential employee. By using this method, you know that you are not going to be scammed, and that you are in deed working for a legitimate company, that will pay you, in some form or fashion for your time.

No matter how you find your mystery shopping job, just keep in mind that you won�t be able to depend solely on that job for your income needs. It should be done in your spare time, and used as an extra source of money. If you are one of the few people who can make a living doing this type of work, then consider yourself lucky, and don�t let go of it!

Is mystery shopper check legit? (Miami Herald)

Q. I got a letter from Global Market Research out of Covington, La., offering to pay me to be a mystery shopper. They sent me a check for $3,980 and asked to deposit it into my account so that I had money to purchase the merchandise.

Beware of secret shopper scam (The Greenwood Commonwealth)

The Greenwood Police Department is advising residents to beware of a “secret shopper” scam involving counterfeit checks. In such a scam, people are recruited to be secret shoppers, also known as “mystery shoppers,” with a large check.

Watchdog: If it sounds too good to be true ... it is (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

DAVE LIEBER Nearly every day I get an e-mail, phone call or letter from someone asking: "Is this a scam?" In J.F.’s case, he got an e-mail from the Rev. Terry Smith in New Zealand promising "800,000.00 United State Dollars Which I Deposited for you." Yes, that’s how it was written. J.F. asked me, "Will you investigate this?" My answer: Duh, J.F. What’s to investigate? If you ask yourself, 'Is ...

Fall Cookbook Review: Something for Everyone (The Gourmet Retailer)

Cookbooks are a curious thing. There are as many ways to read them as there are subcategories of cookbooks. Some people read them for inspiration before heading into the kitchen, while others devour them as one would the latest mystery novel.

Family Story Brought Abe Lincoln To Life (The Tampa Tribune)

In 1948, I was 12 when my great-grandmother told me about the time she saw Abraham Lincoln come through her family's little community of Smoke Hole, W.Va. The truth is, her parents told her the story because she was only an infant at the time.