ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
If you're looking for extra income it can be tempting to consider ads that recruit for "mystery shoppers."
While it's true that some business industries use mystery shopping, Better Business Bureau has found inherent problems with several businesses offering so called 'shopping' opportunities.
Consumers have contacted BBB Upstate New York about suspect mystery shopper job postings and BBB is warning consumers to think twice before accepting a mystery shopping job.
Consumers reported they were "hired" to test a company's check cashing services and received a cashier's check in advance, as payment for the job.
The consumers were instructed to deposit the check into their bank accounts and then wire money to an address in Canada.
No problems were found at first, but then the "shopper" is notified by their bank that the check is counterfeit, and they must repay the bank the money they withdrew against the bad check, plus fines.
BBB warns against the following business and their 'mystery shopping' job offers all currently F rated, due to concerns BBB has with the industry in which they operate:
- Liberty Trade Management Services of Batavia, NY
- The National Consumer Voice Customer Evaluation of Niagara Falls, NY
- Schnuck Survey Consumer Research of Niagara Falls, NY
Consumers are also encouraged to avoid the following ten businesses:
- In Touch Mystery Shopper Experts of Warsaw, NY
- Kata Management of Lancaster, NY
- Laredo Marketing Inc. of Niagara Falls, NY
- Logic Marketing Inc. of Lockport, NY
- Mystery Evaluation Research Company of Clifton Park, NY
- Regional Marketing Services of Rochester, NY
- Spectrum Management Inc. of Rochester, NY
- The First Alliance Survey Management Services Inc. of Buffalo, NY
- Vantage Market Research Inc. of Syracuse, NY
- Yak Management Solution of Lancaster, NY
More information about BBB ratings elements can be found at bbb.org.
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