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Service Excellence Group, Inc. Alerts of a New Mystery Shopping Scam

  September 21, 2011 in Blog, Mystery Shopping by Marci Bikshorn

Service Excellence Group, Inc. has become the victim of a new mystery shopping scam.  This scam is targeting unsuspecting consumers for mystery shopping projects.  The scam artists have used Service Excellence Group, Inc.’s reputable name in an attempt to trick consumers into disclosing their personal information in exchange for high paying “mystery shops.”  This is a scam.

These “scammers” have posted multiple advertisements on an on-line job board affiliated with a reputable news station.  They are adept at making these advertisements seem real.  They have stolen the identity of Service Excellence Group, Inc.’s company website and are claiming to be employees of the company.

The scammers are currently using the following names:

• David Brian   Online Manager
• Larry Williams

Tips to Avoid Mystery Shopping Scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provides guidance and tips to help individuals to avoid becoming victims of employment schemes associated with mystery/secret shopping: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams

A few extra precautionary tips for your consideration:

• Be cautious of any job posting claiming to send you large sums of money for a mystery shopping assignment.  The average compensation for a standard mystery shopping assignment is $15.
• Avoid completing any forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.  A reputable mystery shopping firm will capture your contact information via a company platform.
• Always review the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they match and if they lead you to a legitimate website.  If the link does link you to a legitimate website, send the company an email to confirm the legitimacy of the opportunity.
• Be cautious of any mystery shopping opportunity that involves transferring funds via Western Union.
• Reputable mystery shopping companies will not charge an application fee.
• No legitimate mystery/secret shopper program will send payment in advance and ask the mystery shopper to send a portion of it back.
• Steer clear of any company asking you to accept payment in advance and advise you to send a portion of the payment to another mystery shopper.

There are reputable mystery shopping companies with legitimate mystery shopping opportunities for interested consumers.  For information on how to get started as a mystery shopper or to find legitimate mystery shopping opportunities, visit the Shopper Headquarters page on our web site or The Mystery Shopping Providers Association’s (MSPA) website.

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• With Shopping on the Rise, Mystery Shopping Companies Maximize Customer Satisfaction
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• Do You Know These 5 Mystery Shopping FAQs?
• Do You Know These 5 Mystery Shopping FAQs?