shopping is a great way

Mystery shopping is a great way to make some extra cash. But, becoming a mystery shopper has its own challenges. One of the most difficult parts of mystery shopping is staying away from mystery shopping scams and finding legitimate mystery shopping companies to work for. Here are some tips to help you make money as a mystery shopper, while avoiding mystery shopping scams.

Getting paid before even performing the actual mystery shopping assignment

One of the biggest mystery shopping scams starts with a person receiving a check from a supposedly real "mystery shopping" company, being asked to deposit the check to their bank account and wire some of that money through a wire transfer company like Western Union and keep the the rest of the money as their reward for mystery shopping that they did not even start yet. Of course, after sending his own money, in about a day or so, when the check is supposed to clear, the "shopper" discovers that the check is a bad check. So, not only s(h)e didn't make any money, but lost some! Remember, a legitimate mystery shopping company will never send you a check before your shopping is completed. You shop with your own money, after reporting your shop, you get reimbursed for what you spend, and then will be paid your reward.

Charging a fee for registration

A real and legitimate mystery shopping company never charges you a fee for registration, not even a cent. If you come across a company/website claiming to be a real mystery shopping company, asking for a fee in order to assign you mystery shopping jobs, turn around and don't look back!

Here are a couple of Mystery shopping scams who claim to be legitimate mystery shopping companies, yet they are charging people a fee to register them. Shopping Jobs ($25), Shop Until You Drop ($24.95), and Get Paid To Shop ($34.95). Stay away form these sites as they are nothing but mystery shopping scams.I did not provide a link to them, because i do not want you even enter their website, because they are so good at convincing people with flashing images of stacks of cash or big text promising you a $100 an hour job… that some people wont be able to resist paying the fee to learn the "secret".

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

In most cases if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! I mean if a company promising you that you get to keep things like a $3000 flat screen tv or a diamond ring for a 20 minuet shopping assignment, don't you think that's a bit too much? After all mystery shopping agencies, do what they do to make money. If they were to give out such big payouts, i don't think they would be making any money. So, stay away from companies with such promises.

Knowing the requirements

Make sure you completely understand the instruction for each specific assignments and what is required of you, like if you have to do an evaluation of their inventory, the prices or perhaps documenting the names of one or more employees

Considering shopping assignments

Try to accept last minute assignments, no matter how big or small the assignment is. Take small assignment as seriously as big ones. Just like any other job, you may not get big assignments in the beginning, but keep doing your best to show you are a dependable and trustworthy shopper. An assignments can be as simple as sitting in a hospital waiting room for 20 minutes, or as hard(enjoyable) as an all expenses paid vacation to a dreamy resort for a week or two!

Communication methods

For most mystery shopping companies, having access to internet and email, cell phone and some times fax machine is a plus for their shoppers, as it allows the shoppers to communicate instantly with the company. Having a digital camera and taking a picture of a fast food restaurants table or floor, will allow you a much faster, easier and more affective way of reporting the cleanness or dirtiness of the restaurant than having to write a one page report.

Shopping on time!

Completing assignments on time is very important, as it establishes you as a dependable shopper, which will help you receive bigger and more important shopping assignments, with bigger payouts in the future.

If you want to become a mystery shopper, and don't know where to start, here is a list of legitimate mystery shopping companies that many mystery shoppers work for. I hope these tips and warnings will help you make the most out of your mystery shopping, and actually enjoy getting paid to shop instead of being a victim of mystery shopper scams.