I was looking for a very part time job when I saw an ad in our local paper for a Mystery Shopper. I was familiar with mystery shoppers since I had spent many years in the retail industry but never new who hired these people. The ad said "Earn up to $100/day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail/dining establisments. No exp. Req. 877-218-6224'
I called the number and was asked a series of questions pertaining to my desire to work with them and make extra money being a secret shopper. After that, the lady on the phone (who identified herself as Nadirah Muhammaz-Operator #4013) asked if I would like to continue with the process, and be charged a $1.95 processing fee. I questioned her about it "costing me to work for them". To which she explained this is a registration fee and I would not be working them, but for the actual company asking for a mystery shopper. I hesitated but thought $1.95 ok. After I gave her my credit card number, she then went to connect me with the varification company to verify this is an approved charge. Just before she was to connect me she mentioned a 'monthly service charge of $14 and some odd cents. Before I could put up an objection she 'transfered me' and the call was 'lost'. I was wondering if this was a scam at that point. I called back and spoke to another person who got her supervisor. He explained they are having thunder and lighting and are losing calls right now. He convinced me since the original call was not completed that there would be no charge and they would have to go through the process again only with 'another phone number' since the original number would be locked to my original call. I talked to another girl and started to go through the same information again when I stopped short and
did not want to go any farther. I was pretty sure this was a scam.
I had a BAD feeling about this, so I called my bank, which was Bank of America and they told me this company had indeed charged me the 1.95 already. I cancelled my card and am planning to dispute the charge.
I then called our paper to inform them of the ad running in the paper. They said they had recently started an online way of running ads so people do not have to talk to anyone on the phone. She said they had gotten alot of scams, she would cancel the ad and thank you for letting her know.
DO NOT FALL FOR THIS LIKE I DID! I went against everything I hear all the time about not giving information over the phone and I was suckered. Don't be like me.
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