Consumers are looking for a few extra bucks to ease the burden of the holiday season and scammers are looking to cash-in by preying on unsuspecting consumers.
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs discusses how to determine a legitimate secret shopper pitch from a bogus one to protect consumers from holiday scammers:
You’re better off picking them, not letting them pick you. If you are interested in joining a shopping club, inquire about reputable organizations after viewing the Web site yourself. Unexpected offers in the mail should be a red flag. Offers may provide an initial check for you to cash and get started shopping. Other offers may congratulate you on being part of a pre-selected, pre-approved group of secret shoppers. The offers, regardless of the details, are attempting to either steal some of your real money by sending you a fake check or steal your personal information by pretending they already have information about you.
Regardless of the pitch or promise, consumers should remember a couple things. Money doesn’t just appear in your mailbox. Steer clear of companies offering to pay the start-up costs up front. While legitimate companies do not charge application fees, consumers should still expect to bear some initial financial responsibility. Spelling and grammar DO matter. Bogus offers are often crafted by individuals who do not speak English as their first language. Lots of misspellings and grammar mistakes may tip the consumer that the organization represented is not a professional, reputable company. Finally, consumers should be suspicious of deals promising a quick, easy fix. Saving a few bucks this season is possible, but it’s unlikely to come through a secret shopper offer this season. Legitimate secret shopping clubs are long-term investments requiring significant effort.
For more information, contact the Public Information Division at 803.734.4190, toll free in SC at 1.800.922.1594, or online at www.scconsumer.gov.
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