--- title: Helpful Tips to Avoid Mystery Shopper Scams description: Mystery shopper scams are a common way to steal your hard-earned cash. Wondering how you can avoid falling into these scams? Read more on these tips. image: https://www.cxgroup.com/hubfs/website-2023/imagery/photo-1501850305723-0bf18f354fea.jpeg --- - [Join Our Shopper Community](https://www.cxgroup.com/join-our-shopper-community) [![cx-group-logo](https://www.cxgroup.com/hubfs/website-2023/branding/logos/cx-group-logo.svg)](https://www.cxgroup.com?hsLang=en) - [About](https://www.cxgroup.com/about-us) - [Industries](https://www.cxgroup.com/industry-experience) Toggle navigation Toggle navigation - [About](https://www.cxgroup.com/about-us) - [Industries](https://www.cxgroup.com/industry-experience) - [Join Our Shopper Community](https://www.cxgroup.com/join-our-shopper-community) Search Box × Search Search # Helpful Tips to Avoid Mystery Shopper Scams ## Scams targeting mystery shoppers are common in our digital age.  Follow these tips to keep yourself safe. ### Tips to avoid Mystery Shopper Scams ![photo-1501850305723-0bf18f354fea](https://www.cxgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/website-2023/imagery/photo-1501850305723-0bf18f354fea.jpeg?width=900&height=600&name=photo-1501850305723-0bf18f354fea.jpeg) - Do not deposit unexpected paper checks that have been mailed to you, related to a mystery shopping assignment. Scammers will instruct you to deposit the check into your personal account and then wire funds or purchase and mail gift cards.  The check will certainly bounce. - You should never have to pay a company or individual in order to become a Mystery Shopper for them. - Do not accept assignments involving evaluating money-transfer services, unless it is for a reputable company for whom you have completed and been paid for other types of shopping assignments in the past. - Be cautious of any jobs with outlandish rewards or cash payments. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. - Do not trust unsolicited emails if you did not already directly sign up with a legitimate company. - Avoid all ‘companies’ that claim to pay in advance of shop completions. - Take the time to research and conduct due diligence on any company you might wish to work with and always contact them directly through a Google search or the MSPA industry trade association. Scammers will often spoof popular mystery shopping company names. - Always avoid and ignore unsolicited mystery shopping-related emails and text messages, especially if they are coming from Gmail, Yahoo, etc. rather than a real company email account, or a company you have worked for in the past. ### CX Group Mystery Shopping Practices ![photo-1484863137850-59afcfe05386](https://www.cxgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/website-2023/imagery/photo-1484863137850-59afcfe05386.jpeg?width=900&height=600&name=photo-1484863137850-59afcfe05386.jpeg) - CX Group **never** sends paper checks to be used in conducting a mystery shopping assignment. - CX Group **never** offers mystery shopping jobs that require making a **wire transfer, check deposit or purchase and forwarding of gift cards**. - CX Group email messages only come from name@cxgroup.com or name@secondtonone.com[mailto:name@secondtonone.com](mailto:name@secondtonone.com). We do not email shoppers from Yahoo, Gmail, etc. - CX Group only accepts shopper applications at our official sites: cxgroup.com, second-to-none.com or joinstn.com. We **never** assign jobs to shoppers who have not applied through our website. - CX Group only offers shopping assignments through the secure ShopperHub website portal and smartphone App. - CX Group does not make shopper payments in advance of work being completed. - CX Group **only** pays our shoppers by **PayPal** or **direct deposit**; never a mailed check. - For additional information on finding legitimate mystery shopping companies, visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA): www.mysteryshop.org. ### Are You The Victim of a Check/Wire Transfer Scam? Do This: ![photo-1594979194853-f7dcd77a0a1b](https://www.cxgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/website-2023/imagery/photo-1594979194853-f7dcd77a0a1b.jpeg?width=900&height=643&name=photo-1594979194853-f7dcd77a0a1b.jpeg) - **File a Police Report** - Mail-based check cashing/fund wiring scams that cross state lines may be considered a federal offense. If you are a victim of this, you should contact your local police or sheriff’s department where you live, to file a formal report. - **File a Mail Fraud Complaint with U.S. Postal Inspection Service** - If you received a scam check, letter, instructions, etc. through the U.S. Postal Service, this may be considered federal mail fraud. You should file a complaint through the Postal Inspection Service online form here: https://www.uspis.gov/report/ - **File a Complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation** - If you are the victim of a check-cashing scam and have lost money through it, file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Service ***[here](https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx).*** - **File Online Report with National Consumers League** - If you are the victim of scam, you should file a complaint with the National Consumers League ***[here](http://www.fraud.org/homepage?splash=1).*** - **Report Check Scams to the Federal Trade Commission** - The Federal Trade Commission encourages all scam victims to file a report through their website ***[here](https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1).*** Mystery Shopping can be a rewarding way to help companies improve their customer service, while you earn extra cash, as a part-time hobby.   Stay vigilant for scam operators and only work for a trusted mystery shopping company that is a member of the MSPA.   You can find trusted companies at [www.mysteryshop.org](http://www.mysteryshop.org)     CX Group is an operating holding company that builds, supports, and scales specialized customer experience organizations focused on de-risking multi-location revenue. 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