I applied for a personal assistant job that was on a reputable website. mlive.com and this is what I received.

n Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 11:21 AM, jamesadams <jamesadam65@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

Thanks for the swift mail response ,Your contact will be input into our system. Pending approval from the Recruiting department. You job is a mystery would begin next week and in this would result to us providing you with more information .


PAYMENT TERMS:
Your payment would be sent weekly , Also the company is in charge of providing you with all expense money for the shopping and other expenses involved in the assignment . All you need would be provided to you with details every week you have an assignment.

JOB DESCRIPTION :
1} When an assignment is given to you , You would be provided details to execute the assignment.

2} You would be asked to visit a company or store mostly our competitors as a secret shopper and shop with them to know more about their sales and stock , cost sales and more details as provided by the company then report back to the company with report . But anything you buy at the shop belongs to you . All we want is an effective/quick job and reports.


ASSIGNMENT PACKET :
Before any assignment we would provide you with the resources needed {cash}Mostly our company send check which you can cash and use for the assignment. Included to the check would be your assignment packet .Then we would be providing you details on here. But you follow every single information given to you as a secret shopper .

You can earn more which involves nothing more than shopping at a number of selected retailers and assessing their customer service and reporting back . We tried reaching you on phone but it wasn't responding , So i want you to get back to me with confirmation of your interest and commitment in working with us ,Mostly we need you phone number for contact.

KINDLY CONFIRM THE BELOW INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR ASSESSMENT .

Full Legal Name :
Address Not  P.O. Box:
City :
State :
Zip code :
Phone Number:
Country :
Sex:
Age:

I would await your confirmation response.

Sincerely,

James Adams
Mystery Shopping Consultancy.

Hi, I just receved the following....
"Dear Sir/Ma


We have a mystery shopping assignment in your area and we would like you to participate” Secret Shopper® is accepting applications for qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers. I hereby inform you that there is a chance for you to work with us with a good paying weekly wages of $300 contact for more details regarding the mystery shopper position with below information's.



Full Name:-

Address:-

City:-

State:-

Zip code:-

Cell:-


I await your immediate response.

Thanks

Timothy Bowen"

Thanks for warning me about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara from Italy

I just recieved one of these checks for 2,750.00. I knew right away it was a scam but I just dont see how people get away with this kind of stuff. I called the bank to report the check and the woman that I spoke with really acted like she could really care less. She said well you dont plan on cashing the check do you? Well, no, but that is not why I was calling. She stated that they were already aware of this and had someone investigating it. I just could not get over her attitude, just because I knew it is a scam some innicent person out there may not and get ripped off. I asked her if she wanted me to fax her the letter that I got and she said I guess you can but we are already aware of this. I just dont understand why people like this cant be set up and caught.

i too was a victim a couple times from a couple different "secret shopper" deals and now i am in debt almost $3000 my account was my sons saving account and now he has no money i have no job i am a fulltime student and a single parent if it seems to good to be true...it is....

Amazingly, I just go an email with the same NJ address -- 614 6th Ave,
 Lyndhurst, NJ 07071. How can this not have been shut down? Is there anything at that address?

IS THIS REAL. I am a shopper/auditor/mershandiser

Secret Shopper® needs mystery shoppers from any where in USA as part-time worker. No application fee is required.Applicant must be 18 years and above, must check email 2 -3 times in a day to read updates
from us and be honest. You will earn $200 on each transaction by being our mystery shopper.Your employment packet include business evaluation form and a training Instructions which will be sent to you via email after you  received payment.. A Paycheck  will be sent to you via a Courier company for the Evaluation you are to deduct your $200 commission, and the rest will be used for the evaluation at the store that you will be assigned to .

1. The Business Evaluation Form: This is the form you are required to fill after you visit any shopping mall in your area, you would be given the store name and address near your location. You are required to evaluate its customer service and quality control after their services are rendered to you. You would required to fill a form to rate the employee(S), the form would be given to you after the evaluation.

2. Training Assignment: You are hired to evaluate the quality of services of the store or mall that would be given to you. You are needed to rate the employees.

Interested shopper should please Enclose his/her information with a valid phone number(s) below for you to start with us :

NOTE: THAT THE PAYCHECK WILL BE DELIVERED IN THE EARLY AM HOURS SO PLEASE SPECIFY IF HOME OR WORK ADDRESS (if Any work address?) FOR DIRECT DELIVERY TO YOU.

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HOME
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First Name:
Last Name:
Contact Address: (P.O. BOX NOT ACCEPTED)
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Age:
Email:
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WORK(if any)
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Company / Organization Name :
First Name:
Last Name:
Work Address: (P.O. BOX NOT ACCEPTED)
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Age:
Email:

Thanks for responding, We will wait your full details.

NOTE:

PLEASE EMAIL US BACK YOUR INFORMATION WITHOUT ATTACHMENT AND AFTER YOU HAVE
EMAILED YOUR INFORMATION TO US,YOU SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL 2 - 3
TIMES DAILY TO READ UPDATES FROM US.

Sincerely,
James Howard
Recruiting Department,
Secret Shopper®

reveived by:

James Howard james.howard@skymail.mn

I REPLIED TO A JOB AD, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW I AM A SECRET SHOPPER. I GOT A FED EX PACKAGE WITH A PLAIN ENVELOPE IN IT, WHEN I OPENED IT, THERE WAS A CHECK FOR $2900. I LOOKED AT MY HUBBY AND WA SHOCKED. AFTER CHECKING MY EMAIL, I HAVE DIRECTIONS, AS TO WHAT TO DO WITH THE CHECK. CASH IT AT MY BANK, KEEP $300, USE $150, AND WESTERN UNION THE REST TO MADRID. NOT POSITIVE IF THIS WAS A LEGIT CHECK, I CALLED TO VERIFY THE FUNDS. I ALSO LOOKED THE COMPANY UP, THAT THE CHECK WAS FROM, AN IT WAS A LEGIT COMPANY. I CALLED CITIBANK, B/C THAT WAS THE ISSUING BANK, BUT THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME NOTHING.. COME TO FIND OUT, THE CHECK ORIGINATED, FROM THE PHILLIPIENS. I NEVER CASHED THE CHECK OUT OF FEAR IT WOULD COME BACK TO BITE ME IN THE ASS. I THINK I WILL CALL THE COMPANY LISTED ON THE CHECK, LET THEM KNOW SOMEONE IS USING THEIR NAME.