As you have so aptly put it before, the exceptions tend to "muddy the waters."

Many people who come here as new shoppers may never complete a single shop or quit after the reality of the work sinks in which means the rest of the information becomes irrelevant for them. The red flags we supply to prevent them from being a victim of a scam is something which will help them for a long time to come and they may even have an opportunity to pass it along in another forum or blog and help even more potential victims.

I just received this, which definitely is a SCAM:

--------------------

Dear Sir/Madam,

TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL is a legal organization, which aim is to promote bilateral trade and investment between Turkey and foreign countries, especially People Republic of China.

TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL renders services to her partners in recruitment,advertisement, clearing and forwarding, as well as internal and international trading.

TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL needs credible individuals and corporate bodies in Europe and the Americas to represent its interests with companies that export products from Korea to these. This message is sent in English for general understanding.

As head of human resource, I am mandated to recruit individuals and corporate bodies in North America and Europe for this purpose. Your contact was sourced via market research based on an Online Job search directory.

Representatives will act as intermediaries between us and customers in their country of residence. Representatives may also receive payments on our behalf and assist with placing orders for goods and services that may be required in their country of residence. A commission of 15% is paid for your service(s). We guarantee a monthly minimum of $5,000 to part time workers and a maximum of $30,000 based on work volume, work efficiency, experience gathered on the job, punctuality as situations demand and hard work.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A RETAINERSHIP WITH US, by agreeing to perform the companies legal obligations in North America (particularly in the United States of America).This option has been considered by the board, as the process of this companies registration in Europe and America is yet to be completed.

REMEMBER THE MORE ORDERS PROCESSED,THE MORE YOU EARN. Interested applicants should reply to this email and send name, address, phone/cellphone number and fax. Also direct all enquiry on receipt of this email.

Yours faithfully,

Rihard Fishers
Head of Human Resources
Public Relations Department

risinghorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just received this, which definitely is a SCAM:
>
> --------------------
>
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL is a
> legal organization, which aim is to promote
> bilateral trade and investment between Turkey and
> foreign countries, especially People Republic of
> China.
>
> TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL
> renders services to her partners in
> recruitment,advertisement, clearing and
> forwarding, as well as internal and international
> trading.
>
> TURKISH INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION COUNCIL
> needs credible individuals and corporate bodies in
> Europe and the Americas to represent its interests
> with companies that export products from Korea to
> these. This message is sent in English for general
> understanding.
>
> As head of human resource, I am mandated to
> recruit individuals and corporate bodies in North
> America and Europe for this purpose. Your contact
> was sourced via market research based on an Online
> Job search directory.
>
> Representatives will act as intermediaries between
> us and customers in their country of residence.
> Representatives may also receive payments on our
> behalf and assist with placing orders for goods
> and services that may be required in their country
> of residence. A commission of 15% is paid for your
> service(s). We guarantee a monthly minimum of
> $5,000 to part time workers and a maximum of
> $30,000 based on work volume, work efficiency,
> experience gathered on the job, punctuality as
> situations demand and hard work.
>
> YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A RETAINERSHIP
> WITH US, by agreeing to perform the companies
> legal obligations in North America (particularly
> in the United States of America).This option has
> been considered by the board, as the process of
> this companies registration in Europe and America
> is yet to be completed.
>
> REMEMBER THE MORE ORDERS PROCESSED,THE MORE YOU
> EARN. Interested applicants should reply to this
> email and send name, address, phone/cellphone
> number and fax. Also direct all enquiry on receipt
> of this email.
>
> Yours faithfully,
>
> Rihard Fishers
> Head of Human Resources
> Public Relations Department

You are "exporting" stolen merchandise, bought with stolen credit card numbers. They have the items shipped to you and you resend them back to the scammers.

Go directly to the website by typing in the address.

There is no reason to go to a website when an e-mail is such an obvious scam. I agree typing the address is a safer alternative since links are dangerous, but some of the more sophisticated scams set up actual websites.

I have received the scam letter also, but mine was for $2850.

I turned it over to my bank and they said they will forward
it the to Attorney General's office.

Karen in Phoenix

What states does Strategic Reflections shop?

Yes this is a major scam. I contacted Strategic Reflections and sent them a copy and they said do not reply to it. To late though. I already had answered it like a dope! Next thing I know I get a money order for $1600. Now what do I do?

Either take it to the authorities (I don't remember who handles this) or destroy it and ignore further communication.

I just recieved this e-mail

We are a charter member of the Agent Shopping Provider's Association (AS-PA),
You have been selected for assignment as a Secretshopper in your area.
You will get $ 450 as a commission per assignment, your employment packet
will include funds for the shopping. No charge to apply to become a shopper.

Payment check or money order will be a certain amount which you would be
required to cash at your bank then deduct your salary and have the rest
used for the evaluation.

Please provide the following information below if you interested.
All fields are required in order to serve you better.

- First/Last Name :
- PhysicalAddress :
- City :
- State :
- ZipCode :
- PhoneNumber :
- Sex & Age :
- CurrentJob :
- EmailAddress :


You will have access to training materials after this one complete and your full
Job Description will be sent to you prior in your assignment.

Thank you for responding, we waiting your good response.


Regards,
ROBERT NELSON
MS`G Manager


and after seeing all these posts I am sure this one is a scam as well. I am very interested in becoming a real mystery shopper but every time i try to do it I am asked to pay a lot of money for some book and i can not afford to pay that kind of money is there a way I can do this with out having to pay a lot of money to get started?

Never pay to get started. Begin with signing up with the companies listed below.

I was going to sign up with strategic reflections but upon reading the agreement I have some questions.

1. Do they send you the money they want you to spend on the assignment or do they simply reimberse you for money that you spend.

2. do you keep the product that you purchase or do you take it back to the business you made the purchase at, ot do you send it to strategic reflections?

3. on average how much does this company pay per assignment and typically what kind of assignments to they give you?

Any help with these questions is very appreciated.

I have received cheque in the mail which I gave to the RCMP, (police dept.) They are fraud.
No one will sent a cheque to a new shopper hoping you will be honest and send them back the money after keeping so much. FRAUD.

wrsgrl, try signing up with some companies on the list at the bottom of this page.
Strategic reflections was having some technical difficulties earlier this week, so try a company like, Marketforce which has jobs in most areas.
I have not worked for Strategic Reflections, but most mystery shopping jobs pay a small fee.
Some, like banks, don't require you to spend any money so there is nothing to return or reimburse.
Some, reimburse you for what you are required to spend. Some of those reimbursements are useful, (gas and groceries for example).

Sometimes you are required to return the product and also evaluate the return process. Sometimes you are not allowed to return the purchase.

I do not know the kind of assignments Strategic Reflections has, or how much they pay.

You can search on this forum to see what others have said about them and about the companies on the list at the bottom of every page of this forum.


Good luck.

wrsgrl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was going to sign up with strategic reflections
> but upon reading the agreement I have some
> questions.
>
> 1. Do they send you the money they want you to
> spend on the assignment or do they simply
> reimberse you for money that you spend.
>
> 2. do you keep the product that you purchase or do
> you take it back to the business you made the
> purchase at, ot do you send it to strategic
> reflections?
>
> 3. on average how much does this company pay per
> assignment and typically what kind of assignments
> to they give you?
>
> Any help with these questions is very appreciated.

wrsgrl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> and after seeing all these posts I am sure this
> one is a scam as well. I am very interested in
> becoming a real mystery shopper but every time i
> try to do it I am asked to pay a lot of money for
> some book and i can not afford to pay that kind of
> money is there a way I can do this with out having
> to pay a lot of money to get started?


Definitely a scam. Real mystery shopping jobs do not pay a lot of money - most mystery shopping assignments pay $10-$15. Yes, you can certainly get started without buying a book or anything else. The resources you need are free here on the forum. Being a mystery shopper means working as an independent contractor for mystery shopping companies performing audits and evaluations on their client companies. Mystery shopping is very time-intensive at first because you will have to read and research to learn how to run your own small business. Then you will register with companies on their websites, providing your personal information and SS#. Some may want you to take tests or give writing samples. After you are registered with companies, you will be able to search their job boards for assignments in your area. I recommend signing up with 50-100 companies. See the blue link below, Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies, for a great list of companies to sign up with.
Good luck and have fun with mystery shopping!

I did receive this SCAM! I have been shopping for 7 years now. You can detect the scams as soon as they ask for money. No ones pays that kind of money. Hotel jobs do pay high end, but not in your hand, they pay for food, room etc.