Secret Shopper and direct deposit

I got an email today that the company was finally going to join this century and offer the option of direct deposit. However, in addition to giving them the account number they're going to want a copy of your photo ID AND a voided check or deposit ticket!

Seems like big time overkill to me.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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Are absolutely sure it came from Secret Shopper? I didn't get the e-mail and I do shops for them almost monthly. I just got a call from a scheduler which has never happened to me before.

Your photo ID and a voided check would allow them to commit fraud by making a fake ID by just changing the photo.

They do have their own funky website. But in the past I put my information into the MSCs website after signing in.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2022 12:20AM by wrosie.
That is an excellent question! The message started with my shopper ID number, and the first paragraph said: "On or around Wednesday, December 28th, the Opt-In option for ACH (Direct Deposit) will be available to you. This is a perk that is provided at NO COST TO YOU. This option will be within your profile on your Shopper Homepage. To opt in you will need your checking or savings account information, as well as a photo ID and a voided check or voided deposit slip (savings account)."

@wrosie wrote:

Are absolutely sure it came from Secret Shopper? I didn't get the e-mail and I do shops for them almost monthly. I just got a call from a scheduler which has never happened to me before.

Your photo ID and a voided check would allow them to commit fraud by making a fake ID by just changing the photo.

They do have their own funky website. But in the past I put my information into the MSCs website after signing in.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
I shop for them multiple times a month and did not get that email either.
I got that email, and don't do an awful lot of shops for them. But it was the same as @KathyG got. And when I hold my cursor over the sender, it is indeed from coordinator@secretshopper.com. And yes, my ID was included in the email as well. Maybe the email is going out in separate waves. Here is my email...you can compare it to @KathyG's above:
======================================
"Hello and Happy Holidays!

On or around Wednesday, December 28th, the Opt-In option for ACH (Direct Deposit) will be available to you. This is a perk that is provided at NO COST TO YOU. This option will be within your profile on your Shopper Homepage. To opt in you will need your checking or savings account information, as well as a photo ID and a voided check or voided deposit slip (savings account).

If you would like to continue receiving physical checks, you can disregard this email."
I was on their site last week to cancel a shop. I saw no mention of direct deposit being offered.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I agree.
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

I would wait. Better be safe than sorry.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
@HonnyBrown wrote:

I was on their site last week to cancel a shop. I saw no mention of direct deposit being offered.
I logged into their website this morning, using my regular login to do so (not the one in the email...just in case!) As of this morning, it's on the home page after you log in, at the top. Here is what it says on their web site (italics mine):

"*NEW*

Hello and Happy Holidays!

On or around Wednesday, December 28th, the Opt-In option for ACH (Direct Deposit) will be available to you. This is a perk that is provided at NO COST TO YOU. This option will be within your profile on your Shopper Homepage. To opt in you will need your checking or savings account information, as well as a photo ID and a voided check or voided deposit slip (savings account).
"
It says 'on or around Dec 28). That doesn't mean today.
What if I don't have either checks or deposit slips?

I use a debit card and use the bank's app to deposit checks.
@wrosie wrote:

What if I don't have either checks or deposit slips?

I use a debit card and use the bank's app to deposit checks.

Your bank can give you encoded deposit slips or temporary checks. Just tell them what you need it for.
Do you have a checking account or is it a savings account? If you have a checking account, ask your bank for a courtesy check. If you have either, explain you are trying to set up direct deposit and ask if they can print a couple of deposit slips for you.
I got the email as well a few days ago. Since you are doing it on their website which you logged into directly and not thru a link I don't see why it would not be safe. They already have your ssn if you have ever worked for them. Many places ask for a voided check or something like that. They would need your account information to direct deposit your funds. There may still be an option for paper checks though.
I agree with all your statements. However, out of all the MSCs who pay by direct deposit none has asked me to provide any type of paperwork-just my routing number.
@sandyf wrote:

I got the email as well a few days ago. Since you are doing it on their website which you logged into directly and not thru a link I don't see why it would not be safe. They already have your ssn if you have ever worked for them. Many places ask for a voided check or something like that. They would need your account information to direct deposit your funds. There may still be an option for paper checks though.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
It's simple, really. They are offering direct deposit as an option. Go with your gut. If you don't feel comfortable giving them what they are asking for, don't choose direct deposit.

Would you feel more comfortable giving them an altered copy of your photo ID? You could add a watermark or alter the image in another way that would (1) still clearly identify you, but (2) make it difficult for someone to make a fake ID out of the image.
I guess I just don't understand why they need so much documentation when every other MSC that offers direct deposit doesn't.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

It's simple, really. They are offering direct deposit as an option. Go with your gut. If you don't feel comfortable giving them what they are asking for, don't choose direct deposit.

Would you feel more comfortable giving them an altered copy of your photo ID? You could add a watermark or alter the image in another way that would (1) still clearly identify you, but (2) make it difficult for someone to make a fake ID out of the image.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
So glad I read this! I didn't get the email, either, and didn't see it on the site. But I've been doing more shops for them over the last few months, so I think I'll opt in to this.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Did you get put on probation when you canceled the shop?
@HonnyBrown wrote:

I was on their site last week to cancel a shop. I saw no mention of direct deposit being offered.
I think that they're offering this feature based on your shopper level in their system. Both my husband and I shop for this company. He is one level above me and received the email whereas I did not receive the email or notice. He hasn't recently rescheduled a shop whereas I've had a few reschedules in the last couple of months.

If this is the case, I think it's kind of crummy to allow one set of shoppers the "privilege" of receiving direct deposit whereas other shoppers are forced to receive the paper checks. It should be a universal feature especially since I get wary of checks getting lost in the mail.
I don't have any bank accounts that i can provide any of those things for. I don't have paper checks or deposit slips. And I do NOT make copies of my ID or put such things in emails or, even worse, in snail mail.
@ccc_89 wrote:

I think that they're offering this feature based on your shopper level in their system. Both my husband and I shop for this company. He is one level above me and received the email whereas I did not receive the email or notice. He hasn't recently rescheduled a shop whereas I've had a few reschedules in the last couple of months.

If this is the case, I think it's kind of crummy to allow one set of shoppers the "privilege" of receiving direct deposit whereas other shoppers are forced to receive the paper checks. It should be a universal feature especially since I get wary of checks getting lost in the mail.


I have had a check from Secret Shopper lost in the mail one time. They wanted to charge me $30 to re-issue the check. So I just wrote the lost check off. Now I have Direct Deposit with them, so that (hopefully) won't happen again.
@ccc_89 wrote:

I think that they're offering this feature based on your shopper level in their system. Both my husband and I shop for this company. He is one level above me and received the email whereas I did not receive the email or notice. He hasn't recently rescheduled a shop whereas I've had a few reschedules in the last couple of months.
I would be surprised if they emailed shoppers based on any sort of shopper level, because I got the email and I do VERY FEW shops for them! Maybe....MAYBE 3-4 a year, and that might be stretching it. Maybe they based it on IP addresses, and since the two of you have the same IP address, they only saw a need to send it out once...just guessing.
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