The BBB is seeing a resurgence in secret shopper job scams. Now, the scammers are adding a few new twists to make it more appealing for you to take their bait.
These new tactics include:
Incorporating a well-known job website in their name ó CareerBuilder.
Claiming to be affiliated with legitimate sounding professional organizations ó Mystery Shopping Providers Association, Shop & Check Worldwide and Secret Shopper.
Using registered trademark symbols after the organizationsí names in an attempt to enhance their authenticity.
Stating that they have been seen on reputable media including MSNBC, ABC, NBC and the L.A. Times.
Including the names of major companies among their clients, including Wal-Mart, The Gap, Pizza Hut, MoneyGram, and Western Union.
Making the job descriptions very appealing with no experience required, flexible hours, guaranteed upfront payment and the opportunity to keep purchases made.
Listing the email sender as being from the ěrecruiting departmentî or is ěthe head of recruitments.î
ěSecret shopping scams have been around for years,î said BBB President Tom Bartholomy, ěbut the scammers are now refining their techniques so that their job descriptions sound legitimate, and most of all, very attractive.î
How the scam works:
The goal of the mystery shopping scam is to get your name and address so that they can send you what looks like a legitimate check to use for your secret shopping assignment. You will be instructed to deposit that check, which is usually for about $4,000, to keep $200 as payment for your secret shopping services, to spend $100 at Wal-Mart to evaluate their customer service and then to wire the balance, which is usually about $3,700, to an individual in Canada to test the services of MoneyGram, Western Union or MoneyPak.
The problem is that the check you deposited will be returned by your bank as counterfeit within a few days and you will be overdrawn nearly $4,000. Then, the bank will hold you responsible for the overdraft and you will have to pay the bank back.
ěSecret shopping has such a high degree of fraud that the BBB classifies it as a highly suspect industry,î said Bartholomy. ěWhile there are legitimate secret shopper jobs, they are not plentiful enough to require recruiters to scour the internet for applicants.î
Scammers find their prospective victims through resumes posted online or submitted to fake job postings on job websites.
If you are looking for a job, the BBB has this advice:
Never give your social security number, date of birth, bank account or credit card information out when you apply for a job online or over the telephone.
Never deposit checks you receive and then wire money to someone you do not know. These checks are always fraudulent.
Watch out for mistakes. If the job posting or job email contains awkward phrasing or grammatical mistakes, it is probably originating from another country where English is not the first language.
For more information about secret shopping job scams or other online job scams, please visit www.bbb. org.

As students head to college, these teenagers transition to independent living and need to be well-versed in financial literacy. College students are most susceptible to identity theft by friends and roommates, known as ěfriendly fraud.î
According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than 11 million people became victims of identity theft in 2009. Young adults, ages 18 to 24, take 132 days on average to detect identity theft. Subsequently, the average cost of victims in this age group was $1,156, which is roughly five times more than the average amount lost by other age groups.
ěParents should discuss financial responsibility and scams with their college kids before sending them off to school,î said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. ěDeveloping good money management skills early can have life-long benefits.î
The BBB has 10 tips for how college kids can safely handle financial decision-making.
1. Secure your mail. Dorm mailboxes are not always secure so you should have sensitive mail sent to your home address or to a P.O. Box.
2. Lock up and shred. Important documents should be stored in a locked drawer or filing cabinet and you should shred any financial statements rather than throwing them in the trash.
3. Avoid providing your Social Security number. If you are required to provide your Social Security number, be mindful of people close by who could overhear it or see it.
4. Protect your computer. Make sure your computer is password protected and has up-to-date antivirus software. Use strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed and be careful about clicking on links and opening attachments from unfamiliar sources.
5. Be vigilant. Check your credit or debit card statements closely for any suspicious charges or set up text alerts for activity on your account.
6. Shop safely. When shopping online, be sure the website is secure and encrypted. Never pay by Moneygram or Western Union as these are red flags for scams.
7. Monitor your credit. Check your credit report at least once a year with all three credit bureaus. You can do this for free by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
8. Be responsible with credit cards ó Pre-approved credit card offers are tempting, but they could lead to financial trouble.
9. Pay bills on time. Late payments can lead to interest rate increases, reductions in available credit, negative marks on your credit report and lower credit score.
10. Just say NO. Never loan your credit card or debit card to friends.