Some mystery shopper ads are legitimate, but many are scams. Here's the scoop.

What is "Mystery Shopping"?
In a nutshell, a mystery shopper is simply someone who is paid to buy or use a product or service for the purpose of evaluating the process for a third party.  

According to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, an industry organization, the term "mystery shopping" was coined in the 1940s. The practice began as a way to check on employee theft in banks and stores, but came to be used to evaluate customer service.

Finding Legitimate Jobs
The mystery shopping field is rife with scams, so it's important to research leads carefully. The recession has only increased the number of people looking for basic ways to make money from home, and this brings out the scammers in force.

Legitimate opportunities do exist, however. Assignments may require visits to restaurants or clothing stores, Internet research, or phone calls to vendors. Legitimate sites include http://www.kernscheduling.com/ and http://www.a-closer-look.com/, and you’ll find others listed at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-mysteryshopping.htm.

Current Scams Offer "Prepaid" Shopping
Beware a current scam that often arrives as unsolicited email, or spam. The con artists offer a check to fund the mystery shopper’s purchases, with instructions to send "remaining funds" back to them. (In another variation, victims are instructed to wire funds abroad to "test" a company's money-transfer services.)

Victims are further lured with promises of generous fees for visits to stores, and a "transportation allowance" as well.

After registering for the "opportunity," the victim receives a bank check that appears legitimate, but which later proves to be fraudulent. In the meantime, funds have been spent and sent abroad to the scammers, and the victim is saddled with the losses. 

The FBI Weighs In
Work-at-home scams have gotten so bad that the FBI recently issued a consumer alert, mentioning mystery shopping along with other prevalent frauds. While rebate processing is not cited, consumers should be alert to this "bait-and-switch" as well.

For the FBI alert, including instructions for reporting scams, go to http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm.

To find or start discussions about mystery shopping or scams, visit Military.com's forums.