Troubleshooter: Secret shopper scam could cost you thousands

An old scam targeting people looking for easy ways to make money is making a comeback, and it could leave victims owing thousands of dollars to their banks.

An ABC11 viewer recently shared a letter she received with Troubleshooter Diane Wilson. The offer was for a secret shopping job. She recognized the offer as suspicious but worried someone else might fall for it.

The letter arrived by mail with a check for $1,977.50 and a customer service evaluation form. The supposed assignment promised the recipient $477 in pay, with the remaining money intended for a shopping assignment. The letter also promised an additional $150 bonus if the assignment was completed within 24 to 48 hours, but there was a major red flag.

The recipient was instructed to deposit the check, then use the money to purchase $1,500 worth of Apple gift cards at local stores. The shopper was then told to evaluate the store, cashier and overall customer experience without telling employees they were being evaluated.

How the scam works:

To demonstrate how the scam operates, Wilson contacted the number included in the letter. After saying the assignment had been completed, the response came quickly.

The scammer asked whether the Apple gift cards had been purchased. Wilson did not actually buy any gift cards but continued the conversation to see what the scammer would request next. The scammer then instructed her to send pictures of the gift cards, including the information on the back. That's where victims can lose their money.

Once scammers have the gift card numbers and security codes, they can drain the funds from the cards.

When it comes to the check victims were told to deposit, if the bank cashes it, it eventually bounces. Banks can take several days to discover that a deposited check is fraudulent. By then, a victim may have already spent or transferred the money. That means the bank can take the money back, leaving the victim responsible for repaying the amount.

Alyssa Parker with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) says employment scams are a significant problem.

She said employment scams accounted for about 18% of scam reports in the area last year. Consumers should be especially suspicious when a potential employer sends them a check or deposits money into their account and then asks them to transfer the money or purchase gift cards. That's a major warning sign that the job isn't legitimate.

She recommends researching the company through the BBB, looking for reviews from people who have actually worked there and making sure the company itself exists.

How to spot a secret shopper scam:

Consumers should be wary if a mystery or secret shopping job:

• Sends you a check before you've completed any work
• Asks you to deposit a check and spend the money
• Tells you to purchase gift cards
• Asks you to send gift card numbers or photos
• Promises quick, easy money for very little work
• Pressures you to complete the assignment quickly

A legitimate employer should never ask you to purchase gift cards and send them the numbers or security codes. A quick online search for the specific secret survey assignment featured in this scam brings up multiple warnings from people who say they were targeted or lost money.

Gift cards are particularly attractive to scammers because once the numbers and security codes are shared, the money can be quickly drained and is often difficult to recover. Apple even places a warning on its gift cards telling consumers not to share the numbers with anyone.

If someone sends you a check and tells you to deposit it, buy gift cards and send them the numbers, don't do it. The check may look real, but that doesn't mean the money is real. If you receive a suspicious job offer, research the company independently before accepting the assignment or depositing any money.

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