Secret shopper employment scam Reports & Reviews

Secret shopper employment scam Reports & Reviews (10)

- Dunedin, FL, USA • Aug 26, 2025

Reported details

Phone: (346) 366-4252
Website: No website
Email: [email protected]
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

I received a text to confirm the secret shopper assignment. I received the secret shopper instructions in the mail with a check for $2,450. I was to purchase 4 gift cards totaling $2,000. Luckily I did a search on the phone number and found that this number has been reported as a number used in multiple scams. I did deposit the check so I will wait for it to be determined fake and the funds be removed from my account. I did not utilize the funds from the check so I should not be put any money.

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- Oxnard, CA, USA • Aug 25, 2025

Reported details

Phone: (828) 316-1633
Website: outlook/ mail
Address: 329 Germania ave, Schenectady, NY 12307, USA
Email: [email protected]
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

I got a latter with a check through the postal office envelope. Saying something about a survey.

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- Eight Mile, AL, USA • Aug 21, 2025

Reported details

Phone: (904) 226-1116
Website: N/A
Email: [email protected]
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

I got a message after applying for a secret shopper job that sounded legit but once I received the letter it held a paper explaining basically a gift card scam with a 2,650.35 check. They want me to keep $650 for myself and use the rest to pay for cards and that is completely outside of the job description given when I initially signed up for secret shopping. The initial assignments were supposed to be me going in store like Walmart,Target,Sam’s,Costco and other major stores to make sure they looked nice and neat as well as having a good selection of things that are supposed to be in stock. Attached is the letter they initially sent me in the mail with the check that I mentioned. After sending this I am shredding the check so no one can get to it and it’ll be destroyed.

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• May 31, 2025

Reported details

Type of a scam: Fake Check/Money Order

I also got a secret shopper letter and check.. amount was 1420.00 my pay being the 400.00 suppose to buy gift cards (apple & foot locker) from CVS or Walgreens. Name was Gino Samina different phone number than you listed and he/she is actually still contacting me from this number asking if I have completed my assignment
(805)332-5782 is the number he/she is using and the number I’m suppose to take pictures of the front and back of the cards and send pics of it to them.

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- Sparks, NV, USA

Reported details

Phone: (626) 316-2973
Address: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

The phone number 626-316-2973 never gave their name. It was all done by text messages. It just said if I received a check and to let them know ASAP. I looked up the phone number and found out this is a scam. I thought this was for a secret shopper's position. My supplemental income would be $600 it said. When I get this so called check in the mail I will not deposit it because this sounds fishy.

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- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

Reported details

Phone: (805) 332-5782
Address: Miami, FL 33166, USA
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

I received a weird text today saying that I submitted my information via their sms marketing to act or work for Walgreens secret stores evaluator.

then I received a USPS envelope from Sunshine bottling inc in Florida with a letter and a check for $1750.

I got a text afterwards from someone named Gino Salmina "the hiring manager for the mystery shopper in my area) but he is calling from a california phone number. The check is from MPI, Inc in Poughkeepsie NY The bank is NBT Bank in NY also. This all looked weird. I looked it up and see other people have reported instances like this. The letter is telling me to deposit the check into my acct and purchase American express gift cards and send them a picture of the front and back of the cards and send them to [email protected]

this all sound crazy and makes no sense, I didn't see how I was surveying anything.. I asked questions. and did my research . But for these people to be using the Post Office which is a government agency, they are rather bold.

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• Apr 24, 2025

I have the same thing from this same number, everything exactly the same.

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Reported details

Phone: (850) 366-6401
Address: 1240 NE 28th Ave, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, USA
Email: [email protected]
Total money lost: $1,500
Type of a scam: Employment

I saw an ad about a job title Secret Shoppers advertising in Instagram and Facebook and I applies for the job. Next thing I know was I'm getting a postal package sent to me to my home address saying that I need to follow the instructions on the job. I have a copy of the instruction. Also included was a Cashier's Check made out to me on behalf of IHMVCU the location is at 2500 River Drive Moline IL 61265. The scammer texted me whether I had received the postal package via mail. So I told him I did then he asked me to go to Winn Dixie on Race Track Rd Westchase FL to get a $500 Apple Gift Card and take a picture and text it to him with the card activated. The next store I went to is Publix in Westchase FL with another $500 Apple Gift Card and doing the same thing as described above. Finally I was instructed by this scammer named John said to go to the next store if I want to get a bonus of $300. So I went to Walgreens in the same area and bought another $500 Apple Gift Card. After I was done with the job, I tried to contact the scammer back and the phone was not in service. Please help me to resolved this problems because I had contacted Apple Gift Cards support and they told me they will try to get my money back. By the way, I used my credit cards to make the purchases at the store above. Thanks for your support and understanding. You can reach out to me at my email: [email protected] or contact me at my cellphone at 734-796-6158. I've also reported to the FTC about this matter.

Regards,

Joseph Ho

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Reported details

Phone: (445) 242-0622
Type of a scam: Employment

I received text messages only. I have been applying for secret shoppers jobs on line. I was contacted afterwards told he had openings asked for my name address city statej so he could mail me a check and agssignment. I was to bank the check keep $300 and purchase gift cabrds in different denominations from Apple. Send the the receipts of purchase, scratch the gift cards take pictures of them email thise pictures and reciept back to them. His name is Jerry Patrick. Today I received the envelope containing a check for $1870.22 plus instructions on the job and It is a scam that you are paid $300.09

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- Jackson, MI, USA

Reported details

Phone: (229) 394-9651
Address: 1661 Worthington Rd. Ste. 175, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, USA
Country: United States
Type of a scam: Employment

I was interested in a secret shopper job. They sent me an instruction paper also, a check for 2,450.00. Which I haven't cashed. And will not. It has been shredded.

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