Mystery shopping can be a real small side job, but the scam version adds a dangerous twist: a large check, instructions to keep a little, and pressure to send the rest somewhere else.
Does this affect you?
Use this for mystery shopper or secret shopper offers received by email, text, mail, job board, or social message in the United States.
Recognize the scam before depositing anything
The giveaway is being asked to spend or send money from a check you just received.
- Be suspicious of any mystery shopping job built around a large upfront check. Real companies normally pay after an assignment or reimburse a small purchase after you submit a report and receipt.
- Never wire money, buy gift cards, send crypto, or transfer funds based on a newly deposited check. Available funds do not mean the check is truly cleared.
- Question checks much larger than the job fee. A common script sends thousands of dollars, tells you to keep a small payment, and asks you to test a wire service or retailer with the rest.
- Verify the company independently. Search the company name plus scam or mystery shopper, and check whether it is associated with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
- Do not pay certification, access, registration, or assignment fees. Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not charge shoppers to start.
- Be wary of unsolicited offers promising easy, high-paid work with little or no application process.
What to do if you already deposited the check or sent money
Act before the fake-check problem grows.
- Contact your bank immediately and say you believe the deposited check may be fraudulent.
- Do not spend more of the displayed funds and ask whether the deposit can be reversed or held before the check bounces.
- Stop communicating with the person who sent the job and check.
- If you wired money or bought gift cards, contact the wire service or gift card issuer immediately. Recovery is difficult, but fast reporting is still the best chance.
- File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Ask your bank whether a local police report is needed for its fraud process.
More control
Available does not mean cleared
Banks often make check funds available within a few business days, but the issuing bank may take much longer to reject a fake check. Scammers rely on that delay.
You can owe the bank after the bounce
If the check is fake, the bank reverses the deposit and you are responsible for money you spent, wired, or converted to gift cards.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice – Mystery Shopper Scams (2025)
- Better Business Bureau – Mystery Shopping Scams (2025)
- FDIC – Fake Check Scams (2025)
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