Mystery Shopping
Performance in People - SpoofFind BBB Accredited Businesses in Mystery Shopping.
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Alert
BBB received a complaint from a consumer who provided a copy of a letter they received in the mail. The letter’s sender identifies themselves as "Performance in People" and uses the logo of a company by the same name located in the United Kingdom but, claims to be located in Carmichael, California.
According to the letter the recipient “receive[d] this assignment because [they] signed up as one of our Mystery Shoppers.” It goes on to instruct the receiver to cash a check made out for $1,950 and explains that the majority of the money is to be used to purchase either products or financial services at a store. While making the purchase, the letter recipient is instructed to evaluate the customer service they receive.
The complainant claims they contacted the bank issuing the check they received and were informed that that the check was fake.
Many scammers use similar tactics. Victims are provided with a fake check and instructed to cash it at their bank. Afterwards the victim's bank may make the funds immediately available, but not discover that the check is fraudulent until later. Scammers count on this and con victims into wiring them the funds from the fake check before the victim's bank discovers the deception and withdraws the funds from the victim's account - leaving them with a negative balance.
BBB’s research indicates that the company, Performance in People, located in the United Kingdom is not affiliated with the sender of the complainant’s letter. Additionally, mail sent to the Carmichael, CA address on the letter was returned “Not Deliverable as Addressed.” BBB cautions consumers to research any similar offers they receive. In general, legitimate secret shopping companies do not recruit employees by mail and do not provide large lump sums of money up front.
For more information about Mystery Shopping Scams see this article from the Federal Trade Commission.
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