Mystery shopping- legitimate opportunity or scam?

A couple of RV workers I know have tried out mystery shopping as a way to make money. They did make some—though did not get rich. Most assignments do not pay much. One income limitation is that you usually can't go back to the same company as a mystery shopper for six months or more. Unless you are in an area with lots of businesses or traveling to cities, you may not get many assignments.

Some mystery shopping ads, though, are really scams. They sell certification (not necessary) or have membership fees (stay away from those). There could be a money-back guarantee, though more often than not, you won't be able to track the company down to get your money back. A new twist to the mystery shopper scheme is to include a cashier's check with your materials, which you are supposed to cash and then resend via Western Union to a "fake" relative in Canada. Of course, you are out that money.

Snopes.com has an informative article that is a must-read for anyone considering this line of work. Also, check out the Federal Trade Commissions' alert on mystery shopping. Basically, if the company wants money, avoid it.

For legitimate opportunities the FTC recommends the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. (Interestingly enough, they have a certification program! It is optional, however.) You can pick up some extra cash this way and get paid to shop. For some that's a great incentive! Just be cautious and research the company first. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.