Beware if you seek a job as a 'secret shopper'

Employment frauds often prey upon people whose desire to secure lucrative work blinds them to scams.

The promise of easy-to-perform labor that pays well often appears as the answer to their prayers, but financial ruin can result.

A common form of the employment scam is the "secret shopper" job posting. These ads offer easy work, short hours and plenty of money to be made from visiting stores each day to make purchases.

According to these scams, the applicant will be working on behalf of manufacturers and retailers who are interested in knowing more about how products are displayed and marketed in stores. Those hired will be making purchases from specific retailers, afterward turning in reports about their experiences and collecting a big paycheck for their efforts.

Someone who answers a secret shopper ad is sent an employment packet which typically contains a variety of items, including a training assignment and a cashier's check made out for a large amount of money, normally a few thousand dollars.

The assignment explains that the "shopper" is to pose as an ordinary bank customer, cash the check at a bank, then wire the funds they receive from the teller to an address that has been supplied in the information package.

The "shopper" will be entitled to a small portion of the money for themselves. The "shopper" will also be told it's imperative they complete the task within one to two days or they won't be paid for their work.

The pressure put upon them to get the check cashed and the money shipped off quickly works to keep the "shopper" from discovering that the check is counterfeit. Once this information comes to light, the "shopper" is left with an outstanding debt to the bank for the value of the counterfeit money order and the small amount they were allowed to keep.

Anyone can place a newspaper or Internet ad. Job hunters shouldn't confuse the appearance of such ads in reputable forums as proof of their legitimacy.

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by officialsounding corporate names. The scammers do their homework and count on this.

Don't pay a company to get a job, not even if such payment is represented as a way to buy necessary training materials or certifications.

Be wary of companies that ask employees to disburse money from their own pocket for the goods they buy as the secret shopper.

Never wire money to strangers or to firms that offer a job. Wiring cash is exactly that— once it is sent, it's gone forever.

For those with questions about the legitimacy of a job listing, contact the Better Business Bureau or Federal Trade Commission.

This article was provided by the Moorpark Police Department.