I was a Mystery Shopper for years. I really had a good time. My DD was also a shopper so we did most of our shops together, made it a lot easier. I don't like the fact that you need to send in paperwork for the taxes I never did and I worked for 3 different companies. I was considered an independent contractor and the taxes were up to me. I would be careful about sending any information to somewhere like that.
Hope this helps.
Char2

I got the same e-mail. I deleted it. Do they ask for your social security number on a W-9?
Leslie

If you got an unsolicited email from strangers, then it is spam and scam. Period. Just by replying to the email, you allowed them to know that they have two things, 1) a real email address that they sell to other spammers, and you will see your spam mail increase quite a lot and 2) a potential sucker (you) to swipe the identity from and wipe out credit-wise.

Don't fall for it.

I may be overly cautious, but I wouldn't do it. You can look up a W-9 form at irs.gov. It's a legitimate form and they would need the info to complete a 1099 for the govt, but are you sure THEY are legitimate? After all, it sounds like this was an unsolicited email so very well could be phishing. And the form does ask for your SSN.

Shirley

Tread wisely

That's SPAM!!!! Google the company and ask them how you become a shopper and that you received the email.

I did mystery shopping for years and loved it. But, after the gas prices began to rise, it just didn't pay for itself anymore. I would never respond to anyone I didn't know, especially when they are asking for so much information. There is a mystery shoppers association that you can join that will refer you to legitimate companies that rely on mystery shoppers services.

If you are asked for any personal information via the internet from any company, including a bank or the U.S. Government, this is not legit - EVER. Personal information includes your maiden name and your mother's maiden name by the way, not just social security numbers or bank information.

I want to clarify. It's not spam, because I applied to this company to be a mystery shopper. So, while their original email may have been spam, this response to my application can't really be viewed as such.

I did research on the company before doing so and everything I can find indicates they are reputable. It's just the W-9 that bothers me. I'm not a sucker and I'm not 'falling' for anything. That's why I'm asking you all your experiences with mystery shopping and with this company.

Hopefully, someone will be able to respond who has had experience with this specific company, Marketwise consulting.

Thanks for all the comments. Please keep them coming.

I mystery shoped for a couple of years. I only did the grocery store shops. I basically went in and bought loss leaders so the little bit of money I received from the company helped me with my budget.

I don't remember providing that kind of personal information because otherwise I probably wouldn't have done it.

Friend of mine did it and said it was a waste of time. Jobs that were supposed to take and hour took 3 hours. Pay was lousy, etc.

If you replied to a email, then they sent another... it doesn't mean either of the emails were from the actual company that you researched. I would go to the mystery shopping website and email them through there and ask if the email was legitmate.

That said, I did sign up for mystery shopping once (never gave them any info like you are being asked for), but never did any jobs.. the only place in my town that was on the list was the post office. Although I went to the post office alot, I knew most of the people there personally and wouldn't feel right reporting them for anything.

I received the initial email, researched them online (Google), went to their website and applied. I got a confirmation for the application right away, then this email today. I think that's a good idea about emailing them from their website though, to ask whether this last email is legit.

My daughter was a manager for Aeropostale for several years and they did have mystery shoppers come in to check them out. She didn't know who they were, of course, but the store got feedback from the company that provided the shoppers. It seemed a pretty legit way for companies to know how they are doing.

One of the TV shows did a segment on Mystery Shopping recently. I don't remember the details, but the basic message was BEWARE!

Sue

"I want to clarify. It's not spam, because I applied to this company to be a mystery shopper. So, while their original email may have been spam, this response to my application can't really be viewed as such."

Never reply to unsolicited email. They send out millions of these things. Once you reply, they start to "work" you. I just don't think anyone is going to hire someone without interviewing them first.

Here is a website with some interesting information about it. Take it with a grain of salt since they are trying to get people to subscribe to their online newsletter but they do bring up some good points.
Clare

Here is a link that might be useful: MysteryShoppingReviews

You might check with Consumers Guide and the Better Business Bureau. Are they giving you a physical address and phone? You can check with BBB in the town where they are located in. Just be careful and don't release any information. Why is everything done on line?? Nothing in writing? Anyone can send in stuff on line and then the company could claim they got nothing so in turn will not pay you--or change what you send in to what the company wants to see. Personally, I would not do it, due to nothing in writing.

"I received the initial email, researched them online (Google), went to their website and applied. I got a confirmation for the application right away, then this email today. I think that's a good idea about emailing them from their website though, to ask whether this last email is legit."

You responded to SPAM. It is not legit.

It's a scam. A regular comany hires you, asks your Social Security number, takes out federal, Social Security, state and local taxes and gives you a W2 at the end of the year.

Looking at the email they sent it appears there is NO phone number you can call to ask questions. But they want you to fill out a form with your name and social security number and fax it somewhere. Never ever fax a personal form like that anywhere.

The letter raises the red flag to me...

Susan

Alert!

I checked their website this morning when I read the original post. I just now went back and checked it again and there is now something on it that I do not remember seeing this morning.

"Click on the link above for more information. Our company rarely, if ever, conducts mystery shops involving check cashing or money transfers. We never ask shoppers to send us money. If someone posing as a representative of our company ever contacts you with a cashier's check, call us before you try to cash the check ... it may be a scam!"

It sounds to me like someone hijacked their info and good name, using it for a scam (very common) and they became aware of it.

When a company won't send you the necessary forms through the US MAIL, beware...!!!!! Companies who try to by-pass the US MAIL by using e-mail, Fed Ex or UPS are usually doing so for a reason....Heads Up!!! (Ask them to mail it to you...I bet they WON'T)

Mystery shoppers are independent contractors. They do not take out taxes. I was a bit leery signing up with my mystery shop company since I had to provide a social security number but so many people on the message board vouched for them, that I did. Here's general info:
All SCM mystery shoppers are considered independent contractors: NOT employees.
SCM advises each independent contractor to consult with his/her personal tax consultant to determine the appropriate manner in which to report SCM earnings for income tax purposes.
SCM does NOT withhold federal or state taxes from wages paid to independent contractors.
SCM does NOT pay federal or state unemployment taxes on wages independent contractors earn.
In general, all earnings, including all SCM earnings, should be reported to the IRS for income tax purposes.
All independent contractors earning $600.00 or more in a calendar year will be issued a 1099.
1099s will be issued by January 31st of each year.
1099s are issued to independent contractors with a copy going to the IRS and a copy being held by SCM.
The IRS requires SCM to provide social security numbers on all 1099s; therefore, SCM requires that all independent contractors provide SCM with their social security numbers. Please verify that your number is on file.
1099s only report payments received for completing an assessment as earnings. Reimbursements for items purchased during an assessment are NOT included in 1099 totals.
Since amounts an independent contractor receives for reimbursement of expenses incurred during an assessment are NOT included in 1099 or year-to-date earnings, expenses incurred during an assessment may NOT be included as business expenses.

there is a story on Today show this am telling people to beware.

Couple different issues here. Responding to spam, not a good idea and I would never do business with or work for a company who solicits business and employees via spam.

As said, legitimate employers are required to report qualifying payments to independent contractors and must keep track of all payments in order to deduct them. Anyone who doesn't have contractors' information on file can get into trouble. Not everyone is an employee. These days independent contractor relationships are far more common.

I would not go with the spam, even if they were legitimate. There's places like NARMS, Monster, Workforce, Careerbuilder, etc who have legitimate listings for jobs like this.

If you're a "shopper", mystery shopping can be good. But they nearly always pay a flat rate and $5 is pretty common. You have to fill out a lot of online paperwork to report. Christmastime is a good time to look for mystery shopper work. I worked for a company that utilized the mystery shoppers and had one come into my store. I dealt with them and had a pretty good idea what they were up to. Got an excellent review and a bonus because of it. But I digress.

Please don't feed spammers! Every time you respond to one, you make it that much worse for everyone. If people wouldn't buy from them or get sucked in by their blatant scams, they'd go away. NEVER FEED SPAMMERS! Starve them out!