September 3, 2010

Shoppers' View is located in Grand Rapids, MI. We do not have any other branches/locations. The only valid phone numbers for Shoppers' View are our toll-free number (800-264-5677), our direct line (616-447-0097) and various numbers starting with (and only with) (616) 608-xxxx.

Shoppers' View and our Human Resource department never mail checks/money orders before a shopper completes their shop (in fact, we only pay our shoppers via PayPal not check/money order). We also never ask our shoppers to mystery shop MoneyGram or Western Union.
Beware of anyone asking you to shop MoneyGram or Western Union. This is a common scam that has been going on for the last few years. Fraudulent 'companies' like this tend to come and go and this scam has been featured on Dateline NBC and many local news stations. They are similar to the 'Nigerian Money Scam' and other scams that target random people either via the phone book, someone responding to Craig's List ads, or typing in random email addresses and hoping people respond. Search Google for "Nigerian Money Scam" for more reading. Many companies create names that are similar or identical to existing reputable companies in order to increase the perceived validity of the scam.

When a person wishing to shop falls prey to this scam, they receive and cash a money order, are told they can keep anywhere from $300-$1000 to spend as they please and then are instructed to send the cash back via Western Union or MoneyGram and 'evaluate' those companies' services. It can take up to 21 days for the bank to notify you the check/money order was fraudulent - at which point the victim is liable to pay their bank back the money plus fees incurred. You can read more about this scam at any reputable mystery shopping company's website as it is fairly common. Visit www.mysteryshop.org for more info.

Below is what we recommend you do with a fraudulent money order and what we tell victims that call our office:

• Be on the look out for scams that are disguised as mystery shopping opportunities! Because we hear of so many reports of scammers who are trying to steal money by pretending to be mystery shopping companies, we have created some information for you to use in reacting to these scams. We will NEVER send a check to you before you do work for us and we will NEVER send you a check amounting to several hundred or several thousand dollars. Pay heed to the warnings below:
• First, if someone contacts you via email over the internet (or letter in the mail or fax, etc.) and says they will send you a large check in return for a "simple" mystery shopping assignment to check wire services like MoneyGram International or Western Union, it is a scam. Period.
• If you get a check in the mail that you are asked to cash and then wire some of the proceeds to someone else, it is a scam.
• No legitimate mystery shopping company would send you a check in the mail before you do an assignment for them...even after you do a shop, you won't get a check worth several hundred or several thousand dollars. It's not mystery shopping; it's a scam. If you do get a check, don't cash it. Even if the bank deposits it into your account, the money is not "yours" until it clears the issuing bank and the money has been sent from the issuing bank to your bank. It doesn't matter if the teller says there is a 3-day or 1 week hold on the check...if it's a bad check and you have taken money out of your account against the check, you will be liable for any money you sent away. Don't deposit the check! It's counterfeit!
• If you receive such a counterfeit check and "mystery shopping offer," you may want to contact your local (non-emergency) number for the police, just to make sure they know the scam is taking place...understand, though, they don't have the resources to go after the scammers.
• Report the check to the FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• Report the check to the FTC via its online form at http://www.ftc.gov
• Report the check to Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
• File a complaint about the scam with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov
• If you are interested in completing legitimate mystery shopping work, please visit our registration page to sign-up as a shopper at: http://www.shoppersview.com/shopper-login.php
• Scroll down to the 'New Mystery Shopper Sign-Up'. Read the mystery shopping information and the independent contractor agreement. After doing so, click on the 'yes' link and you will be directed to our application page.
• Fill out the information section and then you will be able to log-in and see available opportunities in your area. There is no fee to do this. NEVER pay anyone money to mystery shop or for mystery shopping information.
• Other websites we recommend you visit to find mystery shopping positions are: forum.volition.com/, www.mysteryshop.org or www.kernscheduling.com

Thank you for your time. We look forward to working with you.

Shoppers' View
1331 Plainfield Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Ph: 616-447-0097
Fax: 616-301-3285

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