Mystery Shopping Scams: How to stay safe

Mintel offers a secure registration process for Mystery Shoppers. Please read on and find out how to how to sign up and how to avoid mystery shopping scams.

First of all, please note that before you start working for Mintel you are required to fill in an application form which you can find on our secure Shopper Website.

If you are accepted as a Mystery Shopper, all communication regarding assignments from Mintel will occur through our secure Shopper Website or via emails originating from an email with an “@mintel.com” address, and which will always have our full office addresses and phone numbers in the footer.

Never accept an assignment from Mintel that has been mailed through the post - initial communication will always occur online or through email. Also, any communication from us will always direct you back to our Chicago or London offices, not to a P.O. Box.

The most common scam in mystery shopping involves being sent a large sum of money in advance for completing multiple mystery shops. One of the shops is typically at a check (cheque) cashing centre in which you are requested to make a deposit. Mintel typically does not advance money for any mystery shops outside of special circumstances. Please be wary of any offers that involve a large cash advance.

For more information regarding Mystery Shopping scams, please read the following article.