Mystery shopper check scam

What the message looks like

How this scam works

The offer arrives out of the blue, often by mail, email, text or social media, and promises easy, flexible pay. Some letters come with a check that looks very official, with a real bank's name and a routing number. In one case reported by KRGV in Texas, a woman got what looked like a cashier's check for $2,450 and a letter explaining how she could make up to $450 by buying $2,000 in gift cards at two big retailers.

The 'assignment' is really the scam: test the store's gift card service by buying cards, then text or email the numbers and PINs to your 'coordinator'. Once they have the numbers, they can spend the cards almost immediately.

The FTC explains why this works: banks have to make deposited money available quickly, so the funds can show up in your account within days. But it can take weeks for the bank to discover a check is fake. By then, you're responsible for paying back the money you spent.

Real mystery shopping work exists, but a real company doesn't pay you up front and ask you to send part of it back. A fox knows free food left on the trail usually means a trap.

Red flags

• You never applied, but you've been 'hired' as a secret or mystery shopper.
• They send a check before you've done any work and tell you to deposit it right away.
• You're told to keep part of the money and send the rest by gift cards, wire, a payment app or crypto.
• They want photos of gift card numbers and PINs.
• Rushed deadlines like 'within 24 hours' and pay that seems high for very little work.

How to tell it’s fake

1. Never deposit a check from someone you don't know and then send part of the money somewhere else.
2. A real employer won't pay you in advance and ask for gift cards. Anyone who asks you to pay with gift cards is a scammer.
3. Look up the company yourself, not through the letter. Search its name with 'scam' or 'complaint' and check BBB.org.
4. If the job seems legit but you aren't sure, get a scam expert's second opinion before you deposit anything.

What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info

Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.

If you clicked a link or called back

• If you haven't deposited the check, don't. Keep it and the envelope as evidence.
• If you clicked a link in an offer, don't enter personal details, and change any password you typed there.

If you paid

• If you deposited the check, tell your bank's fraud department right away and don't spend the money.
• If you bought gift cards, contact the gift card company immediately, tell them the cards were used in a scam and ask for a refund. Keep the cards and receipts.
• Report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and BBB Scam Tracker. If the check came by mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

If you shared personal info, a password or a code

• If you gave them your Social Security number, bank account or ID for 'payroll', visit IdentityTheft.gov and watch your accounts.
• Be wary of anyone who later contacts you offering to recover your money for a fee. That's often another scam.

Questions people ask

The money showed up in my account. Doesn't that mean the check cleared?

No. The FTC says banks must make deposited money available quickly, but it can take weeks to discover a check is fake. You'll owe the money back.

The check has a real bank's name on it. How can it be fake?

Scammers print checks with real banks' names and routing numbers. Call the bank yourself, using a number from its official website, to ask about the check.

I already sent gift card numbers. What now?

Contact the gift card company right away. If the money hasn't been spent, they may be able to freeze it. Then report the scam to the FTC.

Sources

• WBBJ (Oct 2026): BBB warns of mystery shopper scam targeting holiday job seekers
• KRGV: BBB South Texas warns of secret shopper scams in mail
• FTC: Mystery shopping, (fake) checks, and gift cards
• FTC: How to spot, avoid, and report fake check scams