Though it happened a long time ago, and has never been brought up since, I still remember the scam that my family fell for. Back in those days, before the World Wide Web, telemarketing calls were probably at an all time high. You probably couldn't go a day without having the phone ring and the person on the other end wanting your opinion, your time, your money, your donations, or wanting you to claim a prize. Speaking of claiming a prize, imagine my mom's excitement when she received a call that she won a $300 camera. I can't remember how much it was exactly, but back in the 80's it would have been quite the camera. The catch was we would have to go to Washington state to claim our prize. We were living in a smaller city in British Columbia, so we had to trek over the border. So it was 3.5 hours to Vancouver, and then there was the highway border process, and then another drive to get to our destination. I remember my family, and our relatives that journeyed with us, arriving to our destination, only to become circumvented by the handful of coupons we left with. No camera. No expensive camera. No win. Scam. Joy. In this day and age, what has shifted away from telemarketing scams has maneuvered into online scams. There is an abundance of junk we get in our email, on the sites that we visit, on the pop-ups we try and close. Trying to sift through what a legit win is versus a scam can leave anyone scratching their head. Secret shopping isn't immune from the scams that are out there. There have been reports of scammers using the names of actual legitimate companies to get what they want - your money. So no wonder it's confusing and daunting when we want to start out secret shopping, but don't know which way to go. We want to avoid getting scammed, but we also want to go for the money opportunity. Trying to get one while avoiding the other is not an easy task. Luckily, my secret shopping journey has been devoid of scams. But others have not been so lucky. There are various forms of secrets shoppers scams out there. Unfortunately, this has given the secret shopping field of market research a bad rap. You constantly here that secret shopping is nothing but a scam. It's frustrating to hear this, 'cause I'm a Secret Shopper. How am I getting those secret shopping jobs, if secret shopping is nothing but a scam? Does it mean that I'm a Scammer too? I hope not. I mean, my integrity wouldn't allow me to pursue such avenues. I assure you not all secret shopping jobs are scams. So what is and what is not a valid secret shopping opportunity? Meet Bethany. Bethany has had more jobs than you can count on two hands and two feet. Also known as "Queen of the Random Job", she has encountered enough lessons to know how to identify scams and find legitimate work. Her excellent guide "I Got Scammed So You Don't Have To! - How to Find Legitimate Work at Home and Random Jobs in a Scamming Economy", is the go-to guide for identifying scams and finding legitimate work.
The book covers 4 essential areas:
Techniques of Scammers and Common Scams: A behind-the-scenes look at Internet marketing essential for anyone who uses the Web and email. Here you'll learn not only the common scams, but also the tools needed to research companies and job offers on your own. Making Money : Over 170 companies, ideas, and resources to create your own business or side income from your talents, skills, and assets. Get a Random Job : Over 140 legitimate companies that offer flexible work environments, or hire at-home workers. Creating a Business: We can no longer trust our employers to take care of us! Now, non-entrepreneurs can develop a new mindset and open their hearts to the joy of small business ownership. This section goes over marketing tips, small business brainstorming, and provides resources to help get you started on the right track. Here are some positive accolades this book has received: "...breaks down scam information like I have never seen before." "...gives a LOT of companies to work for, either as an employee or independent contractor." "...probably one of the most informed and well written books for the up and coming entrepreneur I have read lately." "I've been writing and freelancing online for years, but I found many tips and tricks in this book that were new to me." I highly recommend her products to you, as she is a highly valuable and reputable secret shopping resource! -Kat
1 Comment
Greory
3/22/2011 07:44:10 pm
I'm already a secret shopper how do i get jobs?
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start secret shopping blogWelcome to my blog on the information and advice you need to know to get started as a Secret Shopper! I love this work and would like to share my experience with you. :)
-Kat
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