High riskJob

Mystery Shopper Scam

This scam offers a fake secret or mystery shopper job, sends you a cheque to deposit, and asks you to 'evaluate' a money-transfer service by wiring most of it back or buying gift cards, after which the cheque bounces and you are left owing the money.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Employment scam
Main red flag
Being sent a cheque and asked to send most of the money back or buy gift cards as part of an 'assignment'.
What to do first
Do not move any money. A real employer does not pay you with a cheque you must partly send back.

What this scam usually looks like

This scam offers a fake secret or mystery shopper job, sends you a cheque to deposit, and asks you to 'evaluate' a money-transfer service by wiring most of it back or buying gift cards, after which the cheque bounces and you are left owing the money.

Job and employment scams exploit hope and momentum with an easy "hire", work-from-home promises, and tasks that supposedly pay commission. The tell is the direction money flows: real employers pay you, while scams get you to pay in for training, equipment, or to "unlock" earnings, or to hand over bank and ID details.

The single clearest warning sign to remember is this: Being sent a cheque and asked to send most of the money back or buy gift cards as part of an 'assignment'. Do not move any money. A real employer does not pay you with a cheque you must partly send back.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Fake Job Offer Scam or the Reshipping Job Scam, browse the Job Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

Fast-growing
business and job-opportunity scams are among the fastest-growing fraud types reported to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$10.3B
total reported US fraud losses in 2023 across all categories
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Congratulations on your mystery shopper role. We have sent you a cheque for $1,950. Deposit it, keep $300 as your fee, then evaluate the wire service by sending $1,650 to the test recipient below.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Why this is a red flag: Being sent a cheque and asked to send most of the money back or buy gift cards as part of an 'assignment'.

Red flags to watch for

  • You are hired with no interview and little or no checking of your background
  • A cheque is sent to you upfront before you have done any real work
  • You are told to deposit the cheque and then send most of it back or buy gift cards
  • The 'assignment' is to test a money-transfer or gift-card service
  • You are pressured to act quickly before the cheque has truly cleared

What to do

  • Treat any job that pays you first and asks you to forward money as a likely scam
  • Wait until a deposited cheque has fully cleared, which can take longer than funds appearing available
  • Verify the company independently using contact details you find yourself, not those provided
  • Decline the assignment and keep all messages and the cheque as evidence

If you already clicked or replied

  • Do not send any money, buy any gift cards, or wire any funds
  • Contact your bank straight away and explain you may have deposited a fraudulent cheque
  • Ask the bank to flag the cheque and watch your account for it being reversed
  • Report the scam to the job platform and your national anti-fraud centre

What not to do

  • Do not send money back from a cheque before it has fully cleared
  • Do not buy gift cards and share their codes as part of a 'test'
  • Do not share your bank login or personal identity documents with the 'employer'

Similar scams

High risk Job

Fake Job Offer Scam

This scam offers a job with little or no interview, then asks for upfront fees, personal documents, or bank details to 'set you up.'

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Job

Reshipping Job Scam

This scam advertises a work-from-home 'package processing' or 'quality control' role where you receive parcels and reship them abroad, but the goods were bought with stolen cards, making you an unwitting money mule with real legal risk.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Overpayment Scam

A buyer, employer, or 'client' sends you a payment or cheque for more than they owe, then asks you to send the extra back. The original payment is fake or is later reversed, leaving you out of pocket for the refund you sent.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Frequently asked questions

The funds showed up in my account, so the cheque was good, right?
Funds appearing available is not the same as a cheque clearing. A fraudulent cheque can be reversed days later, leaving you responsible for any money you already sent on.
Are mystery shopper jobs always scams?
Legitimate mystery shopping exists, but it does not involve depositing a cheque and wiring most of it back. That money-forwarding step is the hallmark of this scam.
Why would a job send me money before I do any work?
The upfront cheque is the bait. It creates the illusion of payment so you feel comfortable forwarding funds before the bank discovers the cheque is worthless.
What should I do if I already sent the money?
Contact your bank immediately and report it, then alert any wire or gift-card provider involved. Report the scam to your national anti-fraud centre as soon as possible.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.