James Elbert of Paragonspro.com solicited me to be a secret shopper. The email text is cookie cutter to those being received by others, with only the agent's name changing.
"Hello
We get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers in order to know how the staffs are handling their services in relation to their customers. Once we have a contract to do so, you would be directed to the company or outlet, and you would be given the funds you need to do the job(either purchase products or required services), after which you would write a comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed record of your experience.
Most companies employ our assistance when people give complains about their services, or when they feel there are needs for them to improve their customer service. your Identity would be kept confidential as the job states (secret customer) you would be paid $200 for every duty you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance, and funds would be given to you if you have to dine as part of the duty Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of shops, stores, restaurant and services in your area.
No commitment is made on this job, and you would have flexible hours as it suits you. If you are interested, do send in these information:
FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP-CODE:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
MOBILE NUMBER:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
EMAIL:
So we can look at your distance from the locations which you have to put your service into, and your address would also be need for your payments.
Thanks
Yours Sincerely
James Elbert""
Follow-up from James Elbert:
"Thanks for your response, Here is the Job description.
FIRST ASSIGNMENT:
Secret Customer's Guide wants you to run a survey on two prominent companies in your area.
The 1st is a Western Union outlet
The 2nd is an Eatery
There have been reports about laps in the services of their Management and some of their staffs, Their complains are based on reports which their customers forwarded anonymously and Phone calls which were also made to the head office.
The Western union location was reported for evaluation for the
following reasons:
(i) Customers have reported their money missing
(ii) Slow services
(iii) Unbalanced transfer charges
The 2nd company was reported to be rendering:
(i) Poor services
(ii) Rudeness to customers
(iii) Excess charge
(iii) Late opening time and Closing before time.
Your Secret Evaluation would be:
1) To make a transfer of funds from this western union location to our secret customer, And the funds would be picked up by another secret customer at another location where a customer reported her fundsmissing.
2) You would have to record the time at which you go to the location and how many minutes it took you to get service.
3) You would be sent a check which would cover your payment of $200 and also for the duty. As soon as you receive the check, you should cash in at your bank, and deduct your $200.00.
4) Upon receiving the funds, the locations address would be forwarded to you, and also the Name and address of whom the secret customer transfer would be made to. You would have to keep a comprehensive report on every activity you carry out.
5) You would also provide me with the name of the cashier that attended to you.
Please send me a reply so that the check would be sent out to you ASAP
Yours Sincerely ""
I replied with a very to the point email concerning the popularity of his companies' name in various scam report sites. I do not anticipate any further contact. This is a scam to get you to cash there check against your personal account and wire the money, minus a "fee" to them, most likely to a western union location in Canada. You will be then stuck responsible for the charges when that check bounces.
Forewarning!