Kroger Secret Shopper (It’s a Scam + Things to Watch Out for)
There are many ways to earn extra money, especially side hustles like secret shopping.
While some retailers and restaurants offer this legitimate job, it’s also a way for scammers to take advantage of customers. So, will Kroger pay to be a secret shopper? Here are some things to watch out for!
Kroger’s Secret Shopper of 2022
As of 2022, Kroger has no secret shopper deals. So, if you receive any offer to be a Kroger secret shopper via email, the message is from a scammer. Kroger customers received such information, which the company said was illegal. You can only get such offers by checking the appropriate site.
To learn more about what to look out for and how to spot a secret shopper scam, read on!
What do secret shoppers do?
Secret or mystery shoppers are individuals employed by retailers or market research firms to provide more information about the customer experience.
With this, a secret shopper is hired to shop at multiple locations or dine at a restaurant and report on the experience to help the company improve its services and products.
Once hired, secret shoppers can pay for products and get reimbursed from retailers at a later date, or keep them after the experience is complete.
Does Kroger use secret shoppers?
Some Kroger customers have fallen prey to this secret shopper scam and received offers of as much as $200 to $400 each.
However, Kroger warned that these are scams, as the company does not offer secret shopper roles.
Therefore, if you receive any emails about offers to become a Kroger Secret Shopper, it is recommended that you avoid them to protect yourself from loss.
What should you pay attention to?
To avoid falling prey to secret shopper scams, you need to understand how they work and what signs to look out for, such as:
How the scam works
To convince you to trust them, scammers often become a secret shopper by sending an email or text message with an unsolicited job offer from Kroger.
Also, most scammers send emails along with checks and instructions on how to complete the task.
Then, once you deposit the check, the funds will be reflected in your account.
As part of their instructions, you will be asked to shop at Kroger and test in-store transfers via MoneyGram or Western Union.
Also, scammers will ask you to use your deposited money or gift card to do this.
After the check bounces, you need to pay the bank, including the check penalty. During this time, the crooks will disappear along with the money.
In addition to losing money, you can also become a victim of identity theft, especially if you provide your banking details.
signs to look out for
Because Kroger doesn’t have secret shoppers, the company doesn’t proactively send you any offers that invite you to sign up for jobs.
Also, the retailer doesn’t send customers checks to deposit into their bank accounts.
Also, Kroger has a detailed hiring process when it comes to hiring for any position; therefore, it doesn’t send random emails.
How can you protect yourself from secret shopper scams?
While there are legitimate secret shoppers working, many scammers use Kroger’s name. That said, here are some ways to protect yourself!
Avoid paying for work
Like most companies, Kroger doesn’t ask potential employees to pay for positions. Plus, even legitimate mystery shopper jobs don’t ask for money.
So if an email asks you to wire any money, it’s a scammer.
Also, most scammers will ask customers to send money via MoneyGram or Western Union, which is difficult to track down.
Avoid depositing random checks
If you don’t want any checks in your email, we recommend that you avoid depositing checks randomly.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this is the most common technique used by secret shoppers to defraud victims of money.
Check the correct site
While Kroger doesn’t have secret shoppers, some retailers have the service.
To check this, you can visit the Mystery Shopper Professional Association (MSPA) website that lists suppliers.
Additionally, MPSA does not advertise these jobs; therefore, if you receive a job offer ad for a secret shopper, you should not respond.
Are there any legitimate secret shopper jobs?
If you want to be a secret shopper, you can apply for the following legitimate mystery shopper jobs; they won’t send checks until they’ve completed their mission.
Remember that most jobs are listed on the MPSA website to avoid scams.
That said, there are different companies, each offering different rates; therefore, you can do your research before applying for a job.
How much do secret shoppers make?
Once you’re working as a secret shopper, the pay isn’t as high; therefore, most people take it as a part-time job.
Essentially, the job doesn’t pay enough to be a full-time job, so if you get a check in the email, you should be suspicious.
According to Indeed.com, mystery shoppers make about $21.02 an hour. However, compensation may vary based on experience and company hiring.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on Kroger’s hiring process, Kroger’s dress code, and whether Kroger hires felons.
in conclusion
Kroger has no secret shopper offers, so if you receive any offers via email to be a Kroger secret shopper, the message is from a scammer.
Also, you can only get such deals by checking appropriate websites like MSPSA.
To protect yourself from scams, you need to know the signs to look out for, and remember that Kroger doesn’t have this role.
If you want to try this job as a side business, you can check out other retailers that offer this service.
