MSPA Issues Release About Attempted Scam Against IntelliShop and Consumers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Andrea Parr
Director of Public Relations and Digital Media
(502) 574-9934
aparr@hqtrs.com

Scam Alert

Louisville, KY (March 11, 2015) - The MSPA-NA (formerly known as the Mystery Shopping Providers Association of North America), the trade association representing the customer experience metrics industry, is warning consumers of a new scam that is circulating on the popular professional networking site, LinkedIn.

The scam that is appearing on LinkedIn purports to come from IntelliShop, an MSPA-NA member. IntelliShop has posted a warning on its website advising the public that it does not recruit from LinkedIn. MSPA-NA has been in touch with LinkedIn support and advises anyone who finds that their account has been compromised and is being used to send LinkedIn messages to others - to notify LinkedIn support immediately. Consumers who have received unsolicited LinkedIn messages concerning mystery shopping opportunities can report the suspicious messages to LinkedIn.

MSPA-NA members do not send out unsolicited messages regarding mystery shopping opportunities. Visit the MSPA-NA website for more information regarding legitimate mystery shopping opportunities as well as common scams and how to avoid them.

Common warning signs for mystery shopping scams include:

• Unsolicited emails or messages on social networking sites (i.e. "You have been selected!")
• Requests to deposit checks to your bank account and to review Western Union or another money wire service
• Messages with poor grammar
• Unusually high payment

"Legitimate mystery shopping firms will not send out checks prior to the completion of an evaluation - and they will not reach out to you unless you have signed up as a mystery shopper with their agency." says MSPA-NA President Rich Bradley. "Remember, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

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MSPA-NA connects and supports the businesses that influence the customer experience through managing, quantifying, interpreting, enhancing and re-defining the customer experience. Widely recognized as the leader in customer service experience measurement, management, and training, MSPA-NA is made up of member companies that provide these services to a variety of industries. The association strengthens the customer experience industry by uniting the efforts and actions of its members and supporting the businesses they serve.