Associate Market Research PLC - Scam?

So, we did a stupid thing and deposited the check that the Associate Market Research PLC sent us. We also filled out the form that accompanied it for the secret shopping job... W ehave not spent a dime yet and now are wondering what will happen when the check clears (or does not). So long as we do not touchthat money, and the check bounces - we won't be lible for anything, right? What if it does clear, will we obliged to follow through with the letter and submit the report about our shopping, etc???


Please help!

Associate Market Research PLC - Scam?
Associate Market Research PLC is not a member of Mystery Shopping Providers Association, the trade association of mystery shoppers companies http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/memb... , though I cannot check if it is a member of the Marketing Research Association





What is not clear in your situation is that you accepted payment and there seems to be a requirement for you to report on your shopping. If the check clears -- and I don't think this is a huge amount -- then you are obligated to fulfill the obligations associated with accepting that check. If you signed up for a mystery shopper assignment post -- and you mentioned that you did some shopping -- then you have to write the detailed report (and boy, are those reports detailed) about your shopping experience





But if the check bounces, then you have no obligation to file the report-- but your bank can charge you for depositing a check that bounced.





Before you get into anything, understand what the requirements are first and whether it is real or not --- BEFORE depositing their checks
Reply:Cash the check at the bank that it is drawn on. If it is not local,


call the bank to verify that the check is good before cashing it.





Or re-contact the market research company if they have a website and are a member of any of the following organizations, they are likely to be legit:


AMA - American Marketing Association


CASRO - Council of American Survey Research Organizations


ESOMAR - The World Association of Research Professionals


MRA - Marketing Research Association


QRCA - Qualitative Research Consultants Association





Secret Shops are a common research exercise. Research firms usually compensate consumers, like you, for taking the time to do the rating.
Reply:Does this involve wiring money to someone (probably in Canada) to "mystery shop" Western Union? If so, it is definitely a scam and the check is not valid.





Do not confuse your bank making the funds available with the check clearing. Under banking laws, they have to make the funds available to you within a certain time frame; however, the check will be found to be a forgery days or weeks later.





Mystery shopping is legitimate, but this is not a legitimate mystery shopping company or assignment. These scammers sometimes use the names of real mystery shopping companies and banks, but the contact information is for the scammer, not the legitimate mystery shopping company or bank.





DO NOT wire the money to anyone. Contact your bank ASAP and let them know that you believe the check is a forgery. They may be able to help you verify this. DO NOT call the number on the check or the letter you received to verify anything. Locate the real contact information for the bank that supposedly issued the check and contact them.





See the article at the Federal Trade Commission site for more information about how this scam works.





If you would like to get legitimate mystery shopping jobs, there is a lot of information, including a list of about 200 companies that hire mystery shoppers (and you do not pay a fee) at the other site listed below.





Good luck!