Shadow Shopper

KLGJR,  Georgia

  Posted at 4:12pm on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

I just got this freaking check in the mail. Now I want to know how we can go after these people. I am going to check with our fraud folks and see if there is anything we can do. Thanks.

violet,  duquoin

  Posted at 4:54pm on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

It was my own fault when i forgot about the 90 day free trial. I had only done one shop i was reimbursed through pay pal. I had never had a real problem with them I do believe an email to remind me that 59.99 was being taken out of my account would have shown "good businessmanship". I was not aware that you had to manually go in to the account and set it to " I will renew myself" to me that should have been a given. You send me a bill I will pay you.Not we are going to take the money out, long after you have forgotten about it. I contacted my bank about a couple of things that came out my account amounting to hundreds of dollars that I had nothing to do with a flower order for 150.00 a grant cd deal for 69.99, some kind of djnetdeals i never heard of 185.00.Of course after threatening the companies with "going to the Attorney General my money from ShadowShoppers was refunded to the amount of 40.00. I was also lucky enough to get my money back from all the companies as well. My accoun... read more »

Peter,  Somewhere

  Posted at 1:53pm on Friday, September 26th, 2008

It is a violation of credit card regulations for a merchant to take your money and not have a way to request a refuld that is just as easy. Call your bank, tell them there is no refund method. They'll help you.

Stephanie Cannady,  Florence, Ky

  Posted at 3:54pm on Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Good Luck with getting your money back, Micahel Hendrix in Canada??? Anyone heard of him??What a joke...cant even speak English...these people come to our country and rob us of our money..He almost got 4,995.00 from me but thank God my bank refused because they knew it was a scam. if any of you live in the Cincinnati area..Oct 1st at 5:30p.m I will be on channel 12 news doing an interview with them about this guy.I have spoken to the Secret Service and they are aware but cant really touch these people because they operate in Canada and they have no jurisdiction there... oh, and naturally he dont return phone calls and his voice mail is always full. BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!

David,  Texas

  Posted at 2:57pm on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

I recieved a check and instructions, mind you without even signing up for their program. The check they sent was in the amount of $3,820 of ehich I was to send them $3,300 back. To make a long story dhort, the check was drawn from Wells Fargo Bank, in which I am one of their customers. When I presented the check I was told that the check was no good. "BEWARE" ANY AND ALL WHO WANTS TO SIGN UP"

Slim,  Georgia

  Posted at 10:19am on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

Thank everyone for this information. I am presently on the shadowshopper.com website in trying to take my credit card information off before they try charging me for another year of service (as they did the last time). However, their site states to click on Membership Cancellation link; there is not one there to click on. Does anyone have any information as to how to delete my information on their site before they charge me again??? Thanks!!!

Dakota Hyman,  Modesto, California

  Posted at 9:38pm on Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Im 13 and they send me this check for 4,955.00 i thought it was true but i went all over the web and all i got from people that say its not a scamm is them themselves.

Debra Giles,  Anderson, IN 46012

  Posted at 6:33pm on Thursday, September 18th, 2008

I am also on disabilty and to be taken for an unexpected amount of money is just plain garbage.
When I looked at my bank statement, there wasn't a phone number to contact this business. Heck I got offers left and right with jobs, and since they got this big fish caught and reeled in I haven't had one email from shadowshopper.

One last thing I've learned that if a company is not backed by the BBC, buyer beware.

dan purcell,  kitchener ontario

  Posted at 9:44am on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

aLL I CAN SAY IS SCAM SCAM SCAM !!!!! I joined for a cheap trial and then they charged me $59.99 USD. IT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY ME!GOOD LUCK GETTING MY MONEY BACK! tHIS IS TOTAL CRAP. I am on disability. I can't afford it. Help!

LES,  FLORIDA

  Posted at 4:28pm on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THIS WEBSITE!! AND THESE ARE HARD TIMES,SO GLAD TO SEE "PEOPLE" PULLING TOGETHER FOR OTHERS AND WARNING OTHERS. THIS IS THE SECOND SCAM CHECK I HAVE RECIEVED IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS. HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE BE STOPPED AND HOW CAN WE BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR TIME AND MAKE THEM "PAY" US FOR THESE SCAMS??

Holly Wood,  Ypsilanti

  Posted at 11:43am on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

I would have to say this is a five star website for me to find out about the whole secret shopper.com scam. I had recieved a letter yesterday with a check in it for $4,855.00. Told me to take it to my bank and cash the check and go to a local walmart and do a money gram and send it to someone (not going to put name on here) in st. thomas, ontario canada and I get $800.00 for doing the transaction. I was almost about to do it considering for me to get that money until i realized that this was a scam. im so happy that i found this website and im sorry for the rest that went along with it and got screwed over. thanks to you all who put this on here!!!

christina,  Toronto Canada

  Posted at 9:06pm on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

TOTAL SCAMMERS...I wish I saw this sooner. I joined for free trial and i ticked off the box that says "Do not rewnew automatically, I will renew myself" and they still charged me for Gold. Somehow they claim i did not check off that box. They are a shady, scamming organization. You can go directly to mystery shopping companies who don't charge you for joining: SQM, Frontline Shoppers, Service Impressions, Premier Service to name a few. If anyone knows a way to get them legally, I'm in. I don't trust them, I'll be cancelling that credit card so they can't charge in the future. To those losers who run this scam, what goes around comes around... bad carma will come your way

Sundra,  Oklahoma

  Posted at 9:55am on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Today I recived a check in the mail fro shadow shopper for 2800.00 the instruction were in aletter what to do with it I call Mr. Tim Tyson, He told me to take it to MY bank, This happened to me once, I lost 3800 dollars. so PLEASE be careful DON'T DO IN !!!!!!! also beware of just e-mail address in the news paper

Robin,  Alabama

  Posted at 9:42am on Friday, August 22nd, 2008

SO CALLED Legal Internet THEFT!!!!!

Randal,  Kansas

  Posted at 5:21pm on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

We recieved a letter from Shadowshopper with a large check in it. This is definately a scam. If you recieve a check from them place it through a copy machine. A stamp will show on the copy that says void. Thats the only way we have been able to get that image to appear. Be very careful with this.

Ragui,  Michigan

  Posted at 11:02pm on Saturday, August 16th, 2008

I got my lettter today, August 16th. Also from Naple, ONT. Canada on the outside envelope. But inside, the address is from Carson City, NV. I am so glad not to be involved in this scam. Its wonderful to get a big check. But nothing its for free. I never believed in that. So, don't be part of this scam. You will be in a big trouble. I am so glad that I could read this postings. Thank you to all. And now its my turn to say to YOU, DON'T DO IT.

Glad I read this,  nc

  Posted at 7:53pm on Saturday, August 16th, 2008

I about signed up for this a minute ago. So glad I found this blog.

JP,  Florida

  Posted at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

I canceled the day my membership was to renew and after many e-mails was told no refund that I checked the terms box and it states that cancelations must be before the renewal date. They took my money and I cannot use the service since I canceled. They do not give refunds at all. Also, I've learned to be watchfull of any company that only does business through e-mail, no phone contacts at all.

Tony,  AR

  Posted at 1:41pm on Friday, August 8th, 2008

Do NOT use this company. Their sales pitch is very deceitful, and they make it difficult to find the page to not auto renew after your free trial is up. They claim to send you an email before the trial end date, but I did not receive any email stating this. Beware!!!

tim,  tuscaloosa

  Posted at 7:15pm on Monday, August 4th, 2008

my wife and i was sent a letter from shadow shoppers to do some mystery shopping for them from wal-mart and sears and so on but after reading about your stories we decided not to proceed any further ,..... thank you for your posts

robert,  missouri

  Posted at 10:53am on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

i saw the comments posted i received their letter postmarked from canada with a sear, blockbuster ,moneygram, and walmart logo with a check for 3830.00
i am so glad i researched this scam i am reporting this to the atty general i would suggest anyone effected should do the same also they used a check with the bank named webster.

Jack,  Ohio

  Posted at 3:36pm on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

I just received their well put together letter today. This is a well thought out scam. Including logos of companies like Sears and WAlmart. When you look at the letter they give an address in Carson City, Nv. However the postmark on the outside envelope is from Canada. That alone should raise doubts.

Amy,  US

  Posted at 11:13am on Thursday, July 17th, 2008

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM ALERT! I did look on BBB website for complaints before signing up for a trial period with ShadowShopper. Unfortunately, I looked up ShadowShopper Inc & Shadow Shopper.com in Carson City NV, which had no complaints and no rating respectively. Unfortunately, I didn't scroll down far enough to see all the details of the actual issues with the Carson City, NV address. I didn't look at the ShadowShopper.com Houston, TX company until today, which has an unsatifactory rating, 170 complaints and is OWNED BY THE SAME FRAUDULENT INDIVIDUAL, Dave Nienberg!!! I asked BBB to PLEASE put some kind of alert up when people search for any Shadow Shopper name, this is a SCAM. There has to be something we can do to stop this from happening. This guy is smart, he has this company registered as an LLC. Is there an internet agency that regulates this type of activity?

The following is what happened to me personally. I signed up with this company for the TRIAL memebrship. But they ... read more »

Amy,  Indiana

  Posted at 10:21am on Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Wow, I just got scammed. Called my credit card company to dispute it. My story is EXACTLY the same as Jaimie below. They won't refund and just quit communicating. DON'T DO IT. I checked the BBB for complaint. At that time I didn't see a complaint. But WAIT, I went back to file a complaint with BBB and there are SEVERAL called ShadowShopper. Lucky me picked the only one without complaints. So, when I looked at the correct company, ShadowShopper.com. There were 170 complaints within the last reporting period!! Can we do a class action or something against the owner Dave Nienberg and his infamous assistant Jonathan???? I contacted the BBB to make sure the mixup of different shadowshoppers doesn't happen anymore.

Tracie,  FLORIDA

  Posted at 2:46pm on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

TO THOSE OF YOU WANTING TO BE A SHADOWSHOPPER PLEASE BE AWARE OF SHADOWSHOPPER@POST.COM DEALING WITH A MICHAEL HENDRIX OUT OF CANADA, HE IS THEIF WITH NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEXT HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET. I'VE TRIED CONTACTING HIM ABOUT A COUNTERFEIT CHECK THAT HE USED AND THEN HE ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD TO CANCEL THE CHECK BECAUSE ANOTHER COMPANY WAS TRING TO DUPLICATE HIS CHECKS. THEN HE WANTED ME TO SEND A 25.00 FEDEX TFOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING TO SEND A CASHIERS CHECK TO MY ADDRESS TO CLEAR UP MY ACCOUNT BUT NOTHNING HAPPENED THEN I BEGAN SENDINGE-MAILS TO THE COMPANY AND NEVER RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY.

Karen,  Charlotte

  Posted at 10:54am on Monday, June 30th, 2008

Fraud!!! I don't mind trying something new if the company offers a free trial of their services. It may have been a great opportunity! Obviously this company is not really in the people business and does not really want to provide customers opportunities. They just want your money. Poor business ethics. Do not "try" this out unless you intend to make a full committment. There is no free trial. This is misrepresentation in their advertising. Unethical!

Jaimie,  Ypsilanti

  Posted at 1:36pm on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

I signed up with this company for the TRIAL memebrship. But they billed me for the Gold Membership without authorization to do so (read the very small print...they charge you and then offer NO refunds)and when I requested they refund me my $99 they refused to do so. I told them I would file a complaint with the BBB if they did not. How can they charge you for a service you aren't even using? I wasn't even a member anylonger. Then after just 2 emails they quit responding to me - completely ignoring me. You can't call either. If you call you get a recording that simply says to email them only. And then to make matters worse my contact - the one with the email - just shut his email account down so I couldn't contact them anymore. SAY NO TO THIS COMPANY. THEY ARE A SCAM!!! AVOID THEM! If they did take your money, file a dispute with your credit card company or bank. You'll get your money back that way! I just can't believe they ignored me and then shut off their email account... read more »

Kelli Contreras,  Ellensburg Washington

  Posted at 11:34am on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

I am having the same problem with ShadowShopper. Today is my last day to have my free week. I have been trying to cancel for the last hour. They keep telling me they have sent an email to confirm my cancellation for my records but I still have not received any conformation. DO NOT SIGN UP WITH THIS COMPANTY!!!!!!!!

Nancy,  California

  Posted at 1:39pm on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

I mystery shop for several companies, and when I began I mistakenly thought shadowshopper was a direct link to jobs instead of a middleman. I signed up for a free membership, which basically meant my inbox became flooded with hundreds of jobs but unless I paid shadowshopper a hefty fee the details were blocked. The job notifications all looked enticing, up to $185 reimbursements for fine dining with a bottle of wine required, etc., but the e-mail was just a teaser, with no way to access the information unless the fee was paid. After several weeks I began to get offers for reduced rates for the gold and silver memberships until one day I got an offer for seven free days of their gold membership. I accepted, and the highest paying job I ever got was $20 and highest reimbursement was $30 with no pay for the job itself. I can't help but believe the job notifications sent to my e-mail when I wasn't a paid member were for jobs that didn't actually exist. I did pay attention to the fin... read more »

Leonard,  Georgia

  Posted at 9:37am on Saturday, February 16th, 2008

I thought that it was probably a scam, but my wife signed up with them and she gets dozens of offers from mystery shops every day. She registered with all of the companies that she wants to use and then after the first year she cancelled the Shadow Shoppers membership. It was worth the money to get the contacts and now that she has those we don't have to continue with the Shadow Shoppers membership.

Ed,  Florida

  Posted at 5:19pm on Monday, January 21st, 2008

Shadow shopper is is just that a shadow. I even wrote them that I am already a secret shopper for other companies and that I could get the info for free and they never replied back but continued to send emails about shops in my area. That should tell you about how they work, not worth wasting your money or time.

Mary Kreh,  Lusby, MD

  Posted at 7:54pm on Friday, January 18th, 2008

What you say about signing up directly with the companies and skipping ShadowShopper (SS) is probably true. (I've not checked it out.) However, by signing up with SS they do all the searching for me. I signed up 2 weeks ago and have been literally swamped with notices of jobs in my area to pick and choose from, 4 of which I have completed so far, with several more for next week. I have signed on with the companies I am interested in working for and will continue to do so. Two companies have contacted me by phone after reviewing my profile with SS. I may be paying extra for work I could do myself, but I feel that their time is worth the fee that saves my time.