Shopper News

Consumer Alert: Updated 11/6/09

by Confero Inc.

Update: 11/6/09

Scam artists are at it again. Please add the name Mark Dwane to the list of fake Confero employees. As discussed in earlier posts, we have received requests from would-be mystery shoppers asking that we validate the employment of Robert Preston, Michael Thomforde, James Clayton, Paula Moore, Carlos Burnett, Chris Jordan, Alexander Hopkins and now Mark Dwane. None of these persons work for Confero. These are made-up names used in official-looking email messages from people trying to scam unsuspecting consumers. Sometimes, the scam emails have been spoofed to look like the message is from Confero and to hide the true origin of the email. Other times, the sender simply pastes the Confero name or website into his or her email message. Either way, these scammers are attempting to fool consumers into thinking they are dealing with Confero.

Here is an example email message from a scam. Please notice in this email the poor spelling, grammar and sentence structure. If an email does not look professional, please be suspicious!

Here is the latest spoofed email sent out to consumers:

Dear Applicant,
Top of the day to you. We have decided to offer you an employment as a Mystery Shopper. ( Customer Service Position ). This is a random contact and your response is needed to show your interest. If you have gotten this email sent to you earlier, please we apologise for the spam. If interested, Do respond.

About us :
We needs someone who can conduct surveys and evaluate other companies, shops,grocery stores. 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 things or require services), after which you would write a comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed record of your experience

Our Company is a premier mystery shopping company, serving clients across America and Canada and Some Countries in Europe with over 500,000 shoppers available and ready to help businesses better serve their customers. Continual investment in the latest Internet and communication technologies coupled with over 10 years of know-how means working with Secret Shopper® is a satisfying and rewarding experience. Secret shopping as seen on CBS News, NBC News, Los Angeles Times, New York Times. Stores and organizations such as The Gap, Dell, Old Navy, Sears, Walmart, Pizza Hut, and Banks One amongst many others pay for Secret Shoppers to shop in their establishments and report their experiences. On top of being paid for shopping you are also allowed to keep purchases for free.

Mystery Shopper® NEVER charge fees to the shopper. Training, tips for improvement, and shopping opportunities are provided free to registered shoppers. Mystery shoppers are either paid a pre-arranged fee for a particular shop, a reimbursement for a purchase

Examples of details you would forward to us are 1) How long it took you to get services. 2) Smartness of the attendant 3)Customer service professionalism 4)Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they react to clients whey they get tensed. And we turn the information over to the company executives and they would carry out their own duties in improving there services.

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Check your Prize-Reveal shop materials as soon as they arrive!

by Confero Inc.

If you accept a shop assignment that requires you to receive shop materials FedEx, be sure to open the package when it arrives and take a quick inventory of the contents. Usually, if you are receiving shop materials then you are conducting an instant prize reveal mystery shop. These items will be included in most prize packages:

  • Prize Confirmation Form:* This is a document that the shopper presents to the manager to be signed after the completed shop visit. This document details the success criteria and the prize distribution for the store’s employees. Some forms require listing the first and last names of the manager and the order taker. Other forms require the first and last names of ALL employees on duty. The Client Required Guidelines document will specify which names are required from the manager.

  • Congratulations Certificate: This is a document stores receive if they have met the success criteria during the shop. The shopper can leave this with the manager on duty for him or her to fill out.

  • Oops! Card: This is usually a 4X6 index card like document, but sizes vary depending on the client. This document is given to the manager on duty if a prize-reveal shop is unsuccessful.

  • Prizes: The type of prize and the amount of prizes sent for each shop vary depending on the client. Sometimes prizes of multiple denominations are sent. The Client Required Guidelines document will identify who is to receive which prize for a successful shop.

  • Confero Return Packing Invoice: This is a document on a half-sheet of paper with details about returning unused prizes. Be sure to completely fill out the form, as this will ensure that the unused prizes get credited to your shop!

  • Return envelope with a FedEx pre-printed label on the front: Our fulfillment department has already placed the return label on the envelope that you are to use to return any unused prizes after the shop. The label is already pre-printed with Confero’s address; just fill out the Return Packing Invoice and place the invoice and prizes in the return envelope and seal!

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Refer a Friend and You Could Win $50!  List updated October 30, 2009

by Confero Inc.

Updated 10/30/09.
We are pleased to announce our newest Shopper Hot Spots areas.

These are areas in which we need to recruit additional mystery shoppers for a variety of reasons:

  • We need shoppers who live near the locations being shopped, especially in this time of high gas prices!
  • Shoppers are rotated so several shoppers are needed in each location being shopped, even in small-town markets!
  • We may have new programs starting in an area.

Current Hot Spots….

These are the cities in which we need shoppers NOW and we would appreciate your referrals. At the end of each month, we will draw the name of one lucky referrer who will receive a $50 bonus from Confero (to qualify, your referred friend must have successfully completed a mystery shop).

We will announce the winners here each month (in such a way that identities are kept secret!)

Just click on a city below

We welcome all referrals, but only those for the cities below will qualify for the monthly drawing.

AK – Fairbanks
AZ – Flagstaff
AZ – Payson
AZ – Show Low
AZ – Snowflake
CA – Arroyo Grande
CA – Atascadero
CA – Cathedral City
CA – Coachella
CA – Desert Hot Springs
CA – Goleta
CA – Indio
CA – Lompoc
CA – Palm Desert
CA – Pasa Robles
CA – San Luis Obispo
CA – Santa Maria
CA – Twenty-nine Palms
CA – Yucca Valley
GA – Barnesville
GA – Blairsville
GA – Blue Ridge
GA – Cartersville
GA – Chatsworth
GA – Clarkesville
GA – Clayton
GA – Cleveland
GA – Dacula
GA – Eatonton
GA – Elberton
GA – Ellijay
GA – Forsyth
GA – Gainesville
GA – Gray
GA – Greensboro
GA – Hiawassee
GA – Hogansville
GA – Jackson
GA – Jasper
GA – Louisville
GA – Madison
GA – Monticello
GA- Rockmart
GA – Summerville
GA – Thomaston
GA – Toccoa
GA – Trenton
GA – Washington
GA – Woodbury
ID – Ammon
ID – Idaho Falls
ID – Twin Falls
IL – Dixon
IL – Freeport
IL – Litchfield
IL – Vandalia
IN – Jasper
KY – Bedford
KY – Owenton
MD – Brentwood
MT – Bozeman
MT – Missoula
NC – Ahoskie
NC – Albemarle
NC – Banner Elk
NC – Boone
NC – Bryson City
NC – Burnsville
NC – Cashiers
NC – Charlotte
NC – Denton
NC – Dobson
NC – Elkin
NC – Etowah
NC – Greenville
NC – Lake Lure
NC – Lenoir
NC – Lumberton
NC – Marion
NC – Marshall
NC – Mooresville
NC – Murfreesboro
NC – Newland
NC – Robbins
NC – Robbinsville
NC – Scotland Neck
NC – Shelby
NC – Sparta
NC – Spruce Pine
NC – Statesville
NC – Sylva
NC – Warrenton
NC – West Jefferson
NC – Wilksboro
NC – Wilson
NM – Albuquerque
NM – Farmington
NM – Las Cruces
NM – Santa Fe
NY – Bayshore
NY – Corona
NY – Glen Cove
NY – Hempstead
NY – Lindenhurst
OH – Tiffin
OK – Bixby
OK – Broken Arrow
OK – Tulsa
OR -Albany
OR – Corvallis
SC – Abbeville
SC – Clinton
SC – North Myrtle Beach
TN – Clinton
TN -Elizabethton
TN – Greenville
TN – Jasper
TN – Morristown
TN – New Tazewell
VA – Charlottesville
VA – Culpepper
VA – Dumfries
VA – Front Royal
VA – Harrisonburg
VA – Lynchburg
VA – Marion
VA – Norton
VA – Stuart
WA – Hermiston
WA – Kennewick
WA – Liberty Lake
WA – Pasco
WA – Richland
WA – Walla Walla
WI – Weston
WV – Glenville

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Finder’s Fee for referring new shoppers!

by Confero Inc.

Confero, Inc. is working on an urgent project that requires several shoppers in each of the cities listed below. We are looking for shoppers who are able to conduct oil change shops ASAP! If you refer someone who completes a shop, we will issue you a $10 Finder’s Fee!

Please email referrals to recruiter@conferoinc.com with the following information:

  • Potential shopper’s first and last name
  • Potential shopper’s email address
  • Potential shopper’s city & state

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FAQ: How are shop assignments made?

by Confero Inc.

Our team of schedulers uses a sophisticated information system and mapping software to identify Confero shoppers who live or work near an available assignment location. If your name is identified by this search, we will send you a shop posting via email to determine whether an assignment at a specific business location interests you. The shop posting will contain detailed information about how long the assignment will take to complete, when we need you to visit the specific location, and the compensation we offer for the assignment. The shop posting may also list specific instructions for applying for the shop. The posting may ask you to confirm certain information when you apply. Make sure you read the posting closely to make sure you understand the requirements. Once you have read the shop posting, you may access the job board and apply for shops after logging in.

Our scheduling team begins assigning shoppers about 24 to 48 hours after the shop posting was sent out to potential shoppers. Our schedulers look at each shop location to determine the shopper that is the best match for the assignment. There are a variety of factors that go into determining which shopper receives the assignment. Some of these factors include:

  • Type of shop- some shoppers may have more experience with a particular type of shop than other shoppers
  • Dependability- the scheduler is always trying to meet a deadline and needs to know that the shopper assigned will complete the shop as scheduled.
  • Shop rating- it is no secret that shoppers with all 9s and 10s are hard to overlook on the job board. Make sure you are proofreading your reports before you submit them on Confero Compass.

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