Article: Secrets of mystery shopping -- revealed!: Come-ons from newspaper ads or e-mails may say you can make a living by shopping. The Federal Trade Commission says shoppers should beware.

May 3--Do you love to shop? If so, you may be tempted by unsolicited e-mails or newspaper ads that claim you can earn a living as a secret or mystery shopper by dining at elegant restaurants, shopping at pricey stores, or checking into luxurious hotels.

But, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, marketers who promise lucrative jobs as mystery shoppers often do not deliver bona fide opportunities.

What is Mystery Shopping?

Some retailers hire marketing research companies to evaluate the quality of service in their stores; these companies use mystery shoppers to get the information anonymously. ...

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