Mystery Shopper Task Scam by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

SMS scams lean on short, urgent lines and a shortened link. The message looks official because the sender name (header) is shaped to resemble a real organisation. Mystery Shopper Task Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A 'mystery shopper' job asks you to buy items or test a money transfer with money they send first. See how overpayment and fake reimbursements work.

What mystery shopper task scam looks like by SMS

• Several near-identical messages arriving together from different senders.
• A sender name that resembles a bank, courier, tax or utility, or an ordinary mobile number.
• A very short message with a deadline such as "today" or "within 24 hours".

The scammer posts the offer on social media or emails a 'recruitment' message that sounds like a market research firm. After a short chat, you are given an assignment: buy specific gift cards or products, send a portion through a payment app to test a money-transfer service, and send a report with photos. The task looks harmless and comes with a clear 'earning'.

Red flags to check on the text message

• A job that sends you money first and tells you to send some on.
• A request to buy gift cards and share the codes.
• A screenshot of a payment instead of money in your own account.
• A short deadline for the task.
• It promises a refund, prize or cashback you never asked for.
• It tells you to install an app from a link instead of the official store.

What to do

1. Do not send any money or gift card codes on behalf of an employer.
2. Check the actual balance and credit in your own banking app, not a screenshot.
3. Look up the company on its official website and see whether it hires like this.
4. Delete the message and tell family members who may get the same text.
5. Do not reply, do not tap the link and do not call the number in the message.
6. Open the official app or type the official website yourself to see if there is any real notice.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 and report at cybercrime.gov.in with the chat and payment ids.
2. Tell your bank on the number printed on your card about the transfers and any cheque.
3. Contact the gift card issuer through its official support about any codes shared.
4. Stop all contact and do not accept the 'second assignment'.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio's scam check can read the task message you paste and mark the pay-in-advance and the gift card request, and Money Shield's checklist reminds you to verify before you send money, with a family code word for asking someone you trust. It cannot confirm whether a payment has really reached your account, so look at your own banking app. Never forward money first.

Full guide: Mystery Shopper Task Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: email, WhatsApp, social media.

Questions