We get calls and e-mails about this all the time in the consumer office. People ask, "Can I really make big money mystery shopping?" So we thought we'd take the mystery out of it.

"Mary" is on a shopping mission today. Actually, a "mystery" shopping mission.

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"Mary," not her real name, gets paid to shop by Bare International, which uses mystery shoppers to do customer service research for companies around the world.

“Any retailer, any provider of customer service, anyone who sells a product are users of programs such as ours,” said Mike Bare of Bare International.

Mary, who wants to remain a mystery so asked us to disguise her face and voice, says each job is called a "shop."

“I have gone out on apartment shops. I've gone out on new home shops. I've gone out on bank shops,” Mary said.

Today Mary is in a mall checking out retail stores to find out how friendly and helpful their employees are and how well their stores are operating.

“Did the sales person try to find exactly what you're looking for? Did the salesperson try to close the deal?” asked Mary.

And it seems that lots of people want to do what Mary is doing because tons of ads make big mystery shopping promises. Earn $200 an hour. Make $6,000 a month. Get free products. Get free gift cards. Keep what you buy.

But Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart Magazine from the publishers of Consumer Reports, warns those Internet ads are mostly myth , or worse.

“Primarily, these ads for secret shoppers are turning up in spam and also all over the Internet in pop-up ads and on Web sites. And those are sure signs that it's a scam,” said Freeman.

What's more, legitimate mystery shopping jobs offer little money and few perks.

“How much is a mystery shopper going to make?” asked Consumer Reporter Liz Crenshaw.

“It's going to vary anywhere between $10 and $25 depending on the intensity and time of the shop, as well as the length of the form,” said Bare.

And as for keeping the merchandise...

“Well, depending on the purchase amount, it varies depending on the client. Usually up to about $10, you'll probably be allowed to keep the item. After that, there may be a purchase and return requirement,” said Bare.

So if you want to mystery shop, never answer an Internet ad or e-mail spam to do it. Never fall for mystery shopping gift card offers. Never contact Web sites offering mystery shopping fraud protection. And never pay for information, advice, or lists of hiring companies.

We'll tell you how to find legitimate jobs in a moment.

As for Mary, she just loves being a consumer representative.

"And you can earn a little money and you can shop. And who doesn't want to do that?” asked Mary.

ShopSmart Magazine suggests two Web sites if you want to find legitimate mystery shopping jobs. They are www.volition.com and www.mysteryshop.org.

You can get to each of them easily through our homepage, www.nbc4.com. Click consumer watch and then consumer links.

Mystery Shopping Links:
Volition.com
Mystery Shopping Providers Association