Groupnet LLC secret shopper, Internet

I had responded to a Craigs list ad to do a focus group and received this email from Gary Jones:

Dear Applicant

We regret to inform you that the Craigslist focus group you signed up for filled up faster than we anticipated. However, we have another study holding this week that also pays $300. Below is more information on the study and how you can participate.

Groupnet is a leading research and consulting firm that helps corporate and not-for-profit organizations channel insights into more effective communication, stronger customer relationships, and new solutions for multi-faceted business challenges. Our company helps organizations learn how to succeed strengthening brand reputations, improving communication, enhancing customer relationships, influencing behavior change, adopting best practices, changing or re-engineering approaches, and launching new initiatives at a grassroots community level or on a worldwide basis.

Our company is currently conducting a survey on MoneyGram Agent Locations to help measure and improve effectiveness of the services offered to customers, this is as a result of complaints from some of MoneyGram repeat customers about the behavior and orderliness of most MoneyGram outlets.

The survey will require that you visit a MoneyGram Agent Location in your area and evaluate the services they render as a customer, you will thereafter give us feed back on your overall experience by filling out a simple questionnaire. Each survey takes a maximum of 1hr to complete and you will be paid $300 for every evaluation completed, No Sales Involved and this will not inconvenience your present occupation.

If you are interested in participating, please send us a reply with your information in the following order

Full Names :
Contact Address :
Phone Number :
Email address :
Present occupation :

We'll get back to you after receiving this information to confirm your participation in the survey. Surveys fill up fast and participation is on a first come first serve basis.

Yours faithfully,
Gary Jones

Research Analyst
Groupnet LLC

I respondedand then received this email:

Good Morning,


This email confirms you have been selected as our Survey / Evaluation agent in your area. You will be evaluating MoneyGram Agent Location in your neighborhood and the survey date is February 7th, 2011.

Please note that you will be required to visit a MoneyGram outlet within your neighborhood to evaluate their business services as a customer and give us feedback on your overall customer experience with them by completing a questionnaire.

Funds to cover all expenses needed to conduct this survey and your $300 compensation will be delivered to you on the above date via Express mail. Further information on how to proceed will follow via email.

Respond ASAP to this email on your acceptance and willingness to carry out the survey with your Full Name, Mailing Address, City, state, Zip Code and Phone Number where the funds and guidelines to completing the survey should be mailed to.

Thank you for choosing to participate and hope to hear from you today.


Yours faithfully,
Gary Jones

Research Analyst
Groupnet LLC

You would think that a scammer wouldn't go to this much trouble for this amount of money, but it smells fishy to me beacuse I can't find an active website for this compant. I also found a scam report regarding moneygrams at snopes.com.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/employment/shopper.asp

Also, there are other reports filed on this site for moneygram or groupnet.

I have decided toNOT proceed further with this offer.