Safety and Scam Awareness
Mystery shopping is a genuine way to earn extra income, but it is also a favorite theme for scammers. This page explains how METAPAD works so you can recognize the real thing and protect yourself.
Never pay to work with us. We do not charge sign-up fees, training fees, certification fees or fees for shops. We will never ask you to send money to us or to anyone else.
What we will never do
- Ask you to pay to join, to receive a shop or to be "approved".
- Ask you to deposit a check and then send part of the money back, wire it, or transfer it to a third party.
- Ask you to buy gift cards, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency, or to send us the codes.
- Ask for your password, your online banking login or a one-time verification code.
- Pressure you to act urgently or to keep a shop secret from your bank.
How real communication from us looks
- Emails come from our own domain and greet you by your first name.
- Emails about a check never attach the check. They send you to your account, where you log in to view it.
- Shops, reports and payments are all visible after you log in at metapad.xyz.
- Purchase funds are for buying what the shop describes. They are never a payment to keep, and no one from METAPAD will ask you to return any of it.
Before you deposit any check
- Log in to your account and confirm the check appears there, with the amount and name shown.
- Make sure the shop it belongs to is one you were approved for.
- Check that your name and the amount are correct.
- If anything looks unusual, contact us first through the contact page.
Staying safe on shops
- Visit during normal opening hours, in public areas of the location.
- Tell a friend where you are going if it makes you feel more comfortable.
- Never enter private or staff-only areas, and never argue with staff or customers.
- If a situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe, leave. No shop is worth taking a risk.
Protecting your account
- Use a strong password that you do not use anywhere else.
- Do not share your password with anyone, including people who say they work for us.
- Log out when you use a shared device.
- Keep your PayPal account secure, since your payments are sent there.
Report something suspicious
If you receive a message that claims to be from METAPAD but does any of the things listed above, do not reply or click any links. Send it to us so we can act on it at support@metapad.xyz or through the contact page. If you have already sent money or shared banking details, contact your bank straight away and consider reporting it to your local consumer protection or police authority.