You may think that you've been discovered as a mystery shopper. It could be something as subtle as a look the employee gives when you ask a question, or the way they respond. 

Getting made for a mystery shopper does happen, but don't get "out of character" for any reason. You may just be misinterpreting their body language and be a little paranoid.

Mystery shopping isn't as easy as some might think. You're basically pretending to be shopping and for some, it may be a little nerve racking because you want to do a good job. It's very important to try and treat your mystery shop as an everyday, normal shopping experience. The only difference is you're being more observant.

Continue with the shop.

Mystery shoppers are sent in by businesses to make sure their employees are following corporate policies and the locations are being maintained. Your follow-up report hinges on you not giving yourself away. If you start to think you've been discovered, act casual and continue with your shop until all requirements are met.

You'll know what you're supposed to do when you're assigned by your coordinator, as you are given a set of instructions on what time to arrive, which location to shop and what to look for.

Each location is pre-determined and you MUST shop the one you are assigned to. If hours of the shop are flexible, you may be able to try back in a few hours. If not, just complete the shop as scheduled and notify your coordinator with an email when you get home to forewarn them, just in case.

It is imperative that you shop the location you were originally assigned to. These locations are specifically picked by the client to be shopped. Trying to go to another location is not giving the client what they are looking for and your shop will be rejected.

Don't fall to pressure.

On the rare occasion that a mystery shopper gets discovered and does continue with their shop as normal, don't let the employees pressure you into telling them who you actually are.

That's the whole point, it's a mystery! Once you tell them you are, you may as well just go home and forget about ever shopping with the company that assigned you.

They need your reliable word about what you observed in order to meet the requirements set up by the client. As long as you follow those requirements and not be overly obvious, you will be okay. You may have to ask some questions to an employee you normally wouldn't, so try to be as natural as possible.

Everyone gets nervous.

Mystery shopping isn't the easiest thing in the world, but it isn't the hardest, either. Unless you have a stone-cold personality, you're going to be nervous before going on a shop.

When you get to your location, sit in your car for a few minutes, out of view from the front of the store and read over your shop instructions one more time to make sure you have a grasp of what's expected. Being prepared will help with your confidence. Being overly nervous can be sign you're a mystery shopper.

Once you get going, everything will start to flow. Before you know it, you will have fulfilled your requirements and the shop will be complete.

Even the most experienced shoppers get nervous sometimes.