[aga98mtl]

Do you have more details about this? Honestly it sounds like paranoid delusions. However, I could see using good-looking models playing fake customer for influencing high net worth individual to spend more. It might make financial sense in a high price, high margin business like a jewelry store. I also heard anecdotal reports of paying homeless people to hang out in front of a competitor's business to scare away customers.

[holidayacct]

No, most of these businesses are illegal in many states. They typically operate as "secret shoppers", advertising, modeling or acting troops. They make up reasons to be at certain places, there is nothjng pranoid about it. This has been around since I was a child we just have more accurate information now (my parents did this for a living). Most of the people involved in this sort of business dont even know what they are there for.