How to Spot Online Survey Scams

You've probably seen ads on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for survey sites and apps promising rewards for answering simple surveys. Before you click that "sign up" button, make sure you know what it is and how it works!

You'll be asked to share personal information such as your name, email address, and preferred payment method (credit card or PayPal). That's when things start to get tricky… and before you know it, you may end up losing your hard-earned money.

While it's easier to recognize some scams, others, like online survey scams are quite hard to identify. Scammers are getting increasingly creative and that’s why you need to be extra careful. Read on to understand everything about online survey scams and how to avoid them.

How to Spot Online Survey Scams

If you're trying to earn by doing simple tasks online, chances are you've come across some survey scams. Online survey scams come in many forms and the earlier you detect them, the more likely you are going to avoid them. 

Online surveys are a great way to earn some extra money but you need to know how to spot online survey scams, or else you could waste your time and money.

Scammers can be very clever, so it's important to know what to look out for. Here are some telltale signs that should raise a red flag:

The Website is Very New

If it's too good to be true, it probably is. If you see an ad for a survey site on Facebook or Twitter and it looks like it was created yesterday, don't fall for it. You can use ScamAdviser or WHOIS Domain Lookup to check when a domain was registered. 

That’s not to say that older websites are fully trustworthy but it's harder for a site that was created years ago to keep scamming people over and over before being called out. With newer websites, there isn’t enough information out there. This means you are likely going to fall for the online survey scam as you will not find any warnings about the site.

Overwhelmingly Long Surveys 

If your survey feels like it's taking forever, check the estimated duration required to answer the entire survey. If it's well over 100 questions or takes more than 30 minutes to complete, it's probably not a legitimate survey. Survey websites like Google Consumer Surveys and Toluna even have built-in counters that will tell you how long you've been on each one.

You Have to Pay to Join 

Many legitimate survey sites will let people sign up for free but charge a small fee if you want to receive the earnings after completing surveys. If a survey website requires you to pay just to join, steer clear!

It Asks for Personal Information Right Away

Legitimate surveys will never ask for your bank account number or other sensitive information before they even know who you are or what kind of information they're looking for from you. If they do ask for this kind of information early on, run away fast!

They are probably trying to get your money too, such as by signing you up for an unwanted subscription. 

Surveys That Ask You to Download Software Before Taking the Survey

A common trick for phishing websites is to set up a survey website that looks legit but is really just a lure to get people to download and install malicious software. On the surface, these sites may look like they are asking you to download software in order to take the survey—but in reality, they're hoping you'll download malware that will infect your computer. To avoid this type of trap, be sure to look out for the following red flags:

• If the site looks sketchy, or if it doesn't have a domain name (eg: www.survey.com), then it's probably not trustworthy–  fake survey sites are often hosted on free websites to keep costs down.
• The "download" button is labeled "click here", which is another red flag since legitimate companies use descriptive and straightforward titles for this button (ex: "Download Now").
• If you're asked for personal information before you can take the survey, then it's likely a phishing scam - legitimate companies only ask for your email address so that they can send you a copy of the results of your completed survey.
• Any time you're given an incentive and asked for any amount of personal information or money, be suspicious.

The Offer is Too Good to be True

A good rule of thumb for whether something is likely to be a scam or not: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That's especially true for online surveys. Many of us have gotten those emails that say we can make $1,000 or more by answering a few questions about our shopping habits. It is not really possible to earn a full-time income just by answering surveys.

How to Avoid Online Survey Scams

Here are a few pointers to help you avoid the scammer’s snare;

• Check the reviews of the survey site online. Use sites like ScamAdviser, Trustpilot, or Reddit.
• Check out the privacy policy, it should clearly outline how your data will be used.
• Avoid giving too much personal information.
• If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
• Check the length of the survey; lengthy surveys are created to waste your time.
• Steer clear of downloading any software before, during, and after the survey.

While it may be tempting to sign up for a survey website to make some quick cash, you must remember that they are not regulated by government agencies and most likely will be scams. If a company is asking you for money or your financial information to join a survey site, that's a scam. If a site says you can earn hundreds or thousands of dollars every month by answering surveys, it's likely to be a scam.  

Image Source: Pexels.com

Image Source: Pexels.com