The signals that a paid survey site is a scam can oftentimes be blurred and indiscernible. However, you should watch out for the presence of some factors or a combination of factors that may tell out a survey scam.
Even though not every survey site with paid subscription is a scam, most scams try to imitate those sites and charge membership fees. These scam sites usually promise you a greater number of paid surveys per week or per month, and also promise you higher payout. That’s how they try to explain the membership or registration fee that they charge you. Others, more impertinent survey scams, promise to send you particular hardcopy booklets for successful paid survey taking, CDs or other materials that are most valuable and contain exclusive tips. While in rare cases that might be true, you should be prepared to receive a duplicate version of links or paid survey information that’s either obtainable for free, or is outright crap. The safest thing to do is to join a free paid surveys resource, and start earning immediately for yourself, instead of having to repay a fee that was not worth it.
Checking the reputation of survey sites in survey forums is a knife with two blades. On one hand, experienced survey takers who share their opinions in forums may have very rich experiences with particular survey sites. On the other hand, competitors of paid survey sites may intentionally disseminate information to undermine the reputation of their rivals. Therefore, you should always be a little skeptic about particular harsh criticism or too favorable opinions about particular paid survey sites. Trying for yourself is always the best – even if the survey site turns out a spam, you will know for sure.
If you are required to provide your credit card number or you are contacted by phone by an alleged survey site representative that asks you for your bank account information – that should raise your suspiciousness. Survey companies have identity validation procedures, but they will rarely use an alternative source of communication unless previously agreed to or confirmed through the usual method of communication. Scam sites have no scruples, and their affiliates may attempt any fraudulent scheme to extract profit from you. If you have any doubts about the truthfulness of particular information, contact the support crew of the survey sites that you are a member of for verification.
Some survey takers don’t ever get acquainted with the survey site the join before they actually discover that it doesn’t match their expectations. There are different survey sites that use a different promotion mix – that is the particular combination of cash and non-cash incentives that survey takers are rewarded with. Some survey sites offer more low-payout surveys or more non-cash incentives – prizes, free trials, or free vouchers. Some survey sites have a 1:1 respondent-promotion ratio – every eligible respondent who successfully submits the survey and is approved receives a prize or cash. Other survey sites with more moderate budgets provide survey takers with the chance to win in a lottery drawing, to win a holiday, or more. Of course, some legitimate survey sites offer non-cash incentives as bonuses over the usual cash payment, etc. Watch out for prizes that are exceptionally expensive – if you are promised to win a yacht for completing a survey, for instance. In these cases, if the site is a scam – you win nothing. In the best scenario, the site will simply have wrong marketing policies – you might get a small prize (not really a yacht), but you will most probably never complete another surveys for the same survey company.
By: jhon smth