How to Spot a Paid Survey Scam
Paid surveys may seem like easy money, as you can take them anywhere and anytime, earning gift cards or points that can be redeemed for cash. Scammers, of course, exploit this scheme to harvest your personal data, promising huge rewards that never materialize. According to a report by Malwarebytes Labs , scammers lure users into taking surveys with malicious ads claiming you’ve won a Walmart voucher worth hundreds of dollars. All you have to do is answer a few questions (it’s pretty simple), but in reality, you’re providing information that can be used to further influence you.
Surveys that promise big rewards are a scam
These scams begin with malicious advertising, such as pop-ups and banners on websites, spam, and social media ads claiming to have received a “free” gift card worth hundreds of dollars. The fake ads use official logos of well-known brands to build trust, as well as countdown timers to create a sense of urgency. You might think you’re lucky and just need to complete a short survey to win big.
However, when you click the link, you’re redirected to a fake rewards page, which may appear legitimate thanks to plagiarized branding. You’ll be asked to provide personal information, such as your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address, as well as indicate your interests in topics like home renovation and insurance. Depending on your answers, you may be redirected back—for example, to a fake home renovation website like FindMyWindowPro or Renewal By Anderson—where you’ll be asked to provide even more information.
This endless survey cycle doesn’t end with the gift card being paid out, and in the process, you’re giving the scammers a ton of information that they can sell and use to target you with much more personalized scams in the future based on the interests you’ve shared with them.
Survey scams may seem like a waste of time rather than a real threat, as you don’t lose money right away. However, you may end up receiving an increase in spam calls and legitimate phishing emails.
Avoid fake survey scams
Like all scams, this scam relies on emotion: specifically, the thrill of success and a big win. They lure you in with a sense of urgency and the illusion of ease. Scammers also use genuine branding to lend credibility to their scheme.
As always, these elements should raise suspicion. Sellers almost never offer promotions that are too good to be true, and you should never provide personal information in exchange for a “free” prize. If you do click on one of these ads, carefully check the URL, which is almost certainly not the seller’s official domain.
How to Actually Get Paid for Taking Surveys
You can get paid for completing surveys or testing apps and games, although you certainly won’t earn the hundreds of dollars promised by scammers. Pay is low compared to the time invested (usually a few dollars per hour), and some survey platforms require a minimum amount to claim a payout. Typically, consistent participation on multiple platforms is required to break even.
NerdWallet has compiled a list of popular apps for earning money from surveys , including Make Money, Eureka, InboxDollars Surveys, Google Opinion Rewards, and Swagbucks. Reddit users also recommend Survey Junkie and Branded Surveys. Prolific is a relatively high-paying platform, but you need to join a waitlist to access it.
Of course, you should be aware that even legitimate survey sites collect a large amount of personal information, such as your date of birth, postal code, phone number, and medical history. All of this information can be sold to intermediaries, and there’s always a risk of a data breach that could lead to identity theft. Be sure to weigh the risks and benefits of registering with these platforms.