Have heard of online surveys for money and the vouchers they offer to their respondents, but you aren’t sure about the legitimacy? Or are you already filling those forms? You are risking your personal data and device’s security by using them for filling surveys. But worry not!

This post would keep you abreast of the tricks and tips to segregate a genuine market research survey from the swarm of scams. So follow the tips on this and leave your worries behind.

5 Safe Ways to Fill Online Surveys for Money and Avoid Scams

        1. Check: Privacy Policy

Before you register with any panel company, their website should be under your scrutiny. So hit their website and look for the policies they follow and the terms and conditions they mention.

If a company doesn’t make an effort to post about their privacy policies, chances are, they don’t have any. And they might use your data in whichever way they wish to. That is a clear alarm to run away.

When a survey platform doesn’t ask your permission to use your data or reveal the purpose of the conducted survey, they are playing treacherous. According to the various market research governing bodies globally, these factors are mandatory for the research companies and surveys.

        2. Payments: Never from Your Pocket

Whether you are revealing your lifestyle for a remote work survey as a telecommuter or preferred fragrances for your favorite cosmetic brand, you would never need to pay them when you register. Therefore, any panel company asking for an initial payment during registration is fake. Even if they promise to return in a week or once you prove to be a loyal respondent, it’s not right.

None of the legit surveys ask you to pay in any way. A few companies even pay you back in cash during your journey as a respondent. But that is mainly via a legit and known payment gateway like PayPal. In such cases, register with an email address that you use for filling surveys.

And in case you feel trapped in a scam or your bank account is compromised, you must report it immediately to the proper authority.

        3. Remember: Nothing is Free

A promise of an iPhone or a MacBook against a survey is definitely beyond your safety net. No panel company would distribute their respondents such luxury gifts. Instead, most panel companies share rewards in gift vouchers and discount coupons redeemable during your next shopping.

Suppose a survey promises to hand you out an expensive product only for telling your demographics and your preferred colors or last read books. In that case, they are faking it big time. Remember, nothing is free in this world. You get the remuneration of your invested time and data. And if the equation doesn’t balance, it really is too good to be true.

Read more about how you won’t get rich by filling surveys.

        4. Identify: The Obvious Catch Traps

When you get emails from a panel company, look for suspicious clues first before clicking on the “fill survey” button.

If the dates are wrong or old or if the email address looks weird, you should stop right away. Look for glaring typos. Of course, they are probable, but genuine companies would proofread the emails before blasting them to their users. So, if filled with too many mistakes, then the chances of a scam are high.

Are the questions unrelated? Suppose you fill a survey for a cosmetic brand and the form contains questions on gadgets, then it is a sure tell-tale sign of fraud.

Be cautious of ads that pop up on the website or email and lure you to deals that don’t look right.

        5. Security: That Only Looks Right

Suppose the website that opens after clicking on the link from your email looks pretty catchy and has HTTPS with a green padlock in the URL, then also be vigilant.

Look for the screen that pops up after you click on the link. If it looks different every time you click on the email’s link, it is a scam. If the URL changes every time, it isn’t correct. If you expected a form on gadgets or technology and you get pets, it is a scam.

Some websites ask you to download software. Be wary of that and do your homework before letting any software making its way to your laptop or smartphone. Such software could track your financial activities and the messages you receive. Not every panel company has a mobile app. Do check its authenticity before hitting the install button.

        6. Segregate: Email Address for Surveys

And now your bonus tip. This pointer is not about how to identify a scammer but how to keep yourself safe.

You would need an email address to register with a panel company you are interested in. The best way is to create a separate email account only for this purpose. This won’t drown your important emails in case you are bombarded with fake and dicey emails.

Also, it would be easy to track the surveys you have participated in. In case of fraud, you can delete this email account without losing other information you get over mails. Besides, it is always good to keep your survey emails separate from work and personal emails.

Conclusion

Now that you know many pointers to see the red alert coming your way, we hope you would never slip into the trap of a scam survey. And would make some extra bucks to boost your pocket by filling only genuine surveys.

If you haven’t yet and want to start filling surveys for money in India or any other location, Opinionest is just the right place for you to start it. Register here for free and kickstart your journey of making money online.