Comparing Free Survey Sites: Which Are Legit & Which to Avoid

# Comparing Free Survey Sites: Which Are Legit & Which to Avoid

While legitimate paid survey opportunities do exist, survey scams are a common and deceptive trap used by cybercriminals to steal your personal information, install malware or trick you into giving up your hard-earned money. Here's how to tell the difference.

Red Flags That Scream "Scam"

Unrealistic Earnings Promises

If a survey sounds too good to be true—like being offered $100 for a very short survey—it likely is. Marketing companies typically pay people anywhere from $50 to $300 for in-person product and social issues focus groups that last a couple of hours or more, while even legitimate online surveys typically pay less than $10 an hour.

Requests for Sensitive Information

A legitimate survey won't need your Social Security number, checking account info, birth date or credit card number. When survey questions delve into your bank and credit card company names, types of bank accounts or account numbers, those inquiries are red flags—supplying this information makes you an easy target for identity theft.

Poor Quality & Suspicious Links

A survey solicitation containing bad grammar, misspellings or odd word choices is suspect, since communications from legitimate companies doing market research are carefully edited. Hover over URLs to reveal their true destination—typically, the hyperlinked text will say one thing, but the link will point somewhere else, so make sure links actually lead to the business's official website, not a variation of the domain name.

Mismatched Survey Content & Rewards

If a survey claims to come from a grocery store chain but mentions a "free gift" of clothing and jewelry, that's a red flag—scammers like to mix and match brands, images, and survey language from multiple companies.

Payment Demands & Download Requirements

Paying for a "free" prize is a classic scam tactic. Legitimate surveys don't require you to install files or apps.