Spot Fake Survey Websites: A Safety Guide
Learn 7 red flags to identify scammy surveys and protect your personal information online.
# Spot Fake Survey Websites: A Safety Guide for Kids
Scammers use phony surveys to phish for personal information or promote spammy products. Here's how to stay safe when you see surveys online.
What Are Fake Surveys?
A fake survey scam is a type of fraud where criminals pretend to be real companies conducting market research. These fake surveys aim to collect sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information.
Red Flag #1: Too-Good-To-Be-True Rewards
If a survey offers you a $100 gift card or a 90% discount for answering three quick questions, it's probably a scam. Legitimate survey websites offer modest compensation for your time and opinions.
Red Flag #2: Asking for Sensitive Information
A legitimate survey won't need your Social Security number, checking account info, birth date or credit card number. If a survey company asks for anything more than basic information from you, sign out as quickly as you can.
Red Flag #3: Asking You to Pay Money
Legitimate survey sites never charge participants membership fees, activation fees, or any other upfront costs. There's absolutely no reason to pay to take a survey of any kind.
Red Flag #4: Typos and Bad Grammar
Watch for typos, bad grammar and incorrect company logos. Scammers can easily copy a brand's name, but awkward wording and poor grammar are typically a giveaway that the message is a scam.
Red Flag #5: Sketchy Website Links
Hover over URLs to reveal their true destination. Typically, the hyperlinked text will say one thing, but the link will point somewhere else. Make sure the links actually lead to the business's official website, not a variation of the domain name.