You may be looking for extra ways to make money online. And taking part in paid surveys seems like an easy way to line your pockets.
However, not all online surveys follow through with what they promise. Scammers devise surveys that deceive unsuspecting people.
But are all surveys scams, or can you really earn $100?
Legitimate survey sites do not pay $100 per survey. Most will pay 40 cents to five dollars to take a survey. Payment methods include PayPal, pre-paid Visa, or other gift cards. Reputable survey sites do not ask for money or personal information.
It's essential to identify a reputable survey site. Not using a legitimate site can cost you. But how can you tell if a $100 survey site is bogus?
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No legitimate online survey sites will pay you $100 a pop. Most only pay a few dollars. But you can take as many as you want.
The standard earnings potential for taking online surveys is $100 per month. You won’t get rich taking surveys. But there are a lot of fake survey websites that tout $100 per survey.
These fake websites are trying to steal your personal data or money. Many will offer a prize, online shopping discounts, etc., but you pay for the shipping. Others are identity thieves.
Often, you’ll see videos on YouTube touting $100 for surveys. But the truth is, you must do numerous surveys to reach this number.
Several legitimate sites pay. But once more, you're not going to quit your day job over them. To give you an idea of what's available, here's a random list of some reputable paid online survey sites that score well with Trustpilot.
As you can see, none of these are even close to $100. With branded Surveys, you would need to participate and complete 20 five-dollar surveys to achieve $100.
It takes more than that for the other companies. These prices are standard with reputable survey websites.
So, how do you know if the $100 survey being advertised is a scam?
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The Internet has had survey scams since its inception. Now, they’ve moved to Facebook. When a scammer succeeds at tricking you into participating in a $100 survey, several things can happen. These include:
And although if you're careful, you can identify a fake survey, scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they present fraudulent surveys.
Here are some ways to spot a fake $100 survey:
Most fake surveys are advertised on Craigslist or other similar websites. They will ask for your email address. Your email is the sole reason the scammers are offering the survey. Once you'll be a victim of:
But it doesn’t stop there. These criminals will sell your email to other scam rings. These rings will continue with the digital abuse.
Legitimate surveys are anonymous. They may ask age and sex for demographic information, but they won't ask for confidential information.
Fraudulent surveys may ask personal questions. Some questions are:
If a survey asks for detailed information about your personal or financial life, it’s a scam.
A 20-question survey doesn’t warrant $100 to anyone. It only takes about five minutes to complete. Nobody cares that much about your thoughts.
Swagbucks, a reputed paid survey site, says the average person can make one to five dollars per day taking surveys. Although there are some high-paying surveys, these are the exception and are rare.
This is one of the rare paid survey opportunities that can be trusted without hesitation.
The bottom line is you will earn a modest amount of money from filling out surveys. You’re not going to able to quit your day job.
You should never download an attachment from an unknown source. If a survey asks you to download an attachment, it's fraudulent—scammers load downloads with malware.
Don't respond to a survey like this; if it's been emailed to you, report it as spam.
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It may be a scam if you're constantly receiving pop-ups soliciting survey participation. These criminals flood their targets with ads.
The goal is to pound you enough so that you’ll open it and participate.
Another aggressive advertising tactic is testimonials. If you read testimonials on their website from past participants that are unbelievably good, it’s probably a scam.
Generally, you’ll need to complete a fixed number of surveys for a legitimate company. Once you have done this, you'll be paid.
But scammers ask for an unrealistic number of surveys. Many times, the participant will quit before they meet the quota. The fake surveyor is banking on this, so they don't have to pay for any surveys. They have the ones the victim completed for free.
Many survey companies require the participant to pre-qualify for the survey. This entails a short list of questions. They do this to ensure you fit the demographic they are targeting.
But criminals take advantage of the pre-qualifying questionnaire. They have the victim answer dozens of questions within a time limit.
The participant can’t finish the questionnaire in that time limit and is disqualified from the survey.
But there was never a pre-qualifier. The questions answered were part of the primary survey. The scammer just had a participant give them a free survey.
So, check to see if there’s a time limit on the pre-qualification. Don’t answer surveys if there is one.
A legitimate survey company's mission is to gather information about its clients. They offer small payments or a small discount on an item but don't offer large rewards.
The reward is not the focus of a legitimate survey company, and they don't heavily advertise it. If a survey company touts $100 or some equitable reward for a short survey, it's a scam.
Check who the survey is for. If it’s for an automotive client but the reward is a “free gift,” make sure the gift corresponds with the client. An automotive client isn’t going to give you a free mixer or clothes.
Scammers often mix and match:
They do this with multiple companies to receive the most from a survey. A legitimate survey is focused and on point.
The survey should be direct about what brand they are working with. It should also be clear what type of information is being requested.
You also should be told the reason for the information.
If the survey doesn’t share this information with you, it’s probably a scam, and you should leave.
Copying a brand's name is simple for a scammer. But often, the criminal won't use the proper logo. It may be close, but not quite right. Double-check the logo before participating.
Also, watch for poor grammar and awkward wording. This is usually a give a way for a fake website and, therefore, a survey. And finally, ensure words are spelled correctly.
Ensure the website URL in the survey points to the correct website. Hover over the hyperlink in the survey (don't click) and see what the link shows. You want to verify that the link actually goes to the business's official website. You don't want variation.
Check spelling and ensure it’s the correct spelling for that business. Scammers may use a slight variation to fool you.
Creating a sense of urgency is an old trick to force people to act on something. If survey takers spot a survey with a limited-time payment, they should be wary.
Scammers will try to push you into signing up for a survey. They’ll tempt you with large payments or gifts.
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You should never have to pay for anything. The survey company pays you. So, if a survey site requests you to pay for shipping to receive a reward, it’s time to bail.
A legitimate survey website will have a privacy policy. It will explain how they handle information. If the website you're on doesn't have a privacy policy, be cautious. They may be a scam.
Reputable survey sites have contact information displayed. They will have their address and phone number prominently at the foot of the website or on a contact page.
If they don't have contact information, this should be a red flag. And don't be afraid to call the listed phone number to check their legitimacy.
You should be able to find clear and concise information regarding payments for completing surveys. If the compensation is rewards, there should be a reward structure.
If this isn't available, avoid working with this site. Even if they do have payment information, it should be clear and understandable. If it's not, also leave.
Legitimate surveyors have professionally designed websites. A scammer doesn't go to that expense. They are hastily trying to make a fast buck. They often have sloppy, unprofessional websites. The sites are usually not user-friendly and hard to navigate.
If you encounter an awkward and unprofessional website, leave.
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Read legitimate reviews. You can start with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB rates businesses based on verified reviews. They score a business from F, disreputable to A plus, trustworthy. They are an objective organization.
Trustpilot is an online review community. It's where verified users post formal complaints. These could be about money-making schemes, online courses, or businesses.
Legitimate surveying websites don’t ask you to “join” or sell you a subscription service. You should never pay to take part in a legitimate survey.
Some scammers will ask for credit card information or banking information to participate. Don’t be fooled.
Since fake surveyors often sell your emails to other scammers, you might find a multitude of emails showing up in your inbox.
Spam Laws reported that in every 40 emails, a receiver could expect at least one hacking attempt.
Many fake surveys will instill a sense of excitement and urgency. This may cause you to overlook some discrepancies and red flags. But you will not get rich by taking a survey. You’ll only make a few dollars.
There have been several $100 gift card scams. Fake surveys target unsuspecting victims and exploit legitimate companies' names. A couple that were prevalent and harmed many people were the Lowes and Amazon scams.
The Lowes scam targeted Facebook users and promised a $100 gift card from the home improvement retailer.
The posts mimicked Lowe’s website by using similar logos and colors.
It worked by encouraging users to click a link. It then took the victim to a website that resembled a legitimate survey page. Often the questions were generic and had nothing to do with home improvement.
After the survey was complete, victims were asked to provide personal information such as their:
They were also asked to share the survey with a friend.
Once the criminals received the victims' personal information, they used it for malicious purposes.
The Amazon survey is a fraudulent scheme that is currently on Facebook. It tricks people into thinking they won a $100 Amazon gift card.
Users come across an online or Facebook ad offering a $100 gift card to take a survey. It entices users to click on the post or ad. The person is then directed to a fake Amazon website.
The user is prompted to fill out the survey. Users answer the survey questions or are asked to provide personal data. It’s similar to the Lowe’s scam.
A survey scammer may try to reach you through an online communication method like an email. You also might come across them on Facebook. But they aren’t limited to digital. Some survey scammers will call you on the phone. They’ll use any way they can to reach you.
Hundred-dollar survey scams are used as a reward. These surveys come in many forms. For example, on Facebook, there was one that promoted personality quizzes that asked personal questions.
Surveys masked as opinion polls with the offer of a big reward are also prevalent.
Some surveys will impersonate legitimate businesses, but just because the surveyor says it's from Lowe's doesn't mean it is.
Phishing surveys can also promise $100 payoffs. These pop up as display ads on websites or in social news feeds.
When you click on the ad, you’re asked for personal information. Some of this information is:
These questions are red flags and indicate a phishing survey.
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It’s sometimes hard to remember what newsletters or emails you’ve signed up for. So, you might receive an email with a survey in the subject line that interests you. If it’s offering money to participate, the interest increases.
But just because it might concern your profession or hobby and offers $100, don’t be tempted to open it. Because once you do, you’ve made your computer vulnerable. Malware may be downloaded onto your device.
Criminals can now tap into your:
Instead of earning $100, you could now be paying thousands to clean up the mess the scammer left you with.
If you receive an email for a survey from an unknown Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo account, it's probably fraudulent. Also, be vigilant when the name of the company is in the email. If it looks off, it probably is.
There are several ways to protect yourself. Most of them come down to common sense.
Start with researching the survey company. What are in the reviews? If you can’t find reviews, that’s a red flag too.
Protect sensitive information. Don't give surveyors a:
Always be realistic about how much you can earn.
You should also avoid providing an email address. But if you want to give it out, go to Google and open a new Gmail account that you only use for surveys. This will cut down on the spam going to your regular account.
Don't be embarrassed if you've fallen for a fake $100 survey. Instead, take steps to do damage control. You'll need to pick up the phone and make some calls quickly. It will take time. But it will be worth it to save loss dollars or a credit hit.
Immediately contact your credit card company and ask for their fraud department. Tell them when you made the payment and that it was an illegal scam.
They may reverse the charge and return the money. Ensure you cancel the card and have the company reissue you a new one.
Credit card companies take this seriously and do what they can to make the victim whole again.
Call the issuing bank or credit union if you've used your debit card to pay a survey scammer. It will need to be canceled and reissued. You'll also want to speak to the fraud department.
The same goes if you’ve given the scammer banking information. Ask them to help you flag the transaction so the money can be returned.
Be vigilant with your bank accounts; call your bank if you notice anything suspicious.
Some survey scammers will request payment through a third-party app. Ensure you report the fraud to the company. See if they can reverse the payment.
Remember, if you've linked your debit or credit card to the app, you'll also need to report that. Let your credit card issuer and your financial institution know.
You’ll probably have to cancel your cards and have them reissued.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They keep a database of all scams and can give you information on what to do.
Protect the information stored on your computer by backing it up immediately. Your computer could be compromised, and important documents lost.
And don’t forget to change all of your passwords. Make them as strong as possible to avoid more harm.
This is a crime, and you need to report it. Some banks or credit cards may require a police report to issue a refund for your loss.
If you've given your Social Security number on a survey, you need to report it. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) fraud department to report the scam. Tell them your name and the number that has been compromised.
The SSA will take legal action against the criminals.
Are there any legitimate survey companies that pay $100?
No, legitimate survey companies do not pay $100 for a survey. Scammers will use the $100 to attract unsuspecting victims.
How much do legitimate survey companies pay?
Most survey companies only pay one to five dollars per survey. Some survey companies pay less than a dollar per survey.
Do you need to pay a fee to participate in a survey?
No, you don’t have to pay a fee. In fact, that is the sign of a survey scam. Scammers sometimes ask for a fee to ship a prize.
There are many legitimate surveying websites. But none of them will offer $100 to participate in a survey. If you encounter a $100 survey, avoid it.
There are many signs of a fraudulent survey. But your best defense is common sense. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
