No doubt you’ve come across a fake online survey site. One that tempts you with claims of making huge sums of money in a short period of time, signup bonuses of $10 or more, and images of happy users who have apparently experienced what the site has to offer. Sometimes these websites are easy to spot, but not always. Find out how to recognize these sites and what to do if you spot one.
Definition: Pseudo Online Survey Website
A website that has the appearance of an online survey company website, but in fact is not. Marketing companies or online lead generation companies typically run these “pseudo” websites.
The internet can be a tricky place – sometimes telling the difference between what a genuine online survey survey website looks like, and a pseudo, or fake, survey site is difficult.
The Difference:
| Genuine Online Survey Website | Pseudo Online Survey Website |
|
|
Characteristics of a pseudo-online survey website
- Earning potentials listed. Typically, $75 or $50 per online survey completion is listed as being realistic
- Outrageous incentives for either registering immediately or taking surveys. ex. Free vacations, expensive products, large sums of cash
- Scantily clad women on website. Genuine online survey companies would not want images like this on their website
- User is asked to register for multiple offers during initial registration – legit research companies do not typically want to share panelist information
- Claims that are “too-good-to-be-true” are listed on site
- Company background information is missing on website
- Website promises big rewards for referring others
- Poor grammar, spelling, or unprofessional wording. Real market research companies use proofreaders!
How do pseudo-online survey websites make money?
Typically these companies make their money in two ways:
When a user initially provides their information (usually on the homepage), often times the website sells this information to data collection firms, who then in turn sells the information to companies looking to contact people to promote their products or services. Sometimes this information is actually sold to legitimate market research companies.
Once a user completes their registration, they are prompted to sign up with online survey companies, or for other offers. When the user does this, the website is paid a flat rate for every user which takes a certain action. For example, if 10 online survey companies are listed on one of these websites, and the user registers for all 10, the website may make (for example) $2.00 for each registration. So, if there are 10 offers listed on the site, and the site gets $2.00 for every registration per offer, 10 x $2.00 = $20.00. This is mainly how these websites make money, which is through an online lead generation business model.
How to register for REAL online surveys
First, avoid providing your information to the type of websites we described above. This should limit the amount of SPAM your e-mail inbox receives.
Second, SurveyPolice.com exists to counter the misleading websites talked about in this article. We list hundreds of legitimate online survey panels that are ranked by user feedback, so you know ahead of time that a survey panel is trustworthy or not.
» Find Real Paid Surveys on SurveyPolice
Now I know about fake surveys. Thanks! Robert L. Jr.
Are there any good, legitimate Survey Sites that offer better rewards than “e-rewards”? I would MUCH rather have a Wal-Mart, Amazon, or even a Kmart gift card than just a Gamestop one or Macys one. I can only think of about 1 or 2 things I would get at either of these stores, but like Wal-Mart I could spend $25.00 there any day!!
Thank You,
mmarlys
Hi Mary,
There are many legitimate survey sites who offer the types of rewards you’re looking for. You can find a listing of the top user-rated survey sites that offer Amazon gift cards here: https://www.surveypolice.com/pick-a-perk/search?r_ids%5B%5D=3&p=1 and the top user-rated sites who offer Walmart gift cards here: https://www.surveypolice.com/pick-a-perk/search?r_ids%5B%5D=9&p=1
For a full listing of survey sites, categorized by reward, check out the SurveyPolice Pick-a-Perk tool: https://www.surveypolice.com/pick-a-perk