How to Find a Reliable Paid Online Survey
Many websites claim to be survey sites, but are more interested in scamming you out of your money. Some surveys display images of products on the screen, asking you which you prefer. At the end, you are asked to sign up for a newsletter or print out a coupon toward a purchase. The more unscrupulous companies appear legitimate, actually keeping track of how much you've "Earned" during the pay period. When payout time comes, however, the check never arrives.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
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Search for a blog or list of paid survey sites where the writer has tried them all personally. This type of list is invaluable, because it outlines the experiences of someone who's already been there. It is not uncommon to see pics of the checks received, or snapshots of the money adding up in their account. In addition, scroll to the bottom and you will likely see comments from other individuals who have used the service.
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Read the online reviews for the website in question. If anyone has ever had trouble with payouts in the past, there will be angry users all over the Internet. Negative reviews are possible, even if the survey site is legitimate. Read the positive and negative reviews to determine if it's worth signing up. Don't rely on reviews posted by the website itself; go to un-related sites to get an unbiased opinion.
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Find out how long they've been in business. Toluna.com, formerly Greenfieldonline, was launched in 1996, and continues to pass out surveys to its members. It no longer pays cash per survey, however. Instead you will receive points that accumulate to be redeemed when you hit the payment threshold. Countless paid survey sites are adopting this method to help prevent abuse and fraud. The longer the company has been in business, the more likely it is to be genuine.
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Contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the survey company. This is a good method for receiving reliable information, but is only helpful if the company is actually registered with the BBB. Do a Google search, including the name of the website and the word "Scam." Check the top results to see if anyone has been scammed in the past.
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Tips & Warnings
Most paid surveys companies email a link that directs you to the actual survey. If the "Survey" is an online questionnaire that look more like advertising, it's probably trying to sell you something.
This list will not work for everyone! They've simply helped me out a lot.
If something doesn't look right or is too good to be true, it probably is, so always look into the site first.
References
Resources
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