Getting scammed is a genuine concern when people are looking for legit surveys for cash. While some excellent online survey sites pay real money, the industry attracts scammers at an alarming rate. If you’re looking for a way to make money online, that fact can be a bit discouraging, but there are solutions. How can you tell the bad apples from the legitimate survey sites? Arm yourself with some of the tips in this article.
Where Can You Find Real Surveys for Cash?
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve probably already searched for online surveys for cash. And we’re willing to bet there were plenty of search results. Scam sites in this niche are abundant. In some cases, fraudsters are trying to scrape your personal information to sell to a third party. Other times, cybercriminals will try to steal your identity.
Impersonating a legitimate survey company is just one way scammers hook their victims. Phishing surveys may show up in a search but can also be found in your email, social media feed, and harmless looking display ads.
With so many scary internet scenarios, it’s a wonder anyone is willing to take the chance on real surveys for cash. However, legitimate survey sites do exists. The trick is knowing how to find them.
Read Reviews From Real Survey Takers
Nobody will ever be as honest as real people trying to make a few bucks. In this day and age, when you can find reviews for nearly any product or service you desire, there’s no reason not to check reviews for survey sites. It’s one of the top ways to determine whether a company is legit or not.
As you check out what others have to say about a particular site, read both the good and bad reviews. After all, not everyone will be 100 percent happy with their choices, so it can often be just as telling to check out the negative reviews as it is to scan the positive ones.
Research The Survey Company
When you come across a survey site offering real surveys for cash, don’t dive in without doing a little research. The best survey companies offer legitimate money-making opportunities and won’t promise rewards they can’t deliver.
If you come across a site offering huge cash payouts or extravagant prizes, consider it a big red flag. The old saying “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” applies here. Legit survey sites won’t make you rich, but they will provide you with some fair compensation for your time.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, you may find a company asks you for money to join their survey site. This, too, is a red flag. Legitimate survey companies never charge a fee to join, no matter how professional or well-thought-out their website looks. Survey sites exist to obtain data in exchange for a small amount of compensation to the user, not the other way around.
Legit Survey Sites Are Open With Their Privacy Policy
If you can’t find a privacy policy prominently displayed somewhere on the main page, you probably want to move on. Although we tend to skip right over most websites’ privacy policies, this is actually one of the most important documents on any site.
You have a right to know what information is collected about you when you sign up at a survey site. You also are entitled to know how this data is collected, how the information will be used, and how it will be stored. When you’re filling out survey forms that contain personal info like your address, age, or even your snack preferences, you’ll want to know that information is held securely.
Start Taking Surveys for Cash for Free
Once you’ve narrowed your options down to a legitimate survey company, you can usually start taking surveys right away. Most surveys take just a few minutes to complete, and you can do them anywhere—on the bus, on the couch, during your lunch break, or wherever it makes the most sense for you.
Earning real cash for taking surveys is pretty exciting. Some sites have surveys that pay cash instantly. Other times, you can earn gift cards to your favorite stores or restaurants. The best sites offer both cash and gift card payouts and will pay their users fairly and on time.
How Do You Take Surveys for Real Money?
If you want to get paid to take online surveys, you’ll need to first settle on the best survey site. Then, you will need to sign up using your email. Once you’ve confirmed your registration, simply follow the directions to get started.
At the top-rated survey companies, you will be presented with the chance to fill out a profile. Don’t skip this step. Your profile answers essential questions about you (called demographics) that companies need to pair you with the best survey opportunities.
Once you’ve completed your profile surveys, you can start completing other surveys. Start slow and answer the questions carefully and honestly. Market research firms use the information they extract from surveys to make important decisions about the latest products and services. Your unique insights will provide them with the information they need to improve existing products and even create new ones.
Once you have enough money in your account, you can cash out your earnings for real money or gift cards, typically by following a cashout link on your dashboard.
That’s it! Once you get the hang of it, you will qualify for more surveys, and the more surveys you complete, the more free cash you will earn.
Closing Thoughts
Earning money by taking surveys is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Don’t fall for overblown claims, do your homework, read the fine print, and check reviews. Sign up at a legit survey site and read the instructions carefully.
As long as you follow a few simple guidelines to protect yourself against scams and fraudsters, you will be well on your way to getting paid for doing surveys.
