Who doesn’t love free stuff? Scammers know this and try to trick you into handing over valuable personal information. These surveys promise the world, but they’re really just a ploy to steal your data. Don’t fall for their tricks!

What Is the Survey Scam?

Survey scams often start with a tempting email, text message, or social media post inviting you to participate in a survey for a chance to win a gift card, cash prize, or other valuable reward. The survey may appear to be from a legitimate company or research firm, but it’s a scam to collect your personal information, like your name, address, email address, and even financial details. Some survey scams may also lead you to phishing websites or install malware on your phone or computer. The promised rewards are never delivered, and worse, your personal information may be sold to third parties or used for identity theft.

Example of the Scam

Madison sees a social media post promoting a survey about her favorite products. The post claims that participants will be entered into a drawing to win a brand-new car. Madison clicks on the link and is taken to a survey website that asks for her full name, address, Social Security number, and credit card information to “verify her eligibility.” She provides the information but never receives any confirmation of her participation in the drawing, and later notices unauthorized charges on her credit card.

Tips for Protecting Yourself

• Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers.
  Be wary of unsolicited survey invitations, especially those promising extravagant rewards or prizes. Legitimate surveys rarely offer large sums of money or expensive gifts.
• Research the Source.
  Before participating in any survey, research the company or organization behind it to verify its legitimacy. Check their website, online reviews, and contact information to ensure they’re reputable.
• Protect Your Personal Information.
  Never provide sensitive personal or financial information in a survey unless you are certain of the source’s credibility.
• Look for Red Flags.
  Be on the lookout for signs of a scam, such as poor grammar, unprofessional design, or requests for information that seem irrelevant to the survey topic.
• Trust Your Instincts.
  If a survey seems too good to be true or asks for too much personal information, it’s probably a scam.

If You’ve Been Scammed

• Contact us. If your account information has been compromised or you believe you’ve mistakenly paid a scammer, let us know.
• Report the scam to the FTC. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov and your local law enforcement agency.
• Report the scam to your state attorney general. You can find their contact information at naag.org.
• Change your passwords. Change your passwords for any online accounts you may have accessed through the survey link. This can help prevent scammers from accessing your accounts and stealing more information.
• Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze. Placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit report can help protect your identity and prevent scammers from opening new accounts in your name.

Contact us to learn more about safeguarding your financial information and securing your accounts. Our experts are here to help.