As the online survey software market is growing rapidly, it's important to be aware of the possibility of scams. The Global Online Survey Software Market - Forecasts from 2017 to 2022 shows that the online survey software market was estimated to be at US $4 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow at a rate of 11.25% to reach a market size of US$ 7 billion by the end of 2022. With such a drastic growth in the market, it's important to be cautious of any fraudulent activity.
What is a survey?
According to the educational point of view, a survey is a set of questionnaires that aim to extract specific data from a particular group of people. You'll find many ways in which surveys can be conducted easily, a few of which are by phone, mail via the internet and malls. In 2022, research is more important than ever before; we need to understand the benefits of social research for a target population using the most effective survey tool. In order to obtain accurate and unbiased data, researchers use standardised procedures to level the playing field for each respondent. This way, every respondent can answer the questions without biased opinions that could influence the research outcome or study. This process of conducting a survey involves asking people questions through an online or offline questionnaire. With the advent of new technologies, it has become more common to distribute surveys using digital media such as social networks, email, QR codes, or URLs.
4 things to take into consideration while recognizing a legitimate survey from a scam
Unpromising Claims
If you receive an email from a skincare brand prompting you to participate in a market research survey, be aware that there may be inconsistencies in the claims made by the brand. In one instance, a brand may promise a reward of 25% off your next purchase for completing the survey, but when you click the button, you may be redirected to a different survey. If you see this sign of inconsistency, it's best to exit the survey immediately.
Demand Secured Information
"Survey companies" that conduct what they call pre-screening tests are actually scammers in disguise. These tests are intentionally long and exhausting, and will ask personal questions that require sensitive information like your social security PIN, bank details, or OTPs (One Time Passwords). If you share this information in these surveys, scammers can deploy malicious software, hijack your credentials, open new credit cards and bank accounts in your name, make fraudulent purchases etc. Be vigilant when taking online surveys and only provide information to sources that you trust.
False Address
To avoid falling for a scam survey, always check the address bar of the website before clicking on any links. Here's how: first, hover over the link to see if the URL looks suspicious. If you've already clicked on the link and been redirected to a new page, check to see what information the website is asking for from you. Many people mistakenly think that the lock icon in their browser's URL window means that the website is safe, but all it means is that the connection to the website is secure - not that the site itself is legitimate. So be sure to double-check before giving away any personal information!
Online Games Temptations
Be wary of survey links that promise free gaming add-ons - they may be a scam! Clicking on these unknown links can install malware onto your device, which can then lead to data being compromised or stolen. It's easy to think that these surveys are safe, especially because they pop up on gaming platforms. But scammers are active on all sorts of platforms - games included.
Beware Of Vague Language
When you come across a survey that has poorly written content, it's likely a sign that the survey is fake. Scammers often work on multiple scams at the same time, so they don't spend much time on each one. This means that the language in their surveys is usually not of great quality. If you look closely, you will be able to spot the blatant spelling and grammar mistakes. Stay alert and you will see them. Surveys are a great way to make some extra cash. Just make sure you're doing it right so that you don't get scammed. When you come across a survey that has poorly written content, it's likely a sign that the survey is fake. Scammers often work on multiple scams at the same time, so they don't spend much time on each one. This means that the language in their surveys is usually not of great quality. If you look closely, you will be able to spot the blatant spelling and grammar mistakes. Stay alert and you will see them. Surveys are a great way to make some extra cash. Just make sure you're doing it right so that you don't get scammed.The online world offers many different ways to make money. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of making money online, but there are people who are looking to scam you. One of the best ways to make money online is by taking surveys. Surveys are a great way to make money online because they are quick and easy. There are also lots of survey companies that offer a lot of money for taking their surveys. Survey Analytica platform help you to create a legitimate surveys with multilingual customizable free templates.