Online Survey Website Safety Checklist
Before disclosing any personal data on an unknown survey site, follow this safety checklist to verify its credibility and preserve your privacy.
Check for Quality
- Ensure the website is free to join.
- Confirm that contact information is easily accessible.
- Certainly, you know the terms and conditions of the proposed rewards.
- Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
- Do not open unsolicited emails and do not click links in such emails.
Bonus: Also look for the site’s presence on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Check for Legitimacy
- Verify the website’s listing on SurveyPolice.
- Confirm the presence of a complete privacy policy.
- Review the terms of service or use.
- Obtain information about the parent company operating the site.
- Go for the websites of genuine marketing research companies.
Extra Bonus Points
Check for membership in market research organizations such as ESOMAR, MRA, or CASRO.
Ensure that the BBB has confirmed the legitimacy of the website.
Results
If you responded NO to any of the questions except for bonus questions, come to a conclusion with caution before disclosing personal information. Getting a lot of “no’s” can put one at the risk of “spamming” or “phishing” scams, as well. Many legitimate survey sites, run by respected market survey companies, “recruit” you as a member of their panel. Give up your information’s safety by no means!
Always Do Your Research
Your personal data is a treasure therefore be careful how you handle it. However, should you happen to come across one survey website that isn’t listed, then perform the steps provided to gain assurance of its credibility. Also, conduct a search of the website’s name in search engines to get reviews and forum threads. In a case where your finding appears inconclusive, why not post the panel on The Survey Police website for evaluation? The ability to discern between trusted and untrusted information sources is critical for safe online conduct.