More Work at Home Scams

Paid Surveys-Fact or Fiction?

Today I spent 3 hours looking at and registering for online surreys. I found a fellow blogger’s website titled “How To Avoid Work At Home Scams” that promised me the key to websites where I could make money without getting fleeced.

After scrolling through the offers like “camera dollars” which this woman claimed her friend has made thousands on just from having a digital camera, I was intrigued. I own and know how to operate a digital camera. I decided to check it out, Lo and behold, the site asked me to buy their software that would teach me how to take pictures like a professional then give me some tips on how to sell them online. I didn’t bite.

The next one that looked promising was a long list of paid surveys. The thing that impressed me is that she had them listed with a direct link to their website. Each website described what they offered ranging from sweepstakes entries to anywhere from $1.00-$80.00 per survey.

I choose the three that were directly offering money as opposed to prizes or a chance to win a dream vacation or a sweepstakes entry.

http://www.vindale.com/
http://www.survey4profit.com/
http://www.surveyteam.com/


So I clicked, and I clicked. And I entered my name and my email address and set up accounts and passwords. None of the one’s that I selected asked me for any money up front. Within minutes the survey offers started “pouring in” like promised.

Now for the fine print. Each link that promised me $15.00, $30.00 or a free product took me to another site where I had to sign up for a credit card offer, a book of the month club, monthly movies online or any other fee based monthly offer in order to receive my payment. Furthermore, each “free” survey wanted me to enter my credit card information for “verification purposes.”

The net -net of my research?

All of these “free” sites cost me three hours in research, an inbox full of spam and junk mail offers and no actual money. Although the above mentioned sites offered money for your time and participation, the bottom line is that the money can only be earned by spending money and they are yet another phishing site wanting your information. So the bottom line is to be just as careful of the sites that tell you “ How to avoid work at home scams” because they often are offering programs that are the biggest scams.