Perhaps it is wrong to compare the new "Get Paid to Take Survey" sites, to the pyramid schemes of yesterday, but maybe not. In a pyramid scheme, the people at the peak of the system receives the most amount of money, while those at the bottom receive far less. In the survey sites...the same thing occurs.

Survey sites are great, some people claim. According to the banners and advertisements we all see flying around, all a user has to do is sign up for the site, and they can earn money by filling out surveys in their spare time. Look closer and you'll see the beginnings of a pyramid.

Prior to writing this article, I signed up for a few websites (4) that were highly recommended on several websites. The first thing I noticed was that each time I signed up for a new site, the user that recommended me was given a "referral credit". What exactly is a referral credit you might ask? Its simple; for every person they recruit, they are given an extra incentive, be it points or real cash. Then for every user that user signs up, they are given another bonus, and so on and so on, all the way down the line. The same holds true for the work of filling out survey forms; that original user is given compensation for every survey you or anyone you sign up completes.

The second thing I noticed was that as soon as signing up, I was given the option of "recommending" up to 5 people, and sent a link. That link verifies that you are actively encouraging people to take part in the process.

By the end of Day 1, I had accumulated 129 new email messages, not including those in my SPAM box, and for the sake of accuracy, I followed each link. How much money did I make from doing that? A grand total of...$16. However that money is divided by 4, and in not a single case did I make enough to request their "payout" option.

Following one link, I was directed to a "free sample" offer, which required a credit card and a $2.95 shipping fee. Another asked for $14.95 for a minimum of 6 months; a third demanded I sign up for a company I already participate in; and the last asked me to join another 5 survey sites, for a $1 payment.

Are there people making hundreds of dollars a month filling out surveys from the privacy of their home? Possibly, but they are most likely the people who fill the messages boards with their links, hoping to find someone who fills out the surveys religiously and earns them their "bonuses" every day.

In my opinion, there are far better things you could do at home to make some extra money each month, none of which involve clearing your inbox every hour.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Eblin.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

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