Legitimate Survey Research Companies Will:

• Have contact information on their website, and have a support staff that is available to answer your questions or concerns.
• Value your time by offering you modest incentives such as sweepstakes entries, monetary rewards, or gift certificates. However, if the panel offers incentives that are too good to be true, it probably is, and should be scrutinized.
• Generally affiliate themselves with certain respected trade groups like BBB (Better Business Bueau) or CASRO (Council of American Survey Research Organizations). These associations generally require there members to meet certain ethical standards.
• Have terms, conditions, and a privacy policy clearly stated on their site
• Repect your privacy and not share your information with third parties
• Only send you emails when they have survey invitations for you or to update you with the latest survey panels news and events

Legitimate Survey Companies Will Not:

• Request credit card or bank account information or your Social Security number
• Try to sell or promote products or services
• Request payment of any type
• Try to recruit you via unsolicited e-mail or pop-up ads with one-line survey questions
• Contact or Seek personal information from any child under 13 with a parent's prior consent

Review the survey panel website and be sure to read their terms and conditions for offered incentives. The panel should clearly document the incentives offered and what is required to earn the rewards. It is also a good idea to read comments and reviews left by others that have already tried the panel.