Paid online surveys have been lurking around the internet for a long time now, and many consumers are participating in them hoping to get some extra cash for payment of monthly bills, everyday expenses or get a new cell phone or iPod. Companies are basically spending some time and money for researching the capabilities and potential of their products and services through these surveys which also includes focus groups. A number of paid for surveys are available in the internet and one must be able to pinpoint which site is genuine and which is fake.

There is actually some light behind paid online surveys in the web; you get paid for sharing what you think about their products. Companies big or small are aware of how significant consumer opinion is because it is what would help them make betterments on the quality of their products and services and in turn provide better income. These online surveys are part of a bigger marketing campaign that companies are paying a big sum for.

These paid for surveys are about almost anything under the sun. From luxurious restaurants you love to eat at, upcoming movies and music events, the products you buy at your favorite grocery store, and even the latest gaming consoles, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Surveys may target specific age groups, hobbies and areas of interests; all of which are aimed at improving the quality of the products and services that these companies are offering.

Once you sign-up for paid online surveys, you will be asked to fill-up some basic demographic information like your age, gender, work, and income range. Once these sites determine you are qualified for a particular survey based on the information you have entered, you will be given an email containing an invitation to participate in the survey and a link which directs you the survey site.

Participating in paid online surveys has its benefits, and these benefits can come usually in cash rewards, but can also come in the form of gift certificates and discount coupons. The reward system will vary from one survey site to another; some will immediately credit you with a particular amount of cash upon completion, and some will require you to gather enough points by completing more surveys and exchange these points for cash or freebies.

With the advent of paid online surveys also comes unscrupulous websites wanting to take advantage of people looking for some ways of earning some money. These said sites will usually promote themselves as having a huge database collection of paid for surveys in which you can access through membership in their websites.

Membership of course, comes at a price, varying from $25-$100 or even more. Their websites are filled with a lot of data about their members and how much they have earned after signing-up, even putting up screenshots of the daily or monthly earnings of their so-called members, which we can't even determine if they really exist at all. You will also see many testimonials from their fictitious members saying how thankful they are that they found that particular website.

These fake websites will do everything just to get you to become a member by presenting you with pictures of their fictitious members and the huge income they claim to have earned in just a few days. Sounds good to be true isn't it? And after joining you will discover that what they have are just fake collection of survey sites and links sending you to more fake surveys. You will never hear from them ever again after joining.

One must remember paid online surveys cannot give you amount of money big enough to make you quit your job and live on it. Although a few may give some considerable sum of money, they will always be just supplemental to your main source of income. Remember that a lot of websites in the internet are offering you thousands of dollars using their list of paid for surveys and tell you that you'll get rich in a few days; well if something is too good to be true, it usually really is, so try to stay away from these sites specially if they are asking you to pay for membership fees.