If you've tried to find survey sites that actually pay, you've probably discovered how difficult it can be to find them. For some people, it can downright frustrating. The fact is that survey sites are in extremely high demand, and the more people there are looking for surveys, the harder it is to get paid. Surveys are in such high demand that the legitimate survey sites that actually pay are now practically impossible to find.

What's the problem? Well, any time an internet phenomenon proves popular and lucrative, it doesn't take long for thousands of people from all over the world to swoop in and try to take advantage of that phenomenon for their own nefarious gain. That's why you see so many scam survey sites. A few people saw how popular survey related keywords had become in the search engines, and they immediately began looking for ways to profit off the popularity of those search terms.

But there are things you can do to weed out the phony survey sites. You can't just do a search for something like "survey sites that really pay" or "online surveys that pay real money," because the scam sites have already latched onto those search phrases.

What you have to do is use your own judgment. If you want to get paid, surveys that will give you real money are out there. Just don't rush into anything. When you see a survey site that might be real, take the time to look around the site before signing up, and keep an eye out for these telltale signs of scam survey sites:

Poor Web Design

If a survey site's design seems out of date, poorly done, or hastily thrown together, don't trust it. Even if it's a somewhat legitimate survey site, if they can't put the time and effort into making their website look good, then they're probably not worth dealing with. On the other hand, be aware that high-quality web design does not always mean that the site is legitimate. There are internet scammers out there who are quite good at making nice-looking sites.

Lack of Information

If the makers of a site don't divulge at least some information about themselves, then they're probably hiding something. Look at the About page, and determine for yourself whether the site seems like the real deal. Also, survey sites should be clear about the sign up process and the rewards or cash that you can expect to receive by participating in their surveys.

Unrealistic Promises

Does the site promise "fast cash" or "huge payouts"? If so, don't trust it. It can be tempting to try these things out, but you have to be aware that it's almost impossible to make a full-time income or lots of quick cash from survey sites. At the most, you'll probably make some nice pocket cash. If a site promises more, it's probably a scam.