How to tell if the survey text message you’re getting is real

A common question is whether a text message is part of a real survey. One concern – though thankfully a far less common actual problem – is that the text message is sent by a malicious actor. A second (and more common) problem is that a message is a fundraising message masquerading as a survey (as in these cases from fundraising messages on the GOP’s WinRed platform). In either case, there are a few simple steps you can take to evaluate the authenticity of a survey via text message. 

Step 1: Evaluate the link, if there is one

Some text messages ask people to click a link to complete a survey online (a “text-to-web” survey). This is not the case for all text-based surveys: many are conducted exclusively through a text message conversation itself. However, if you are asked to click a link, you should look at the root URL. If it includes a commercial link-shortener like tinyurl.com or bit.ly, do NOT click that link. Actual surveys are likely to include either a branded link-shortener where the base url is specific to the survey firm, or alternatively a URL for a web survey platform like qualtrics.com or alchemer.com. In both cases, you can check the root url by going to that website directly, without clicking directly on the link provided. Alternatively, sometimes the URL can indicate the survey is from an obviously-partisan group, like this example from a liberal group. Such URL are likely to be for fundraising under the guise of a survey rather than an actual attempt to obtain an unbiased estimate of public opinion. 

Step 2: Evaluate the tone of the request 

Legitimate surveys seek an unbiased estimate of public opinion, even when research is sponsored by candidates, parties, or interest groups. As such, it can be hard to immediately evaluate who sponsored a well-written survey. By contrast, if the language around a survey appears designed to get you emotionally amped up, it may well be a fundraiser under the guise of a survey, which survey researchers call “frugging.” 

Step 3: Text back
Unless you have previously agreed to take part in a text message survey, texting for surveys should be sent by a real human interviewer. So if you are wondering if an interviewer is  real, ask them! If you text outside of normal texting hours (say, at midnight) or after a survey is completed, you may not get a response immediately. But otherwise, someone should respond to you and answer your questions to the best of their ability. Interviewers may not have all details about a survey, like the sponsor, but should be able to tell you about the topic and the length of the survey. 

Step 4: Never give money in the course of a survey

Real surveys do not ask respondents for anything but their answers to questions. If someone is asking you for money – whether it is to support the survey, or any other cause – do not treat the survey as legitimate. Sometimes surveys are compensated, such that interviewers offer gift cards in exchange for completing surveys. But more commonly for short surveys, researchers are simply asking for a small bit of your time in exchange for the opportunity for your opinion to be heard. In any case, if the researcher is asking you for money, stop participating immediately.