Is Verizon Survey Legit?

Shaleen
Written By Shaleen

A seasoned writer and journalist working in the niche of survey and statistics for the past 5 years.

If you want to cut straight to the chase, Verizon iPhone/Smartwatch survey is a SCAM! Let us explore the why and the how of the controversy.

Verizon’s Response to Surveys

Verizon has repeatedly warned its customers that it does not send surveys. Spam, phishing emails, messages, and robocalls are on the rise, says Verizon. These scams aim to trick users into accessing or utilizing a range of untrustworthy and hazardous websites.

Verizon has stated very clearly on its website

Verizon will never ask for personal or account information by email or text message.

Phishing Scams | Verizon Support

Along with the clarification, it has also listed various sample phishing texts and emails that the users should avoid. Check them here. Check Verizon’s customer support reply to user queries about the authenticity of the surveys.

Img Src: Verizon Community Page
Img Src: Verizon Community Page

Deceptive pages are often seen by mistake – through mistyped URLs, redirection caused by invasive adverts, or forced to open them by installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

It’s worth noting that the “Verizon Free Watch/iPhone Survey” scam has been seen to be pushed via spam email with a Verizon-related theme (email subject “you are the chosen one!” [recipient’s email address]; may vary).

What is Verizon Smartwatch Survey 2022?

The “Verizon Reward” scam asks customers to fill out a survey regarding their mobile experiences. The fraud promises consumers a “Free Watch/iPhone Survey” valued at least $90 as a “thank you” for filling out the questionnaire.

The hoax claims to have given away prizes exceeding USD 4 million. After completing the survey, participants are given a variety of “special prizes.”

When consumers try to claim any of the rewards, they are routed to deceptive and potentially hazardous websites. This digital technique primarily promotes phishing webpages, which are meant to record information placed into them and utilize it for malicious reasons. This information may be sold to third parties (possibly cyber thieves) or used to construct tailored schemes.

How is it a Scam?

Promotional/sale-based sites, like those promoted by the “Verizon Reward” fraud, sometimes do not contain the advertised items. Even if they do, the things are likely inexpensive, fake, and dangerous to use or ingest.

Users who fall for the “Verizon Reward” scam may face severe privacy difficulties, massive monetary losses, identity theft, and other serious issues. PUAs can force-open deceiving and other illegitimate pages, as aforementioned.

A vast majority of PUAs can track your data. They monitor your internet activity and collect sensitive data gleaned from it, such as IP addresses, geolocations, and other personally identifiable information.

As a result, removing all potentially harmful software, browser extensions, and plug-ins is critical as soon as they are identified.

What Can You Do To Avoid Scams Like These?

Before filling out online surveys, you must ask yourself the following questions:

1. What type of data is being captured?

Always double-check the survey’s scope and the reason for which the data is being collected. Is the process of getting your data done regularly or rarely?

2. What’s next for your data?

Understand why the website is collecting your personal information. What are you hoping to achieve with this data? Is it possible that the information is disclosed to a third party?

3. How long will this information be stored?

Another factor to consider is how long the firm intends to keep your records and for what reason. As a company expands, it may need to preserve data for a set period for various reasons. Verify if the firm follows local, state, and federal data retention rules.

Everyone has an opinion, and plenty of people want to hear it, from corporate marketers to political pollsters to Facebook pals. However, if you receive a survey request, approach cautiously because it may be a scam designed to profit from your personal information.

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