If you aren't familiar with these ads or e-mails for getting paid to do surveys online, you've probably never used the Internet. But the trouble comes when you decide to try it out. Scammers advertise they are looking for people who can fill out surveys for cash, “from the comfort of their home.”
You are promised thousands of dollars a month if you are willing to access their database and start doing the hundreds of surveys available. All you have to do is pay a membership fee--between $20 and $80 a month--and you're in the money. What's a few dollars if you'll be pulling in upwards of $2,000 a month?
The only issue is that you won't be. You'll never see any money after you pay your "membership" fee. Likely, the company won't return any of your emails. If they have a business phone listed, don't expect them to return any of your calls. The number is usually only there to make them look professional.
Some sites will say you will get paid every time your account reaches a certain denomination, say $50 or $100. This isn't true, and will just keep you doing useless surveys while they're off looking for new suckers.
How to avoid: again, the theme here is that it's important to be skeptical. There are companies that do this business which are real, but their number is less than 10%. Read up on the company and be sure it's safe before you give them any money. Or, if you'd feel more comfortable, there are plenty of survey sites that don't charge a membership fee.