Medium riskText Message

Customer Survey Scam

This scam invites you to complete a short customer satisfaction survey for a reward from a known brand, then asks for card details to cover 'shipping' on the prize or harvests your personal data.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Survey reward phishing scam
Main red flag
A short survey from a known brand that ends with a 'reward' needing your card details for shipping.
What to do first
Do not enter card details. A genuine survey reward does not require a shipping payment to claim.

What this scam usually looks like

This scam invites you to complete a short customer satisfaction survey for a reward from a known brand, then asks for card details to cover 'shipping' on the prize or harvests your personal data.

Text-message scams, known as "smishing", reach you directly on your phone where a link is only a tap away and messages feel personal and urgent. They impersonate trusted senders, banks, couriers, government, or even people you know, and depend on you acting before you pause to verify.

The single clearest warning sign to remember is this: A short survey from a known brand that ends with a 'reward' needing your card details for shipping. Do not enter card details. A genuine survey reward does not require a shipping payment to claim.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Fake Giveaway Scam or the Fake Coupon Scam, browse the Text Message Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022, more than double the year before
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
#1
fake bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam type in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'You have been selected for our customer satisfaction survey. Complete 4 questions and claim your free gift. Pay only £1.95 shipping to receive it: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Why this is a red flag: A short survey from a known brand that ends with a 'reward' needing your card details for shipping.

Red flags to watch for

  • An unexpected survey promising a free gift or generous reward
  • A small 'shipping' or 'processing' fee needed to receive the prize
  • A request for card details at the end of a short survey
  • A link that does not match the brand's official website
  • Pressure to finish quickly because spots or rewards are 'limited'

What to do

  • Do not enter card details or pay any shipping fee
  • Treat an unexpected survey-with-reward message as suspicious
  • Check the brand's official website or app for any genuine survey or offer
  • Delete the message and report it to your anti-fraud centre

If you already clicked or replied

  • Do not enter any more information on the page
  • If you entered card details, contact your bank to flag or freeze the card
  • Watch for a small recurring charge, which these offers sometimes hide
  • Change the password for any account where you reused that login

What not to do

  • Do not pay a shipping or processing fee for a 'free' prize
  • Do not enter card details to claim a survey reward
  • Do not share personal information on an unfamiliar form

Similar scams

Medium risk Social Media

Fake Giveaway Scam

This scam tells you that you won a prize or giveaway, then asks for a fee, your login, or personal details to 'claim' it.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Fake Coupon Scam

This scam uses fake discount codes, 'spin to win' wheels, or coupon sites that look like a deal but exist to collect your personal and card details, push survey traps, or spread links across social media.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Job

Mystery Shopper Scam

This scam offers a fake secret or mystery shopper job, sends you a cheque to deposit, and asks you to 'evaluate' a money-transfer service by wiring most of it back or buying gift cards, after which the cheque bounces and you are left owing the money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Frequently asked questions

Why does a free gift need a shipping payment?
Asking for card details to cover shipping is a common way to capture your card or to start a small recurring charge. A genuine reward does not require you to pay to claim it.
The survey used a brand I recognise. Does that make it real?
Scammers borrow well-known brand names and logos to seem trustworthy. Check the brand's official website or app rather than trusting an unexpected survey link.
I completed the survey but paid nothing. Am I at risk?
If you only answered questions you have likely shared some personal data, so stay alert for follow-up scam messages. If you entered card details, contact your bank straight away.
How can I report a customer survey scam?
Report it to your mobile or email provider's spam service and to your national anti-fraud centre. Keep a copy of the message before deleting it.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.