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MILWAUKEE - Many of us have completed a survey at one time or another, and may have even gotten paid to do so.

But answering a survey could put you at risk of being scammed.

What should you watch out for before answering a survey?

Even though there are some legitimate surveys out there, scam artists are also using surveys to trick people into giving out personal information.

If you receive a request to complete a survey:

• Watch out for surveys that ask you to disclose personal information such as social security numbers or banking information. A legitimate survey will not ask you for this information.

• Keep an eye out for surveys that look too good to be true, especially if they promise a big dollars, vacations, or other unusual incentives for completing.

• Watch up for pop up surveys that may seem like they are coming from a legitimate sight, but may actually be bogus.

What is the most likely way that you will be targeted by a bogus survey scam?

A number of people and businesses are warning us about survey requests via phone or e-mail, especially from a bank or credit union.

Others have reported hearing of them from forwarded e-mails, and some of these surveys are also appearing as pop up ads on well known websites,

If you suspect the survey is bogus, what should you do?

Most importantly, don't let curiosity get the best of you by clicking on a link, or answering questions just to see what happens.

Err on the side of caution, and check things out with reputable sources such as consumer protection agencies, law enforcement, or websites that are devoted to alerting consumers about scams and frauds.