The email often from a well-known retailer may start out innocently enough: You have been chosen to take part in our brief customer satisfaction survey. If you decide to complete this survey, we will send $150 to your confirmed credit or debit card account just for your time. Please download the attachment, open it and follow the instructions on your screen.

Wanting to help, you play along. The first few questions of the survey may ask basic information about which products and/or services you use or instruct you to evaluate the customer service. But then, the form takes a twist. It asks for personal information, like credit card, bank account or Social Security numbers, which is later used against you by a scammer.

Take steps to protect yourself.

· Know who you are dealing with. It's easy to steal the look and feel of an established retailer or organization. Scammers can also make links look like they lead to reputable websites and emails appear to come from a different sender. Tip: Hover over the sender name to make sure the address is valid.

· Legitimate businesses will never ask for your Social Security number, money, password or bank account information on a customer survey.

·When in doubt, do a quick web search. If the survey is a scam, you may find alerts or complaints from other consumers, and the organization's real website may have further information.

· Watch out for a reward that's too good to be true. If the survey is real, you may be entered in a drawing to win a gift card or receive a small discount off your next purchase. Few businesses can afford to give away $150 for completing a few questions.

If you think you have been the victim of a customer service survey scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint. For information about other scams, sign up for AARP's Fraud Watch Network. You'll receive free email alerts with tips and resources to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud and gain access to a network of experts, law enforcement and people in your community who will keep you up to date on the latest scams in your area.