JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From uploading pictures of her grocery receipts for cash to watching videos on her phone to earn gift cards, work at home mom Nicole McDonald says she makes about a thousand bucks a year using money making apps.
"I like using apps that pay me cash and rewards because it's a super easy way to get some extra income," Nicole said.
We found there's hundreds of apps that let you cash in. Receipt Hog is the one Nicole uses to upload sales slips, but the app also pays you to take short surveys. The Shopkick app rewards you with gift cards when you visit recommended stores, scan items and buy products. With Clashot, just upload photos, and if they're "liked" by another user you can earn money. Some apps, like cash pirate, pay you to play games
Jennifer Jolly is a tech expert and she told us, "We are definitely seeing more and more apps that at least say they'll make you money if you use them."
But cyber security expert, Gary Miliefsky, says if you do "use them," apps could be cashing in your privacy. He reviewed some of the top money making applications and found buried deep in the fine print some admit they:
- Find your precise GPS location
- Prevent a device from sleeping
- Send SMS messages
- Modify or delete contents of your USB storage
- Download files without notification
- Take pictures and video, and even record audio
"I think that the behavior in most of these rewards apps is creepy and inappropriate," Miliefsky said. "Yes, they need to monetize you and ensure that you're located where you say that you are but they're collecting way too much information."
Miliefsky found some money making apps don't even post required privacy policies and others operate outside the United States. M
iliefsky added: "If you feel like you've been ripped off and the app manufacture is located in China or the UK or Canada you may have to go to those countries their regulating agency to get your money and an agency may not help you if you haven't had many thousands of dollars in losses."
Experts say if you're going to use a money making app, review its privacy policy and what information the app accesses. See where the app company is located, read the reviews and don't download any app that pops up as a link in a text message.
"For the most part these apps are fairly safe if you download them from the iTunes store or Google Playstore you have a few more built in security measures," Jolly said.
Nicole says she's never had a problem with any of her money making apps-and she's fine trading some of her privacy for a little extra cash.
"I don't think you could make a living off the apps but I think it supplements your income very well."
In terms of how you get paid, some apps transfer payment to you via Paypal. Some send you e-gift cards and others pay you in points which you can redeem to buy other apps from your phone's app store.