SBKC (Small Business Knowledge Center) a market research company, has introduced an initiative where you can earn by forwarding your junk mail and participating in surveys. As a user, you have the option to select and send the junk email you receive in your inbox. In exchange, you can accumulate points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
Curious about SBKC's program that pays you for your junk email? We break down how it works, its legitimacy, the potential privacy trade-offs, and what you can realistically earn. Learn if sharing your marketing emails for points is worth it.
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| Make money by sending junk emails to SBKC |
what is SBKC?
SBKC (Small Business Knowledge Center) presents itself as a market research company. Their core business is gathering data for clients to aid in product development and marketing strategies. One of their methods for collecting this data is through a consumer panel, where individuals can earn points by sharing the commercial emails they already receive.
It is critical to understand: This is not about creating or sending spam. The program is centered on you forwarding pre-existing, legitimate marketing emails that you have legally opted into from other companies.
How Does the SBKC Program Work?
The premise is straightforward: you exchange a certain level of your digital privacy for rewards.
Register as a Panelist: You sign up on their website and choose the "Consumer" panel option.
Forward Junk Mail: As you receive marketing emails from categories like insurance, banking, credit cards, travel, and telecommunications, you forward them to a specific SBKC email address (e.g.,
consumers@sbkcenter.com).Earn Points: SBKC tracks your submissions and awards you points for each eligible email you forward.
Redeem Points: Once you accumulate a minimum number of points (often 2,000), you can redeem them for gift cards to various retailers.
Is This Legitimate or a Scam?
SBKC appears to be a legitimate market research company, not a classic scam designed to steal your money. However, "legitimate" does not automatically mean "risk-free" or "highly profitable." The primary concerns are related to privacy and value.
Key Considerations and Potential Risks
Before you sign up, it's essential to weigh the following points:
1. The Privacy Trade-Off
This is the most significant factor. When you forward a marketing email, you are sharing data about yourself with SBKC and, by extension, their clients. This data can include:
Your Spending Habits: What brands you shop with.
Your Financial Interests: What types of loans, credit cards, or investments you're considering.
Your Demographic Profile: Your interests, income level, and family status inferred from the emails you receive.
Your Email Address: This becomes linked to a detailed profile of your consumer behavior.
Ask yourself: Are the gift cards you'll earn worth this level of data sharing?
2. The Realistic Earning Potential
These types of programs are rarely a meaningful source of income.
Point Value: You must read the terms carefully to understand how many points you get per email and what the point-to-cash ratio is. For example, 2,000 points might only be worth a $5 or $10 gift card.
Time Investment: You need to receive a large volume of qualifying marketing emails to accumulate points at a reasonable pace. For most people, this translates to a very low hourly "wage" for the effort of forwarding emails.
3. Email Management
Clutter: To participate effectively, you might feel compelled to sign up for more marketing newsletters, leading to an even more cluttered inbox.
Vigilance: You must be careful to only forward permissible marketing emails. Forwarding personal emails, confidential communications, or spam from unverified sources could violate the terms and potentially compromise your security.
Best Practices if You Decide to Proceed
If you've considered the risks and still want to try it, follow these steps to protect yourself:
Use a Dedicated Email Address: Consider using a secondary or "burner" email address for all marketing subscriptions and for your SBKC account. This protects your primary email from being linked to this data-sharing activity.
Read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy: Understand exactly how your data will be used, stored, and shared. Know the redemption rules for your points.
Be Selective with Subscriptions: Only forward emails from reputable companies that you have a legitimate relationship with. Do not sign up for shady websites just to get more emails to forward.
Monitor Your Accounts: As a general good practice, keep an eye on your other financial and online accounts for any unusual activity.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
The SBKC program can be a way to earn a few occasional gift cards from a activity you already engage in—deleting junk mail. However, it is not a get-rich-quick scheme and comes with tangible privacy trade-offs.
For most people, the potential reward is not worth the value of the personal data they are giving away. If you are highly conscious of your digital privacy, you are likely better off simply unsubscribing from unwanted emails rather than forwarding them for a minimal reward.
Final Verdict: Proceed with extreme caution, use a secondary email, and have very low financial expectations. Your personal data is often more valuable than the points you will earn.