All of us have received emails that promise untold amounts of money for reading emails or visiting websites. But are these programs for real? Some programs are indeed legitimate while others are not. There are very good reasons why a program would pay you to read emails or visit websites--the program is being paid by the merchant based on how many people read the emails, how many people visit the websites, or the products that people buy when they visit the sites. There is no scam to it; rather, it is a good way to expose new consumers to the merchants' websites and products.

How do you know if a program is for real? Here are our top 5 tips:

1) You should not pay anything to join the program. Period.

2) Read the program's fine print carefully. This includes their Terms and Conditions as well as their Frequently Asked Questions and their Privacy Statement. Reputable rewards programs will make all of these available to you before you sign up. Pay close attention to conditions such as when your account will be deactivated, how you can unsubscribe, and what your responsibilities as a member are.

3) You should only receive email from partners outside the program when you specifically agree to receive those emails. The program should not sell your email address or personal information unless you have opted in for it to do so.

4) You should be able to cash out of the program at reasonable intervals. Whether you are cashing out for money, gift certificates, or tangible items, you should not have to wait until you earn the equivalent of more than $100 before you are paid.

5) Know the difference between being rewarded for bringing others into the program and being required to bring others into the program to receive your rewards. The first is a legitimate form of viral marketing. The second is an illegal pyramid scheme.

With worldwide communication and a lack of laws or enforcement to adequately deal with scams on the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to know where you can place your trust. New rewards programs, as well as new scams, pop up every day. By being smart and doing your homework, you can benefit from the good programs and avoid the bad ones.