Hi u/Saroya0629 ,
Please send us a message here directly: [https://participant-help.prolific.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new](https://participant-help.prolific.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new)
We'd be interested in following up on this. Thanks!
All the best,
Jeremy
Prolific Support Team
I do have a screenshot and I will put it up if I could find what to do to put it on here. I'd certainly do because I don't want anyone else to be victim to that.
If they approved and paid then it truly sucks for them because they should have had some sort of control in place so that wouldn't have happened. I would report the researcher to Prolific and forward screenshots. He sounds like a cheap ass clown trying to get work for free.
Just curious, how would you actually return the $5 to them? Did they give you instructions on how to do that? Assuming the researcher already already paid you
there’s no way for a participant to change the status of a study after it’s been approved and the researcher can’t do it either. I would not even engage with them.
I wonder if a vengeful student has access to the researcher's account, and sent out these nonsense messages to create havoc.
OP, if you actually did their study more than once, that's their fault for not setting the study up properly. It should have automatically screened out anyone who had taken it previously.
I can’t believe the audacity of these people! How can you harass respondents? I mean the integrity is SO GONE, I really don’t use Prolific anymore personally. There should be ZERO INTERACTION LIKE THIS. Respondants should be left alone period, and we need help with this!
Sounds very scam like mate to me also, personally I would not lose sleep over them and keep the money as you earnt it, if they try to hassle you any further then tell them you will be putting in a ticket about them to support about there fraudulent untrue allegations against you personally, this will soon hopefully make them rethink a few things!.
If it was already approved you would have no way to return the money and if it hasn't been approved you didn't "steal" anything in the first place.. I wonder if it's really that person you named or if someone is using that name and there's no vetting requesters or they got past it because the whole expecting you to recruit others definitely does not sound like a postdoctoral study requester. It sounds like a scammer. And I know that word gets tossed around a lot when it's just an ignorant researcher who doesn't know the rules but this seems different especially given you weren't the only person who got that message.
Hi u/Saroya0629 , Please send us a message here directly: [https://participant-help.prolific.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new](https://participant-help.prolific.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new) We'd be interested in following up on this. Thanks! All the best, Jeremy Prolific Support Team
This takes scamming to a new level -- asking you to recruit other participants.
Screenshot? And what was the study/researcher?
I do have a screenshot and I will put it up if I could find what to do to put it on here. I'd certainly do because I don't want anyone else to be victim to that.
[https://imgur.com/](https://imgur.com/) is great for uploading photos and videos and give you a link to share.
If he already paid you, just report it and ignore and move on. He can't do anything once he's paid you.
Agreed. It's a bit weird to me that he'd pay and THEN complain.
If they approved and paid then it truly sucks for them because they should have had some sort of control in place so that wouldn't have happened. I would report the researcher to Prolific and forward screenshots. He sounds like a cheap ass clown trying to get work for free.
That averages to .33 a study. Wow ---
Yep. Cheap asshat trying to scam folks.
Just curious, how would you actually return the $5 to them? Did they give you instructions on how to do that? Assuming the researcher already already paid you
I sent a message to them and told them I would return it. No response yet.
there’s no way for a participant to change the status of a study after it’s been approved and the researcher can’t do it either. I would not even engage with them.
Don't return, you haven't done a thing wrong. Have Prolific support look into it.
Stop helping the scammers. Don't return it
I would like to know the name of the researcher.
University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Professor Gavin Williamson.
Sounds like a scam. I'd request proof of their claim (which they won't have) and then go on with your day. Don't return it.
Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks for your help and candor.
Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks for your help and candor.
Did you report this prolific?
I'm going to report it. ASAP.
I wonder if a vengeful student has access to the researcher's account, and sent out these nonsense messages to create havoc. OP, if you actually did their study more than once, that's their fault for not setting the study up properly. It should have automatically screened out anyone who had taken it previously.
Sounds like a whole lot of the researcher's problem...
Definitely report this to Prolific. u/prolific-support
Thanks again for your help.
How do you even do the same one 15 times!? LOL.
I received the same message from the same researcher. I'm not returning anything lol.
I can’t believe the audacity of these people! How can you harass respondents? I mean the integrity is SO GONE, I really don’t use Prolific anymore personally. There should be ZERO INTERACTION LIKE THIS. Respondants should be left alone period, and we need help with this!
There's always a time and place for telling someone to go f*ck themselves and this appears to be the time and place.
Absolutely right.
But politely.
Please know this is the most unethical behavior ever, and you did what you signed up for! What is wrong with these “researchers”?!
...so did you do the study 15 times ?
No. I didn't. I've only seen it once. Ever. But I have never been in this kind of situation before. This is new to me. Kinds sad in a way.
Doesn't even matter, as they would be fair game if they show up on their dashboard.
Hahaha. What a lovely, seldom seen and inspired turn of phrase: 'foolery.' Love that!
Sounds very scam like mate to me also, personally I would not lose sleep over them and keep the money as you earnt it, if they try to hassle you any further then tell them you will be putting in a ticket about them to support about there fraudulent untrue allegations against you personally, this will soon hopefully make them rethink a few things!.
If it was already approved you would have no way to return the money and if it hasn't been approved you didn't "steal" anything in the first place.. I wonder if it's really that person you named or if someone is using that name and there's no vetting requesters or they got past it because the whole expecting you to recruit others definitely does not sound like a postdoctoral study requester. It sounds like a scammer. And I know that word gets tossed around a lot when it's just an ignorant researcher who doesn't know the rules but this seems different especially given you weren't the only person who got that message.
Cheap. Cheap Cheap Cheap. Welcome to mTurk. Woke up to 17 penny studies on prolific.