Avoiding the ‘This Is a Scam’ Spiral: 5 Ways Play-to-Earn Sites Build User Confidence

New users assess play-to-earn (P2E) sites within seconds of arrival. They immediately enter what we call the “This Is a Scam” spiral, where they rapidly scan for signs of legitimacy. They want to understand how your platform works, whether it delivers on promises, and if they can trust the experience you’re offering.

P2E platforms anticipate this. They’ve identified five questions every new user has:

• “Is this legitimate?”
• “Are the earnings realistic?”
• “How does this business model work?”
• “What happens if I need help?”
• “Can I verify these claims independently?”

Using examples from Pawns.app, Freecash, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollars, we’ll show how play-to-earn companies can proactively answer these questions through design, content, and user experience choices to build immediate trust with new visitors. When your platform gets this right, users feel more confident and eager to explore what you offer.

Concern #1: “Is this legitimate?”

New users want to see evidence that real people actively use your service. These serve as “proof of life” indicators, showing that your platform is currently active and operational. Without them, it’s easy for users to question your credibility. The key is making these elements visible above the fold.

P2E platforms display different types of activity indicators:

• Real-time user counts show the current community size with specific numbers. For example, “Join 2.3M active users” carries more weight than “Join millions of users.”
• Live activity feeds show recent earnings or payouts, completed tasks, or new user sign-ups happening in real time.
• User testimonials provide immediate social proof with specific user experience details.

For instance, Pawns.app demonstrates this by showing recent payouts scrolling across the top of their homepage:

Concern #2: “Are the earnings realistic?”

Users are often skeptical of the earnings claims of play-to-earn platforms. They want to understand what they can realistically expect to earn and how much time investment that requires. Many have encountered sites that over-promise and under-deliver, often boasting earnings that “sound too good to be true.”

This is why transparency matters. P2E sites showcase:

• Realistic hourly or weekly rates that show ranges, such as “$3-7 per hour” or “Most users earn $15-25 weekly.”
• Time-to-earnings ratios help users understand the effort required for payout. Statements like “Reach your first $25 payout in 2-3 weeks with regular participation” set proper expectations.

Oftentimes, these users remain engaged longer because their experience matches what you promised. Survey Junkie is straightforward about the amount users can earn monthly:

Concern #3: “How does this business model work?”

Users want to understand how your platform generates enough revenue to pay them consistently. They feel more confident knowing where the money comes from and how the arrangement makes sense for everyone involved.

Play-to-earn sites get ahead of this by clearly explaining the economics of their platform. They have a dedicated section on their FAQ page that explains the value exchange: what they provide, what they receive, and how everyone benefits. Most of them generate revenue through:

• Advertiser partnerships – companies pay P2E platforms to connect them with users from their target demographics to complete surveys or try products.
• Market research – businesses pay for consumer insights.
• Affiliate partnerships – P2E sites earn commissions on retail purchases made through the platform.

Take Freecash, for instance. In the FAQs on their homepage, they break down how they’re able to pay users:

Concern #4: “What happens if I need help?”

When issues come up, users want to know that they’ll be resolved quickly and professionally. Responsive, effective customer service signals to them that you have the resources and commitment to handle their problems.

These platforms demonstrate responsive customer service through:

• Displaying clear response times like “24-hour email response” or “Live chat available weekdays 9 am – 6 pm EST”.
• Showing resolution metrics that prove issues actually get fixed, such as average resolution times or success rates.
• Offering multiple ways for users to reach support, including email, live chat, help center articles, and community forums.

InboxDollars exemplifies this with multiple support options:

Many platforms achieve this level of responsive support by partnering with specialized outsourcing providers who focus exclusively on customer service operations. These partnerships allow your platform to offer scalable, professional support without building entire internal teams.

Concern #5: “Can I verify these claims independently?”

P2E sites build credibility through unbiased, third-party endorsements. These endorsements include:

• Better Business Bureau ratings and accreditation that show complaint resolution history and commitment to ethical business practices.
• Verified user review platforms like Trustpilot and Google Reviews that offer authentic user feedback.
• Partnerships with established companies that serve as indirect endorsements.

Users look to these sources to confirm what you’re telling them. Display these third-party validations—accreditation badges, seals, partnership logos, etc.—across your website and update them regularly.

Immediately upon navigating to the Freecash website, we see trust indicators above the fold:

Put Trust-Building Into Action

The concerns outlined above are questions that every new visitor has when they open up your platform. Users naturally want proof of legitimacy, realistic expectations, and access to reliable support. Platforms that proactively address these create immediate trust and convert more visitors into active members.

Building the strategy around improving user confidence often requires specialized expertise. Many successful platforms partner with experienced teams who implement these trust-building strategies while you focus on platform development and growth.

Ready to transform how new visitors experience your platform? Book a demo with Hugo’s team to discuss how these confidence-building strategies can improve your user acquisition and retention rates.

Discover how we’re helping other play-to-earn platforms transform their support services:

• Hugo Transformed 72-Hour Delays into 2-Minute Response Times