Most people are quick tag PTC sites as scams.
Well, we can’t blame them because there are indeed sites that fold up after few months of operation. Some are really scammers. No doubt about that. In the internet world where you can mask your identity it’s easy to lure people and deceive them. Some PTC sites though fold up because of financial difficulties. They may have set a ridiculously high incentives for members that are not really feasible. Others encounter difficulties with payment processors. Usually that happens if a certain member of a PTC site complains to Paypal, Alertpay or any other payment processors for whatever reason. Due to strict rules and regulations by these payment processors they may freeze the account of the PTC admin. The money is there, the PTC admin is willing to pay its members but is unable to do so because their account is frozen due to a dispute, hence, the collapse of the business.

BUT… There are legitimate PTC sites. In fact, most of them have been operational for a couple of years. There are even sites that were around for more than 8 years.Companies need a way to promote your products or services. Previously, the ads are in newspapers or magazines or even through e-mails you receive. Then there’s radio and television ads. And with the growing number of people who are online, we now have ads on the Internet.
Advertising is big business and a way to tap a huge profit from it, one has to think outside the box. That’s how I think, PTC sites emerged. Why not show your ads to those who are willing to see them for a few seconds and eventually buy the product or to use the service?
So what specific places PTC / s should join? Here are tips on how to find the trust of the scammers:

1. In general, how to design the site / background appeal to you? Is it well planned? Does it look like one that has been tested before running or is like a shitty website that appears to be set in a hurry? In general appearance of the site only you will be able to detect the scams legit.
2. What is their compensation plan? Please note: If the site promises to give more than one 5cents AdClick for a standard membership or free then skip this place and find another. Furthermore, if the minimum payment is more than $ 10, you may want to avoid that one too.

3. There should be no need for you to pay for a fee or an upgrade before you can earn. A free/standard member should still be able to earn and cashout money from the site.

4. Check sites like PTC-Investigation.com and PTCBoycott.com and verify if the site you’re interested to join in is not listed under scam sites.

5. Verify who’s the owner of the PTC site. Check that from whois.com. If their business/personal name together with their location shows up then that’s a positive sign that the site is really in for the business.
6. Check out on how long the business have been operational or at least how long the admin has been in this type of business.
7. Read the FAQ, TOS and Help pages. If they have a forum, take a look as well.

8. Check for payment proof.

9. There should be a payment processor like paypal or alertpay. Although there are still sites that pay via check it would be best to look for the ones who’ll pay you thru a reputed payment processor. This is important as well for International members.
10. There should be a way to contact the admin. Either via email or thru their forum.
11. It won’t hurt if you join PTC sites that were referred to you by a friend who’s earning already from the site or from a trusted source. Sure, they will earn from you as their referral but at least you’re certain that the site you’re joining in is a legitimate one.