Were you contacted for a survey? Check it is genuine.
It takes about two minutes. You do not have to answer anything until you are sure.
We answer Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (WAT).
Stop and check if anyone asks you for
- Money, or a fee to take part.
- Your BVN, NIN, card details, PIN, password or a code sent to your phone.
- A tap on a link that does not go to probatioafrica.com.
That is not us. Do not reply. Tell us.
How were you contacted?
Choose the one that fits. Each says what to look for.
Someone came to me
A fieldworker at your home, shop or market.
Someone came to me
A fieldworker at your home, shop or market.
- They show an identity card with their photo, their name, an interviewer number and a study reference.
- They tell you their name, that they work for Probatio Africa, what the study is about and how long it takes.
- They tell you that you can say no, and that you can stop at any time.
Check it
Call or message us with the study reference and the interviewer number. We will tell you if they match.
A phone call
A call from someone who says they are doing a survey.
A phone call
A call from someone who says they are doing a survey.
- The caller gives their name, our name and what the study is about, and a study reference.
- They don't rush you.
- They never ask you to call them back on a number they give you.
Check it
If you are not sure, end the call and phone us on +234 905 178 1117. Don't call back the number that rang you.
A text or WhatsApp message
A message with a link or a request to reply.
A text or WhatsApp message
A message with a link or a request to reply.
- It carries a study reference and comes from +234 905 178 1117.
- Any link goes only to probatioafrica.com. If it goes anywhere else, don't tap it.
- It never asks for money, a code or a password.
Check it
Contact us with the reference before you tap or reply.
A letter, an email or something else
A printed invitation, an email or a message from a community leader.
A letter, an email or something else
A printed invitation, an email or a message from a community leader.
- A letter gives a study reference and our contact details.
- An email comes from an address ending in @probatioafrica.com.
- A community leader can introduce a study, but they can't agree for you.
Check it
Use the contact details on the letter, or the ones on this page, and quote the reference.
Three steps to check
- 1
Find the study reference.
It is on your consent form, on the fieldworker's card and in our messages. It looks like this: PA-2026-014. That is PA, the year, and the study number.
- 2
Tell us the reference.
Call or message us. We confirm that the study exists, who asked for it, who leads it, and where and when fieldwork is running.
- 3
If we can't confirm it, stop.
Don't take part. Tell us how you were contacted, so that we can act.
What we will never do
- Ask you for money, or a fee to take part.
- Ask for your BVN, NIN, bank card details, PIN, password or a one-time code.
- Send you to a website that isn't ours.
- Promise a prize, or a payment that isn't written on your consent form.
- Pressure you to answer quickly.
- Share your answers with your name attached.
If anyone asks for these in our name, it isn't us. Stop, and tell us.
What does our identity card show?
Every fieldworker carries one. If a card does not show all of these, ask them to wait, and call us.
Interviewer’s full name
Interviewer
No: PA-INT-0421
Study: PA-2026-014
Valid until: 31/12/2026
To check: +234 905 178 1117
- A photograph
- Their name
- An interviewer number
- The study reference
- A valid-until date
- The number to call to check them
What does a real message look like?
These two examples were written to show the difference. They are not real messages.
Probatio Africa: your household is invited to a study on access to health services, reference PA-2026-014, for a state ministry of health. It is voluntary and takes about 30 minutes. To check it is real, call +234 905 178 1117 or go to probatioafrica.com/verify.
- It names us and the study.
- It has a study reference.
- It says who asked for it.
- It says it is voluntary, and how long it takes.
- It gives a number and our address to check.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have won N50,000 in a national survey. Send your BVN and the code we texted you to claim. Tap bit.ly/xxxx. Reply within 1 hour.
- A prize you did not enter for.
- It asks for your BVN and a code.
- A shortened link hides where it goes.
- It pressures you to reply within an hour.
- No study reference, and no way to check.
A real invitation may look different: a letter, a call, a visit. The wording matters less than the checks: a study reference, a named study and a way to check.
What are your rights when you take part?
We tell you all of this before you start. It is written on your consent form.
You choose.
Taking part is voluntary. You can skip any question and stop at any time.
You know who we are.
The fieldworker tells you their name, our name, who asked for the study and what it is about.
You know how long.
We tell you how long it will take, and whether it will be recorded, before we start.
You can change your mind.
You can withdraw your consent later, as easily as you gave it.
You can ask about your data.
You can ask what we hold, ask us to correct it or delete it, and object to how it is used.
You can complain.
You can complain to us, or to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
Children are protected.
A child takes part only with a parent or guardian's consent and their own agreement.
Questions people ask
Who is Probatio Africa?
An independent social research company based in Lagos. We run surveys and studies for governments, donors and programme teams. We do not sell anything.
Why was I chosen?
Most surveys choose households or people at random from a list or a map of an area, so that everyone there has a fair chance of being chosen and the results represent the whole area. Some studies choose people for their role or experience, such as health workers or traders. Your consent form says how you were chosen. You are one of many people, and your answers are combined with theirs.
Will I be paid?
Some studies offer a small payment or gift. If yours does, it is written on your consent form. We never ask you to pay anything to receive it.
Who will see my answers?
Only the research team. Your name is kept apart from your answers, and reports show groups of people, never you by name.
What if I say no, or stop halfway?
Nothing happens. It is your choice. You can skip any question and stop at any time.
I already answered, and now I am worried.
Call or message us with the study reference. You can ask what we hold, ask us to correct or delete it, and withdraw your consent.
Reach a person, or report a concern
Use whichever is easiest for you. You do not have to give your name.
What standards is this page built on?
So that anyone can check us, these are the rules we follow, and where each comes from.
Say who you are, and let people check.
Professional guidance says interviewers should promptly identify themselves, let respondents check their credentials, explain the purpose and allow them to withdraw at any time.
Never ask for money, or use a survey to sell.
The American Association for Public Opinion Research condemns requiring payment, asking for contributions, or using participants' contacts as sales leads under the guise of research.
Give respondents a charter of rights.
A Canadian charter says respondents are told who is calling and what the study is, can verify the firm, are never sold anything or asked for money, and can stop.
Follow Nigerian data protection law.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and its 2025 directive: consent, withdrawal, access, correction, deletion, and a right to complain to the Commission.
Send messages only from one known sender.
The telecoms regulator runs a complaints line (622) and a service that blocks unsolicited promotional messages (text STOP to 2442). We send our messages from one sender name, and every message says so.