Dynata phone calls: why Dynata keeps calling (and how to stop it)

Dynata is a legitimate global market research company that conducts surveys on behalf of businesses, political organizations, and academic institutions. If Dynata keeps calling you, it’s usually because your phone number was selected for a consumer or public opinion survey. This can happen through random digit dialing (numbers are generated automatically to create a representative sample) or because your contact info appears in a research or marketing database.

The most efficient way to stop Dynata phone calls is to ask the caller to place you on the no-contact list. You can also register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry (though market research calls are often exempt from telemarketing restrictions).

What is Dynata?

Dynata is a market research company, and it works on behalf of other companies (and sometimes political organizations) to gain insight into people’s motivations, opinions, daily living habits, and more. It gathers information by running surveys through multiple channels, including phone interviews, online panels, mobile apps, and email invitations. 

Dynata’s origins trace back to 1977, when Tom Danbury and Beverly Weiman founded Survey Sampling International (SSI) in Danbury’s garage. The company’s innovation was to offer client organizations a telephone sampling service using a database so that these organizations wouldn’t need to assemble these samples from phone books. 

Over the next few decades, SSI grew through mergers and acquisitions while it developed worldwide panels of respondents that could be segmented by demographic information and other criteria. It eventually rebranded to Dynata in 2019. 

Is Dynata legit? 

Dynata is indeed a legitimate company. It has an established history in market research and is trusted by large corporations, government agencies, and universities. 

Dynata follows recognized standards, including ISO 20252, that help ensure surveys are conducted in a reliable and ethical way. The company was also named the Overall Winner of 2024 I-COM Global Data Creativity Awards, recognizing its innovative use of data and analytics in market research.

Why is Dynata calling me?

Market research surveys are typically targeted to specific demographics (age, income range, political leanings) or geographic locales. If a research company believes you meet these criteria, then you might get a call (or several, possibly from different numbers). 

As for how Dynata got your phone number, several options are possible. For one, you may have been reached through random digital dialing, where computers generate phone numbers at random within valid number ranges for a specific geographic area (for example, a particular area code). In other cases, your number may appear in a consumer or research database obtained from survey panels, marketing lists, or commercial data providers.

One thing to note: not all supposed Dynata phone calls are from Dynata. Scammers may impersonate the company in an effort to steal your personal information (more on red flags later). 

What happens if you answer a (legit) Dynata survey call?

A typical Dynata phone call will start with an introduction from the interviewer, who will explain that the call is for research purposes and that your participation is voluntary. They’ll then ask a few screening questions to make sure you fit within the target demographic. 

Keep in mind that these screening questions will never ask you to divulge sensitive details like SSN, exact age, or salary—this is scammer behavior. However, the real company may indeed ask for your approximate address in order to verify that you’re in the right geographical area. 

The next step will be to answer the survey questions. They’ll process your data after the call is over. 

Dynata calls vs scam calls 

These days, scammers have various methods to impersonate legitimate companies and individuals. One common technique, known as caller ID spoofing, allows them to manipulate the phone number (and sometimes the name) displayed on the recipient’s caller ID so that it appears to come from a trusted source.

Given that the nature of Dynata’s phone calls is to ask you various personal questions, it’s an especially attractive target for scammers to impersonate. And it’s also the reason why it’s crucial to know the warning signs.

A legitimate call from Dynata will:

• let you know that your participation is voluntary
• allow you to decline questions

A legitimate call from Dynata will not:

• pressure you into answering questions
• ask for sensitive details like your Social Security, driver’s license or passport numbers  
• ask for your payment info under the guise of “compensating you for your time”
• ask YOU to pay for any reason whatsoever

Scammers pretending to be Dynata may also contact you via text, with a “survey” link designed to steal your personally identifiable information. This has been enough of a problem in some communities that their government agencies have to warn residents against clicking the links. 

How to stop calls from Dynata

One way to stop Dynata phone calls is to ask the Dynata interviewer to place you on the no-contact list. Another way is to call the company directly at 1-833-757-1746 and request the same.

For a more wide-reaching opt-out, you can register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry. However, the DNC generally doesn’t cover market research and survey calls—and it surely won’t stop scammers.

A solid method to reduce the amount of spam calls and texts is to use call-blocking apps or built-in spam filtering tools offered by your phone carrier or smartphone.

Another important step is to remove your phone number from people-search sites. These publish it online for anyone to find, accompanied by your name, home address, place of work, family ties, legal records, and other sensitive details. You can opt out manually or rely on an automated service like Onerep.

FAQs

What is Dynata and why are they calling me?

Dynata is a market research company that promises to help brands and other organizations gain a better understanding of their customer base. They use these insights to optimize product-market fit, advertising campaigns, and more. If Dynata is calling you, it’s probably because you fit the demographic criteria they’re interested in.

How did Dynata get my number? 

Dynata may obtain your phone number via random digit dialing, where computers generate phone numbers within certain area codes to reach a representative sample of people for surveys. Your number might also appear in a consumer or research database compiled from marketing lists, loyalty programs, survey panels, or other commercial data sources. If you’ve previously participated in online surveys, signed up for promotions, or shared your contact details with a partner research company, your number may have been included in a dataset used for future market research outreach. 

What is a Dynata phone call and how to know it’s not a scammer instead?

A Dynata phone call involves answering some quick screening questions and then taking a survey. If you’re speaking to a legit survey conductor, they will never ask you for sensitive personal information or ask you to reveal payment info to “compensate you for your time.”