In market research, frugging is "fund-raising under the guise of research".[1] This behavior occurs when a product marketer falsely purports to be a market researcher conducting a statistical survey, when in reality the "researcher" is attempting to solicit a donation.
Generally considered unethical, this tactic is strictly prohibited by trade groups, such as the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the Market Research Society, for their member research companies.[2] [3]