Is it permissible for a poor student to use a location-identifying application to earn money by answering surveys, while changing their location with a program to receive surveys designated for America, and then use this money to purchase paid applications that they previously downloaded through illicit means?

It is not permissible to take money for answering surveys if the conditions are not met, such as cheating by changing one's real location to mislead the survey owners into believing one is in a certain country, because that is considered deception and fraud. The money given for the survey is given to those who are actually present in the targeted country. Therefore, the lack of the condition of being present in the country concerned makes the money unlawful. The purchase of prohibited applications does not justify obtaining this money. A Muslim must fear Allah and be patient until he finds lawful money, for fearing Allah is a cause for sustenance and achieving one's goals.