How to Detect an Internet Scam

I recently received an email offering me “an insiders’ secret” that would give me access to some very important information that would guarantee me at least $200 (or was it $$$$$$$$$$$200?) per hour. This I was told was possible even if I did not have any experience, no skills, Nothing! The only thing that would be required from me was a computer and with a reliable internet connection. The job entailed taking “simple surveys” and I could manage to take 15 such surveys in a day and …

Some of you could be wondering why I went on reading the email when I knew pretty well it was a scam. However, there are many who believe that such emails are the key to getting them out of poverty. Despite the fact that many of us can tell the difference between a scam and a genuine offer, there are still a few who are not sure on how to detect a scam. So how is it done?

Spammers and scammers do rhyme

Because they are always looking for quick and simple way to make money, scammers usually send spam emails. Normally, they prefer free email services such as yahoo and gmail. This is because no serious web-hosting service would like to be associated with spamming companies. When assessing the validity of a “ money making secret” it makes little sense to me why a person who is willing sell me a product that will make me a millionaire within three weeks cannot afford to set up an account with a reputable email marketing company. If such a person cannot make enough money, how can he teach me how to make it?

The deal is too good to be true.

Many of the people who fall victims of internet scams do so mainly because of their greed rather than as a result of ignorance. In many times, the people who are conned find it difficult to believe the scam, but the fight against common sense is usually fueled by the burning desire to make quick bucks even if it means participating in something illegal. For example, when you fall prey to emails suggesting that you have been identified as the sole beneficiary to the wealth of former Nigerian dictator and that they (his family members) need your bank accounts so that you may help them launder the money, you only have yourself to blame if you go to your account and find it empty.

Read reviews

Before you spend any money on a wonder product, read reviews or visit sites which talk about the product, and visit sites that tell of the scams that are doing rounds in the internet. It’s only a fool who has to learn from his/her own experience. Try to learn from other people’s experience and see what they went through so that you do not have to suffer the same problems that other people suffered. If the product has nothing about it from other users, then you can be pretty sure that it is a scam.

All in all, it is a pretty bad thing to be conned. You usually ask yourself how stupid you were to have fallen for such a stupid lie. Unfortunately, many people usually end up doing a lot of research about a certain product once they have lost the money. It is at this time that you read everywhere of posts that have been are at least a year old of many people that have been conned as you have been. Unfortunately, it’s usually too late. Research as much as you can and you won’t regret.