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How to Spot an Online Scam?

  • Lynne Level 1
    • 12

    Write the reason you're deleting this FAQ

    Part of what I do on one of my websites is review online opportunities to make money and the conclusion I have come to is that there are very few real and legitimate websites that will teach you how to make money.

    The rest appear to range from downright scams to just plain shoddy opportunities.

    What really concerns me is the amount of people that fall for these scams when they don't need to!

    Here are a few things to look out for that I consider to be the warning signs of scams. If a website you come across has any of these, then please just be wary!

    It Sounds Too Good To Be True

    If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Any website that claims you will be making a huge amount of money with them is very likely a scam!

    Make Money on Autopilot

    Any website that claims you will be making loads of money on "autopilot" through their system is almost definitely bound to be a scam!

    Secret Formula, Never Seen Before, Google Loophole, Instantly Rank you at #1 on Google?

    Seriously? That they are going to share with you? If I found a secret formula, that nobody else knew I would hang on to it and make my millions. Why on earth would I swamp the online market with something like this?

    A Google loophole? Firstly this is not likely, certainly not at the rate that so many people are claiming. However even if a "Google loophole" is found how long do you think it will take Google to notice and close that loophole, leaving your website penalized?

    MLM, Pyramid Schemes - businesses based on recruiting?

    Oh no thank you.

    MLM just sucks, really it does. It is not a sustainable business long term. Some people do make money yes, but most people don't. The majority of people that join MLM lose money.

    If there is an "MLM opportunity" but no real product then it is even worse... stay away from pyramid schemes.

    Once you join an MLM scheme suddenly the product is almost completely forgotten and the focus is on recruiting only.

    Rather try affiliate marketing!

    Flashy Website with no real substance or information

    You are going to make thousands, really really fast... on autopilot... but HOW?

    If you are on a website and they don't explain to you how you will be making money before you sign up be very wary.

    A legitimate opportunity will tell you exactly how you will make money, they will often offer you a free trial too.

    A Countdown Clock?

    Does the website have a count down clock? This is often to make you think you will lose this opportunity if you don't sign up right away.

    Trust me on this, close the website and go back the next day. You will see the same countdown the next day and the next week.

    Do not rush into anything because of a count down clock.

    Sales Video Only? Flashy Show Off?

    This is so typical of scams, they have hardly any information on their website except a flashy sales video. Fancy cars? Wads of cash? Telling you how rich they are and how they just want to help YOU get rich too because they are like oh so kind people?

    What a load of rubbish. You will find half of these people in the videos on Fiverr, they do paid videos...

    Downsells when you try and leave?

    This one is so bad!

    Have you ever tried to leave a website that is trying to get you to sign up for an offer and when you try leave they suddenly offer their $50 for $19.95?

    And you are not interested so you try again to leave and they change the offer to $9.95?

    How bad is this really? This is an awful thing to do isn't it?

    Have you encountered any of these dodgy tactics online? Can you add any other things to look out for?
    #Online #Scams Tips & Tricks
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    anwebservices

    anwebservices

    Downsells when you try and leave

    All you points are so true but this one drives me crazy and means if i accepted at first price i would be badly fooled. This is really something making me think i wouldn't do it even for $0.99 at he end and it's very disrespectful. I have bump on these many times, specially on some OTO (one time offer) pages and made me never to come back to particular website again, no matter what...
    10 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    Lynne

    Lynne

    Yes this one makes me really annoyed and it happens so often, and totally right sometimes something that starts off at $50 literally goes down to $0.99. I will never buy anything like that either and I lose respect for any online marketer that uses these tactics.
    10 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    augusta

    augusta

    Thanks for sharing.I think we get scammed because we are blinded by get rich syndrome not because he do not know that these things are too good to be real.

    All these pyramid scheme are mere scam people hear about them but still get scammed because they believe their will be did different, which is a big illusion.

    I can't be scammed with fraudulent activities because I believe in working for my money alone.
    9 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    Cristian

    Cristian

    I can spot a scam websites from a mile away! Seriously I think I have a six sense, I don't even notice them anymore, just like ads, I simply don't see anything when I end up on one of these sites.

    I just bounce right away from pure instinct. For most of these websites the design gives them away! Donno why I never whiteness a scam website with a good design! Oh yeah, and the content, the promises...just no.

    Anyway, nice list Lynne, really appreciate it!
    10 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    Barida

    Barida

    Sounding good to be true has been an evidence that always makes me have doubts over some business prospects in the sense that with the way these scammers present it, you would think that life is just easy like that. I have seen people approach my inbox to tell about ways that I can make thousands of dollars in some days and what I always do is to laugh in my heart and tell them that I am not interested in doing such businesses.
    9 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    overcast

    overcast

    There seems to be a lot of signals that one can see these days for scams. For example any service asking you money for some simple thing. That is definitely scam. Also asking to double the money. And earn money quickly. That's another form of scam. And people need to be seriously be wary of that as well. I'd say on that note we have to be really strict.
    9 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    Corzhens

    Corzhens

    Our rule for scams is that anything that is too good to be true will more likely be a scam in the end. You may not believe that until now those investment scams are still going strong? The scheme is the 10% that your investment will earn every month. There are scams like that with 20% earnings per month. Just by that alone, it is clear that it is too good to be true? And if that is true, why would that agent solicit my investment when he can take a big loan and invest it himself. Again, when the scheme looks too good to be true then expect it not to be true. You can bet on that.
    9 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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    jaymish2

    jaymish2

    I don't think there any classic signs of what a scam is and what is not especially with the widespread internet use. Everybody just need to be careful. Stay woke folks. Offline scammers have moved online. I think that's basically they are no clear requirements for what a scam is. You need to remember if its too good to be true, that's a red flag. A scam ca manifest in the most unexpected that's why its called a scam. It hits you when you are least expecting it.
    8 years ago
    1970-01-01T00:00:00+0000

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