Seven Tips to Help Avoid Internet Scams

This is a Guest Post by Holly Miller from Coupon Croc

Anyone who hasn’t heard the phrase, ‘Internet scam’ is probably a brand new Internet user. From email scams to ‘business opportunity’ scams to account hack attempts called phishing, scams to run the gamut. There are even scams that present themselves as from the director of the FBI, other security services or international bankers. To avoid loss of any money through false purchases, online or offline account take-overs or other illegal or immoral activity, be very aware and extremely cautious before providing any information about yourself or your credit cards, bank accounts or any user name or password to anyone on the Internet. Here are a few specific tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of Internet scams.

Email Scams

1: Illness: If you’ve ever read an email from someone in a foreign country, pleading a sob story about imperative medical care is available only in your country, but funds to travel aren’t available, don’t buy into it. The sender got your email address through data miners and is using it to send scam spam: Don’t provide any bank account information; don’t agree to any financial transaction, and don’t even respond to them.

2: Found Inheritance: Don’t give your name, mailing address or even confirmation that the email address is yours. Don’t believe a word of these emails: Odds are it’s a money laundering scheme that could land you in jail for it doesn’t matter if you ‘didn’t know’ the transaction was regarding illegal funds. If you provide banking information for a transfer of funds, and you receive those funds, you’re implicated, and you’ll go to jail.

3: Account Verification: If you receive that important-looking email asking you to use a link within the email to verify your user name, password or other account security information, don’t click. Use a different browser window or tab to navigate to the bank or payment site, log in there directly and find the notification on your account. If you find none, it’s a scam. Forward the email to your bank or applicable vendor. Security contact addresses are found on every online bank or vendor website.

Work-at-Home

This is probably one of the biggest scam areas on the Internet. Unfortunately, not all are easily recognized, especially if you have interest in the field.

1: Always search for independent user reviews. Never rely on those portrayed on the website. Many of them are fakes.

2: Search the website for the Better Business Bureau for US sites or the equivalent in other jurisdictions. The FBI also has a scam search option.

3: If a website guarantees you income in a work-at-home job or business, pass it by. There’s nary a one that can guarantee anything except disappointment unless you actually earn it. Watch payment methods, advertising requirements, revenue sharing wording—sharing revenue income may be possible, but how often you’re paid, whether you’re paid in total or gross revenue or ‘net’ profit can make a huge difference.

4: Envelope Stuffing: Whether this one is online or offline, the biggest catch to envelope stuffing isn’t that you will never get paid, although that’s a possibility, but that you will have to not only stuff those envelopes and probably provide the postage, but you will also have to advertise the product or service to which the stuffed information pertains. You have to generate responses in order to stuff those envelopes. Do you have the time, knowledge and money to start, maintain and perfect an advertising campaign that won’t get you fined from violating local ordinances?

Overview

Always read “opportunity” emails or websites with a well-jaundiced eye. Read with “catch” in mind, not “instant wealth.” Never fall for officious-looking email: If those departments or organizations that are sending you email want to contact you, they won’t do it electronically.

Article contributed by Holly Miller, who writes for Coupon Croc. Protect yourself and your computer with the latest security software. Use a Currys discount code and save when you buy online.

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