How To Spot An Online Scam
Posted Under: Home Based Internet Business
Learning how to spot an online scam is necessary if you plan on being involved with any business venture on the Internet.
Online scams are always a possibility if you are starting your own home based business or looking for a job online.
Unfortunately, it seems that during this current recessionary period; more and more people are vulnerable and tend to fall prey to online job scams.
It’s easy to fall for empty promises, rewards, and easy hiring procedures when you’ve been laid off from your job and have to provide for your family, unless you learn how to spot an online scam.
Scammers have developed sophisticated schemes to make their phony online jobs look legitimate. Usually, the only time you find out that the position is a scam, is when there is no paycheck available for you.
So how do you spot an online scam?
Here are a few warning signs you need to know, that will help you avoid getting into a position you really don’t want to be in. Spotting any of them in a potential job offer could suggest that you might be getting into a scam.
Up Front Money
If an online opportunity or potential employer asks for up front money for additional company and job information, training, software, or a start up kit; it’s likely a scam.You should never have to pay an employer to hire you or train you for a job, it’s the employer’s responsibility to pay for training and your services.
Promises Of Quick Cash
If any online offer or job promises you to “Get Rich Quick”, or “Make $126,327.86 last month”, or anything of that nature, it’s probably not worth your time.
No legitimate online offer, or job opportunity, can promise you this kind of money. Even with affiliate marketing, it takes time and a lot of hard work to achieve these goals.
No Skill Or Experience
When a job offer states that no experience or skills are needed, why would the job be offered in the first place? Legitimate jobs require job skills that only qualified individuals possess, and all real jobs are performed by qualified people.
It would be a waste of money for an employer to entrust a legitimate job to an unreliable unqualified employee. Avoid any offer that promises this.
Over describing Legitimacy
When a job or an online offer spends an inordinate amount of time explaining it’s legitimacy, it is probably a marketing strategy, and not a legitimate offer.
Legitimate offers spend time describing their company or business, their pay scale, and other important details. They do not waste time explaining how legitimate they are; it isn’t necessary.
Unsolicited Mailings
Learning how to spot an online scam is easy, when you get an unsolicited email job, or business offer.
Unsolicited email messages promising you a “Secret Moneymaking Opportunity” or “How to retire early by ….” are more correctly identified as “spam”. Trash it!
Questionable Websites
Legitimate companies always provide full contact details on their website.
Avoid dealing with websites that have limited, or no contact information.
Do your research when looking for online businesses or job opportunities. Due diligence is always required.
If you are in doubt or question a company’s credibility; type the company name and the word scam in Google. The search results will tell you if the company is viable.
You can also contact a company’s representative and ask for a list of references before engaging in any dealings with them.
If you follow these warning signs you will have a leg up knowing how to spot an online scam.
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