One thing I think we ALL agree on: There are way too many scams out there. Both online and off. Things like:
Email from a "millionaire who needs help transferring large sums of money" This is one of the most popular scams online today.
How about the "Youve won the lottery!!" mails You know that unless | | youve bought a ticket, or registered for the lottery in question, you havent really won a thing. Prepare to be scammed!
Oh, and the "Free Credit Report" mails, did you know that theyre usually just someone looking to get your ssn number, or some of them even bill you for using their "free" service later
Watch out for the E-gold and Paypal scams, where someone sends you a mail telling you that you HAVE to login, or risk losing everything. Both E-gold and Paypal have strict email policies, and neither of them would EVER ask for your login info with an email.
Then theres "Youve won a free gift". How many of those do you get per week All you have to do is pay s&h, right Well, that means it isnt really free, doesnt it You know what they get when you claim that free gift Usually your credit card number, or even your email address/phone number which can then be sold on as "leads".
Ive put together a bunch of links that can hopefully help you with safely marketing online, without getting scammed.
Minimize Credit Card Fraud http://www.scambusters.org/CreditCardFraud.html
Museum of Scams and Frauds (I really love this one)
http://www.quatloos.com
Great list of online and offline scams
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/index.htm
A forum for discussing get paid programs. Good, Bad and Scams
http://www.isaaf.com
List of scams with a touch of humour
http://www.worldwidescam.com
What if youve already been scammed Complain! Dont just leave it. You wont help yourself, nor others if you just leave it. Even if you dont get your money back, youll be doing your bit to stop these scams and fraudsters, ultimately helping others to avoid them.
Been scammed File a report!
http://www.badbusinessbureau.com/reports/default41.htm
A joint project of consumer protection agencies from 17 nations
http://www.econsumer.gov/english/
How to complain (UK)
http://www.consumer.gov.uk/consumer_web/complain.htm
In ending:
Theres just so much hype out there, and its easy to get "sucked in". We all want to believe that we can actually make the promised 10s of t |
| | to complain (UK)
http://www.consumer.gov.uk/consumer_web/complain.htm
In ending:
Theres just so much hype out there, and its easy to get "sucked in". We all want to believe that we can actually make the promised 10s of thousands of dollars within just a couple of weeks.
In reality, things like that just dont happen. The only person who can possibly, if at all, make that amount of money, is the program owner. At YOUR cost. Always remember, if it looks unbelievable, it probably is.
No matter what you market online, always do your homework before signing up for anything. Its REALLY important to do a lot of research before you decide to pay out any money.
Dont rely on just a couple of sources for information, find as many as you can. Check out lists and forums, see if theyve got anything to say about the program/product youre considering.
Ask all your friends and contacts if theyve heard anything, good or bad. Go to marketing chatrooms, see what people there have to say about it. Ask about everything you need answers to regarding the product/program. Youll be surprised at the amount of information you can get.
Get in touch with the owners, ask questions. If theyre elusive, or dont answer you at all, then my advice would be to steer clear.
Above all: Never EVER use money you cant afford to lose.
Anna-Marie Stewart Venton
Not Just Another Ezine
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About The Author
Anna-Marie Stewart Venton publishes Not Just Another Ezine at http://annamarketing.com. Dedicated to helping marketers succeed, and have a bit of fun at the same time. She also hosts weekly "Get To Know Each Other" chats for all online marketers. Download your free Money Chatter Viral Marketing Tool here: http://annamarketing.com/MC
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This article was posted on June 03, 2003 |
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