Internet Scams

Internet Scams are a dime a dozen. Many of the internet scams that we report on originally started as offline scams but made their way to the online world.

Everything from cheesy MLM programs to online versions of the same scams we have reported on in other articles and almost anything else scammers can dream up. Internet scams don't only waste your time but can really cut into your pocket book as well.

Before you buy any business opportunity that is Internet based, you should do the following:

1. Make sure they list contact information. Names of people who are involved with the site, phone numbers, an address etc. An e-mail address is fine when someone isn't asking for money but when companies are asking for your hard-earned cash, e-mail isn't enough in our opinion.
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2. Go to a few sites that report on scams (like www.mazu.com or www.worldwidescam.com). Do not waste your time with the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau is not a government agency plus they have no real power. I have heard as many complaints about the Better Business Bureau as some of the scams out there.
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3. See what kind of return policy they have. Most business opportunities should at least offer a 30-day trial when you are checking them out.
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4. Lastly, got to a search engine (we like Google or a meta-engine like Metacrawler) and see if you can find any dirt or complaints about the company. This is hardly a science and I know that people tend to complain more than they praise, but you might be able to find something out. If you find one or two people complaining, ignore it. If you find 30 or 40, something is going on.

Good luck in your online adventure. The Internet scams are out there.

Matt Gagnon