Scams are a kind of fraud. They are any intent to hide or disguise the legitimate source of an offer to make it look as if it originated from a legitimate source. Each internet user should ask themselves if they would consider the same offer if it were received in the mail, a parking lot or through a phone call instead of in an email, chatroom or website.
All scams have features that can identify them as illegitimate offers. If only one of the identifying features seems to be true, it is better to protect yourself by refusing the offer than to take the chance of losing your money or identity. It is better to be safe than sorry. Here are some tips for spotting them before it's too late.
Some internet scams require you to pay up-front money disguised as processing fees, taxes, or registration fees before you can receive whatever was promised. Sometimes they pretend to complete the deal or transaction but then ask you to deposit monies and return what isn’t yours. Sometimes they simply lie about the product or service, take your money and leave you with nothing for your money. If you can’t verify from independent sources or are asked not to check out the company, its website, salesperson, product or service, then you know something isn’t right and you probably should avoid the offer or advertisement.
There aren’t any legitimate guarantees, verbal or in writing, of fast or extravagant profits, of credit when local lenders refuse, of a scientific breakthrough that can’t be found anywhere else, or substantial income for little effort. When you are being pressured by a salesperson or company representative to complete the transaction right now or before time runs out very soon, you know again something is not quite right. If the offer features insider or confidential information, avoid it like a plague. Any legitimate representative of a business doesn’t offer insider secrets to the general public. In fact, insider trading of secrets or assets is illegal in the USA and other countries.
Scams presented on the internet, in email, over the phone, in person or through the postal mail, are as varied as people and it's important to learn how to spot one. Fraudulent offers can be obvious or difficult to recognize depending on the intended victim or target’s perception of the presentation. Try to be aware that scams try to separate you from your money and/or identification. So, “if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.