Is It a Scam?
Don't Let your Money go down the Drain!
Don't Get Scammed! Review the Facts! Search The Internet!
Check with BBB!
Some scams are very easy to identify. For instance, just about everyone knows that getting paid to stuff envelopes has nothing to do with landing a great job. All this "job" offers is an envelope with instructions on how to place an ad like the one you saw asking people for money so you can send them a copy of the instructions you were sent. Not only will you fall flat on this job, you could be charged with fraud for pyramid schemes!
Other jobs are a little tougher to figure out. For instance, you see how well your craft or handiwork sells around town. So when you see an ad asking for qualified people to do just that it must be a sign from up above! But wait! Often times these too are too good to be true.
So what makes for a legit online job? The same thing that makes a legit offline job. Most companies will list their name and contact information. They will ask for some type of skill or ability. And they won't make astronomical promises on how much you will make.
When you are searching through the job banks looking for work at home avoid using the keyphrase "work at home". Try some more professional words such as virtual office, home based, independent contractor, home office or the like.
And when you think you're finally ready to jump in to a job do yourself one more favour. Check with your local Better Business Bureau ( www.bbb.org ) to find out if there have been any complaints made against the company in question.
There are jobs out there - keep both eyes open!
Prize or Lottery Scam
Another type of scam is a prize or lottery scam!
These are notifications that advise people that they have won a prize (often for a competition they didn't even enter).
Here are some tips on how to spot a prize or lottery scam.
- The information advises that you have won a prize - but you did not enter any competition run by the prize promoters.
- The mail may be personally addressed to you but it has been posted using bulk mail - thousands of others around the world may have received the exact same notification.
- The prize promoters ask for a fee (for administration or "processing") to be paid in advance.
- Other schemes pretend to be legitimate lotteries, or offer you the opportunity to buy shares in a fund that purports to purchase tickets in legitimate overseas lotteries.
- The scheme offers bait prizes that, if they are real, are often substandard, over-priced, or falsely represented. Or, as part of the prize you can purchase "exclusive items" which may also be over-priced or substandard.
- To get your prize might require travel overseas at your own cost to receive it.
Ebay or Yahoo Auction Scams
Auction fraud can and does occur on eBay and Yahoo Auctions. Here are some possible signs of a fraudulent listings:
- Low priced high-ticket items, like high-definition TVs, laptops, or jewelry — especially if there are multiple items for sale.
- Brand-new sellers with no sales history.
- Sellers requesting wire transfers for payment, or payment in foreign currencies.
- Auctions that begin and end over a weekend, since eBay customer support is light during those days.
- Seller telephone numbers or addresses that can't be verified.
Health Product Scams
Many people believe in ‘alternative medicines’, or are simply looking for cures or pain relief that traditional medicine are unable to offer them. This has presented an opportunity for companies and individuals to exploit such a need for profit. A great many companies have entered the market, offering alternatives to prescription medicine, with the intention of helping
This has presented an opportunity for companies and individuals to exploit such a need for profit. A great many companies have entered the market, offering alternatives to prescription medicine, with the intention of helping people as well as making money. Some, however, are just looking to make money with no regard for whether their products are either an effective remedy, or something that offers value for money.
Ultimately, it is for you to decide upon whether an alternative cure is right for you, though these 5 tips may help you avoid some of the more obvious health product scams -
- The drug or therapy comes with a money back guarantee based upon unrealistic, yet hard to prove, claims or promises
- The product is touted as a cure or remedy for a large number of medical conditions that are unrelated
- The product’s marketing goes against the understanding of modern science and medicine
- Product claims have no scientific proof and information about the product can only be found through online web sites and forums
- The sales copy is over-reliant upon phrases such as ‘fast relief’, ‘amazing results’ or ‘natural’ and contains a lot of unsubstantiated customer testimonials.