| Having made my living virtually on the Internet | | | | Assembly of toys or other goods that you are |
| since 2000 I have seen many scams. They used | | | | then expected to sell should also be avoided. |
| to be sent to you via the post or as newspaper | | | | The advert that tells you how to make money is |
| advertisements. These days they are sent via | | | | to "do what they have done" - ie sent out chain |
| e-mail. | | | | letters or chain e-mails. You may even see this |
| We have probably all heard of the so-called | | | | offered with websites, do a check on the web |
| 'Nigerian scam' and those of us who are PC | | | | and see how many of these sites there are, |
| savvy would not fall for one BUT many are not | | | | more sites does not mean more money. Make |
| so wise and lose money as this is a clear con. The | | | | sure you see proof of earnings or they offer you |
| same when someone sends you a cheque for | | | | some guarantee. |
| more than the value of the goods you are selling | | | | Multilevel Marketing is another scheme that can be |
| and asks you to send the goods and the | | | | a scam. We would not call Amway, Avon or |
| difference as a cheque or cash - their cheque | | | | Tupperware scams but they are all reputable |
| bounces of course and you lose the goods and | | | | companies. The difference on the Internet is that |
| the refunded money. | | | | you have to convince others to buy into the |
| There are many people who make a living on the | | | | scheme. You might convince your friends and |
| web and know what to look for to avoid a scam. | | | | family but you cannot go knocking on doors on |
| The warning signs are: | | | | the net. Eventually the whole system can collapse |
| 1 NO money back guarantee | | | | leaving everyone at the bottom of the pyramid |
| 2 Not sold via a reputable intermediary such as | | | | with nothing. |
| ClickBank etc who will protect you and get your | | | | Directories of Internet Home Based Businesses |
| money back in case of a scam | | | | are another system of parting people from their |
| 3 Overstated claims of their product - if it was so | | | | money. The Internet covers the whole world but |
| good, why would they have to sell the method to | | | | many of these jobs will be those mentioned |
| make money? | | | | above or ones that require you to pay large |
| 4 Promise of huge earnings in the first week or | | | | sums up front before you can obtain any work at |
| month | | | | all. |
| 5 Lack of proper website, contact address and | | | | There are ways of making money on the |
| details of what you will be getting. | | | | Internet. Virtual Assistants or Virtual Secretaries |
| The most common scams are for self-assembly | | | | have been working this way for many years. |
| work at home - along with envelope stuffing you | | | | They set up their own business and take the risk |
| should avoid these unless you personally know the | | | | of success or failure. Find a site that promotes |
| company and are doing a normal job at home. | | | | VA working and how to start your own business. |