Scam Protection
Scam Protection
Simply put, scam protection is common sense armed with specialized techniques in spotting and avoiding scams. I have probably been scammed more than anyone one you know, but I did it on purpose, to learn what they sell, how they sell it, and finally why I did not really need it.
I used this information as a guideline in what “Not To DO” in setting up my own ethical online business and it has actually helped me gain a great reputation with my customers. Here is my short list of tips and tricks
1. Insider Secrets.
When you see the word Secrets in an add, the alleged secrets are usually available for free somewhere on the internet if you search for them. How can this be true ? Because people buy them and copy that information immediately onto their websites, blogs, forums and eBooks. One thing is for sure, If something looks profitable, the idea, concept and product will be stolen, duplicated and rebranded by those who cannot find a better way to make a living.
2. No Selling, No Experience, No SUCCESS !
When you see no selling, no experience needed, it usually Means no SUCCESS (Accept to those who are promoting to you). You see, real success requires both selling and experience. There is no short road to success, it must be earned, acquired, and then fine tuned into a working business strategy.
3. Newbie Makes 75,000 in seven days !
I just commented on some famous marketers blog on how misleading his titles are. My Exact words were that I knew
For a fact that this guy spent 2-3 months developing his product, and another 6-8 weeks in Pre-Sales Marketing before he opened up the product for sale. By then He was 1. Not a Newbie, and 2. It took him considerable effort and time and money to reach that goal, which now only sells a few dozen copies a month.
The Marketer was using this as a segway into his marketing membership as an example of HOW WELL You CAN DO as his student. And while his students may make some money, I told him that people are not stupid, and do not like to be lied to, and how damaging this behavior is to those of us who ethically market our business.
4. Loose Weight Instantly , Buy My Techniques.
Wow, does this diet niche have a lot of scams. Here is the deal, If you really want to loose weight, join some free forums and get the same information, (and usually better) for free ! Just go to google and search for some social sites
Forums and blogs and start your research for free.
The reason there are so many diet scams, is that so many people want the easy way out. Hate to tell you, but there is no easy way out, so save your money and get in shape by eating right, exercise and drinking lots of water. Taking magic pills to reduce weight is very risky to your health, and is usually a temporary loss any way , if they even work at all.
5. Testimonials
Many Sales pitches use testimonials as a technique to influence a sale. Ask the vendor/marketer if you can contact their references. If you can contact them, ask them point blank did they receive anything for their testimonial.
6. Scam Detection techniques.
A Business Name, Telephone number and a real Persons Name address and contact information is a positive sign to look for. Scammers and spammers do not want you to know who they really are, or how to easily reach them.
Investigate what information they are trying to sell you outside of their website before buying it. Google it and see what you can find out.
Take a look to see if their business is registered with a BBB, and look to see if they offer money back guarantee.
7. Hotel Conference meetings on Business Opportunities.
It starts with 9.95 a month, then they add on hosting, back office fees, stock to buy, paid advertising leads, and you are walking out 10K poorer ! Been there, Done That too ! so here is your survival guide. I usually don’t go, but If you must go to these, know this, That free food, conference room, and materials given to you comes at the expense of many loosers.
Listen for the words they use, and techniques. It all sounds convincing, but when you get down to the naked facts you almost always better walking out.
8. Buy Wholesale – OMG !
A very famous wholesaler intimidates their customers into memberships that day where they pay thousands up front to save on items that are alledgedly wholesale, but are very hard to find that exact product in retail to actually validate.
Stay away, and look for bargains in more traditional ways. There are many other wholesale offers out there, I do know there are a few good ones, but generally speaking, the rule of thumb is that wholesale prices are reserved for large volume retailers. The little guy has little chance at seeing a real wholesale price.
9. Television Advertising
I cannot recall the last television ad that sold me something I actually needed or served a critical function in my life. A great many of them that I did but like AS SEEN ON TV, generally did not live up to my expectations and was discarded in the garbage shortly after I received them.
10. Revealing Personal Information.
Never give out your social security number, banking information, birthdate.
When buying online with a credit card, make sure you are on a secured page. It will start with HTTPS://
Use a email address especially for online buying, or blogs , forums. You can get free email addresses at yahoo, google,
Aol, Microsofts hotmail. This way If you get spammed, it does not impact your personal account that your friends
Communicate to you.
11. Spam … arrgh !
It fills up your inbox, and while most folks just delete them and mark them as spam, I try to click unsubscribe to reduce the clutter in my mail. It works too ! There are those that claim that by doing that you are validating the email address. For most marketers, sending out emails is one life line, and when they send out to a invalid email address it kicks back to them, and most have automated technology that removes invalid emails.
Attachments to emails can have harmful viruses and worms, and deceptive tactics embedded in them. Only open them if you know the sender. It is best to have anti-virus software that is email scanning capable like Norton.
12. Way Back Machine !
Another great research tool is the way back machine. You can type in any website name and see all the versions of it going back many years. Here is the link http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
13. Monitor your credit card statements.
I have caught many unauthorized charges on my statements, which you can report and challenge. It is surprising how many people do not take the time to do this.
14. Monitor yourself thru TRW, Equifax services regularly.
Its worth the fees they charge to let you see what is going on inside your actual credit report. This can catch problems before they become big problems. They offer notification services, and Identity theft safe guards.
15. Report Scams
http://www.ic3.org The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
16. Google
Google is a great research tool used by scammers, spammers and normal folks alike. Type in the name of a website and see what you get. Now this gets a little tricky So I will try to clear the clutter. Many spammers post web pages saying that a really legitimate site or product is a scam. On the google search page you really need to open them and investigate them. Many are just segways into selling their own version of a product, and that generally does not mean your site is a scam, just that you have found a clever competitor. This is a very common technique and one that is not an ethical one. You would of then found a real scammer/spammer researching if someone else is !
17. SCAM Research Gone wild !
You type in a research site to check on it. You click on the site to see what they have to say. You get a page popup that tells you you have a virus, and to download their fix for it. You cant close the screen, and you can cancel.
Do not do anything they instruct you to do. This is a scam too !
Find you bottom tool bar, look for a place that has nothing on it, and hover mouse over it. Right Click and select task manager. Select applications tab, look for your page with an Internet sign next to it and click the end task button.
18. WHO IS That ?
Another useful l tool is who is. WWW.WHOIS.ORG , then type in the website you are researching. The result should show you the owner, and their address. Note the country and other information including email addresses and phone numbers. Many websites use privacy options that limit what info you get because spammers use the email address and other information to their advantage. Whatever info you can get helps form a picture of who you are considering giving your Credit card and money too.
19. Buying Anyway ?
Many times, the only way to know is to just get the product and see whether it delivers to your satisfaction. As long as you can get your money back, and that is clearly specified in the sales pitch, and Please take a screen shot of that verbage (cntrl key Print Screen key) then paste into MSWORD or some other editor, then print for your records.
Most vendors honor their products and your odds are good to get a refund should you need one. Websites in other countries may be difficult if not impossible to get authorities to help you, which is why you would use whois to try to at least locate them. You know the countries to trust and not, but generally speaking USA judicial bodies have few recourses for theft conducted from certain countries.
20. How to Get Your money Back.
So how DO you get your money back from a scam or a scheme that’s taken your money and
won’t give it back? This may seem obvious, but I hear from a surprising number of people who
don’t know about it. Your own CREDIT CARD COMPANY will get you money back FOR you!
Whenever you buy something with a credit card, and almost everybody DOES buy into these
things with credit cards, you can file what’s called a CHARGEBACK.
All you have to do is report to your credit card company that a product or service you bought
with your card was “Not as advertised”, and you want your money back but can’t get a refund.
Your card company WILL take immediate action.
21.Good News.. I buy online all the time !
Its not as bad as you may have heard, and as long as you use common sense and watchful eye you online shopping can be safe and fun.
