Online money making scams – how to spot them and how to avoid them
Online scams have been around since the dawn of the internet. Like anything else, they have improved over the years. Even people who work online and spend most of their time sitting in front of a computer can be scammed. That's why you need to educate yourself on this issue. After all, no one wants to be a victim of a scam.
In this quick guide, we'll look at scams to make money online. We will see how they work and how you can recognize them. We'll also look at some examples to see how it works in practice. The main goal here is your safety. Protecting your personal data and assets is our top priority. Whether you want to make money online with paid surveys or start a dropshipping business, you need to be very careful.
Detecting fraud when making money online
As mentioned above, these scams are becoming more and more popular. Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize them. However, some things are clear.- When you click the link, your browser will notify you that the connection is not secure. That's a big red flag.
- Always check your browser's "lock" icon. If a website is secure, you'll see "https" at the beginning of the link. A lock icon will also be displayed. Don't trust websites that constantly publish pop-ups. Also, if you trust the website and it appears, don't click on anything in the pop-up.
- The website looks too “flashy”. This website has crazy offers such as "Just apply here without doing anything and get paid". The offer includes an exorbitant amount of money. Example: "He should earn 100,000 a week while staying at home." An email from an unknown sender asks for money. The website asks you to enter your social media credentials for a random and quick service. Although the link name looks like a well-known website, it is not.
Examples of scams when making money online
Phishing
The so-called "phishing" is one of the oldest techniques in the world. This word is an intentional misspelling of "fishing." You will be asked to enter your email or social media login information. Phishing scams are most commonly spread via email.The email is usually from someone you know. It contains a link that, when clicked, redirects you to an unsafe location. This website may ask you for login details for Gmail, social media, or other services. And it all looks very convincing.
Never click on any email that looks suspicious, even if it's from someone you know. This person fell for a scam and had his email hacked. The hijacker then sends the same fraudulent email from their own address. In addition to email, phishing scams are also spread through social media and messaging platforms. One of the most common phishing messages is, "Look at this photo of me," but clicking on the link takes you down a rabbit hole. Finally, you will be asked for your social media login details.
Phishing also takes many forms. Always be careful when signing up for a service. Check out the link. They may look the same in some cases, but they are not. For example, you can use a different domain or use the letters "rn" instead of "m".
“Nigerian Prince” email scam.
The so-called "Nigerian Prince" scam is also one of his classics. In fact, it gained popularity after many people mocked it. But even if he seems naive, the trick still works.The scam's name comes from the content of the email it typically sends. Of course, there are other variations. However, it was common to see people introducing themselves as the "Prince of Nigeria."
This person is saying that you are, in a sense, the heir to a huge fortune. Or he may ask you to help him with a seemingly irresistible offer. They will ask you to send a photo of your passport or simply send money. In return, they will handle all the legal issues and you will become a millionaire.
Google's algorithm easily detects it as a scam. However, such emails are common, so this method still seems to work.
It seems silly, but there are real people who respond to these emails. This makes it look more authentic and people fall in love with it.
Work-from-home scams and easy money-making websites
If you use Facebook a lot, you've probably seen these comments. They are also posted on numerous blogs and news websites. Some lesser-known websites also have these.Basically, a real-looking profile is displayed and users post comments with links. Comments usually write about how you can make a lot of money working from home. The amount is usually exorbitant, often exceeding 100,000 per week.
There is also a link to the comments. However, spaces are added and must be removed before entering the address. When you visit this website, you'll see user testimonials about how this service has changed their lives. It is possible to apply, but you must first pay a certain amount for the "anticipated teaching materials."
The key here is to avoid copying and pasting untrusted links into your browser. Click only on legitimate content.
Shopping scam
Shopping scams are very simple. The idea is that people pay for products that never reach customers. Be careful when finding small independent online stores.These offers typically arrive via email or social media. You can also find these websites using Google Search. In most cases, we offer luxury goods at surprisingly low prices. When you purchase a product, the link will take you to a third-party e-commerce website.
They will ask for payment, usually debit card information. This is the difficult part. If you give your card information to a scammer, they could potentially steal all your money.
Cryptocurrency scam
We all know how profitable cryptocurrency trading is. And where there is potential profit, fraud occurs. The most common scam is Initial Coin Offerings or ICOs. Technically speaking, your investment gives you shares in the company. And you can also get tokens and coins.You can make a temporary profit. However, these scammers keep most of the coins and determine the price. In short, you will lose money even if you invest.
There was a company that combined cryptocurrencies and a Ponzi scheme. The most well-known is BitConnect.
If you don't know about cryptocurrencies, don't day trade. You can save it in Bitcoin or other well-known currencies. But if you don't know what you're doing, stay away from anything else.
Fake antivirus and antimalware software
This happens quite often. If you use the internet frequently, you've probably seen it before. Click on the link and you will be directed to this strange website. It turns out that your phone or computer is infected or compromised.So, download and install the provided app. However, this is not an anti-malware app; it is malware in a different form. If you access from your smartphone, you also run the risk of incurring additional charges on your phone bill.
This type of scam usually targets inexperienced internet users. The so-called "boomer" generation is the most common target group. If a website looks weird and offers to speed up your device, leave it alone. The same goes for fake notifications that your computer is infected.
Romance and dating scams
Dating scams are very common. In addition to adult websites, they also exist on social media. You might have random Instagram profiles of attractive women who follow you. You can also send messages. However, upon further inspection, it turns out that the image is a stock photo. Moreover, most of their followers are fake followers acquired through "click farms".When they contact you, they will either ask you to follow a link or help them. In any case, never trust them. If you're not sure, don't click
