Make Money Online Scams
I was thinking about all the many make money online schemes that offer you money for basically doing nothing or for doing some extremely simple and basic jobs. There are so many out there, it is fascinating how fertile and corrupt the human mind can get.
Get Paid to fill surveys, read emails, review sites: The scam works like this: they ask for an initial investment or payment and then repay you only a small part of the money. For example a site offers $15 per website you review. Reportedly it works by asking you to do an initial review of the website then never contacting you again, letting all new members earn them money from mortgage and credit card companies by free initial reviews. They only needed to pay out initially for publicity.
Make money stuffing envelopes: You of course pay an upfront fee for which you get a package containing nothing but a letter which asks you to make your own paper advertisements based on the list of sponsors they have. You send them your advertisements for approval (if they bother responding), then ask you to flood all possible locations that you can, legally with ads like malls, parks, craft shows.
Chain emails: This is the classic pyramid scheme: you get an email with a list of names, you are asked to send X dollars by mail to the person whose name is at the top of the list, add your own name to the bottom, and forward the updated list to a number of other people. The author of this scam letter painstakingly explains that, if more and more people join this chain, when it’s your turn to receive the money, you might even become a millionaire! The list of names is of course manipulated to keep X name on top…
Nigerian Scam: I found this story fascinating: You get an email from a member of a Nigerian family with wealth that is in trouble and they want to use your bank account to transfer funds. It is a desperate cry for help in getting a very large sum of money out of the country. A common variation is a woman in Africa who claimed that her husband had died, and that she wanted to leave millions of dollars of his estate to a good church. You’ll get a portion of it, they’re desperate. If you do contact them, you are asked to send across some initial sum of money in lieu of bank charges or other documentation work charges to facilitate the transfer. After you send across this sum of money (if you really are that naive!), you never hear from them again. Or if you do, it is only to ask for more money stating some reason or other.
Like I said, the inventiveness of the human mind, and its potential for corruption is seemingly endless!
Well, there do exists sites which are “pays you to read emails” and do not require any upfront fee.
But it does takes forever to make any decent money off them though.
Not really worth the time.
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Generally when someone wants money up front, the warning bells go off. I honestly can’t believe people still fall for some of these.
I will admit that I am a part of a few “free” survey and paid to click email sites – they are pretty low paid and getting worse so not sure how much longer I’ll bother.
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well , i dont think you can make money through surveys.
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These scams in one form or another, from Pyramid schemes to Ponzi schemes, have been around a long time and they all focus on greed. It’s just a lot easier to set up on the Internet.
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I agree that there are some sites that do pay out but it takes a long time to build up enough cash to withdraw anything. Most are just not worth the time it takes. These are free sites, I have never paid to join any.
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Scamming was indeed made easier with the invention of the Internet. Though consumers are being informed more thoroughly these days.
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Maybe its just me but I cant believe that some people ever fall for these scams.
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It is quite sad that their are people willing to take advantage of others, especially when they might be needing a helping hand and a little hope. I’m so grateful to have my own online company that has not only improved my life both personally and financially, but many others as well. During these times, we should be supporting one another, because you never know when you might the the person needing a helping hand next.
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Plenty of people do the survey thing – It’s quite possible to make money doing it , however IMO it’s a bit too much work. Doing a good blog is MUCH easier and way more profitable.
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Does anyone fall for these crudely crafted schemes?
Chain mail has made it to email. I hadn’t heard that. I guess someone must be falling for this crap.
Maybe in Nigeria someone is advertising. “Make money just by sending out emails!) then for $49.95 they get instructions to send those scam e-mails.
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So, the Nigerian scam…
on ebay I got scammed (didnt fall for it), so, if i start a nigerian scam, and i’m in the US….what address do i really put!!!???
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Unfortunately, I have fallen victim of a Nigerian rental scam. They used my homes address, which was for rent at the time, and copied and pasted by Craigslist ad with different contact information. Posted their own ad on Craigs list, listing my home at a ridiculously low price. When people contacted this person, he claimed he was in Nigeria on a mission and if they would send them an attached rental agreement (which contained all their personal information) along with $500 he woudl mail them the key to my house. It’s scary what these people will try to get away with. Scentsy
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Nice post and very informative articles. This will let them know what internet can do.
By the way, I enjoyed reading your blog. Keep it up! Keep on posting.
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i used to search such make money online ways mentioned in ur post but never invested or paid any such scammers till now
and after so much research i think making money online from google adsense program is good way to get some
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As hard as it is scammers are here to stay, education is the only way for people to learn. Sometimes people need to learn the hard way, they think something is such a good offer they have to buy it. The old adage “if it’s too good to be true – it probably is” seems more prominant these days.Great post
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The nigerian scam is very common..i find it funny that they are still sending it out.
Some years back when I was in campus i nearly fell for the Chain Letter scam…thank God i was broke back then otherwise i would have lost money
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You forgot to add jobs being a ‘mystery shopper’. Usually involves them sending you a ‘check’ to cash and then test a local Western Union. Of course the check is bogus and you find out a few weeks later when your bank calls wanting the money to cover it.
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Be Careful of those Nigerian Rental Scams. I had someone in Nigeria claim to own my rental property. Said he was in Nigeria on a mission and whoever mailed him $500 along with the rental application (their personal information) he would mail them the keys to my house. I shuttter to think how many people fell for his scam.
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In today’s economy independent business owners need all the help they can get. That is why I created a blog specifically created to promote merchants. Fun FREE Giveaways is simply a home to support Independent Business owners by hosting FREE giveaways. The idea is simple, really. Companies both large and small are interested in getting their products out there in front of you, the consumer. And you, presumably, are interested in the chance to win free stuff.
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There are a lot of online scams but I consider myself one of the lucky one’s. My business is primarily online and doing well, especially in this economy. I am benefitting in two ways. People are staying home more and are not able to spent money on big ticket items anymore. However, they are still willing to spend less than $50 on items that make them and their home feel good. Also, now more than ever, people are looking for extra ways to earn extra money.
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