Avoid Online Scams

Viruses & spyware threaten every internet user. Unfortunately being a website owner means this list of threats grows.

Traffic Scams

Traffic Brokers offer to sell you about 10,000 hits for $40 or $50. Either the traffic never comes or it is poor quality.

I can't even estimate how many people I've seen asking about buying bulk traffic. Despite the warnings they still buy it.

When your website is getting 5 page views a day the number 10,000 sounds really nice.

Here is the problem. This traffic is untargeted. Either it is fake (it all comes from the same person) or it comes from pop-unders. Not only are the viewers not looking to buy your product, but they may not even be able to read english!

In the hundreds of cases I have seen of people buying traffic, never has it resulted in a sale. Don't waste your money.

The only people who are making money here are the people who resell the low quality traffic.

E-mail Scams

"Fishing" scams occur when you receive an e-mail that is supposedly from Paypal or Amazon.com. Usually the e-mail asks you to update your information because it is outdated.

When you click the link it takes you to a fake site that looks exactly like the real one. When you enter your user name, password, or credit card information it is sent to the people who sent you the e-mail.

This person then uses your stolen credit card information to buy things online without your permission.

You need to be extra attentive when you read your e-mail. If you don't, then you will accidentally fall for a fishing scam. By the time you realize what you just did, it will be to late.

In fact, I almost did last week. I opened an e-mail up that was supposedly from Paypal. I glanced over it and clicked the link. I was getting ready to type my password into the site. Suddenly I realized that it was sent to the wrong e-mail address (I have a special Paypal address.) That was a close call! Another few seconds and I would have had been on the phone with my bank closing out accounts!

The Nigerian e-mail scam

Another e-mail scam to watch out for is the "Nigerian e-mail scam." This scam actually has existed since before e-mail. Today the story has changed but the fraud remains the same.

The original story involves a member of the Nigerian royal family who wants to transfer money out of the country before the government can seize it. If you just send them your bank information then they will cut you a percentage of the deal.

In the end you get no money. Instead you get an empty bank account. Once you realize what happened its too late!

Another form of this scam involves using your bank account to steal money from American businesses. Watch out or else you could end up in legal hot water.

The bottom line here is don't send any bank account or personal information to someone who you don't know.