There’s no shortage of websites and tools online that are designed to rip people off. Whether you’re looking to hire an employee, get help with your taxes, or search for new opportunities, you need to be wary of these predatory scams so you don’t lose your money or your personal information to the wrong people.
Below are five tips that can help you avoid predatory scams and maximize your potential success online, as well as one example of how one unsuspecting business owner almost got scammed out of thousands of dollars… but didn’t.
The truth about scams
When you’re looking for a new service, it’s only natural to want to find out what others think. And these days, with social media giving everyone a voice, those conversations are louder than ever.
For businesses selling products and services online, customer feedback is critical it’s how they figure out what they’re doing right and where they can improve.
But there’s a downside: It makes it that much easier for people who have no intention of buying your product or paying you for your service online predators to take advantage of search engines and collect as much information as possible about you or your business.
What are scam services?
The internet offers a lot of services for sale. If you’re trying to get in shape, start a new business, or any other number of things, there are countless websites that offer everything from tools for exercising to guides for starting up a new company. But not all of these services are legitimate.
Some may be outright scams, but others simply have more limited value than you expect. When you’re trying to lose weight, build muscle or find another solution for your problem, there are many factors at play; using an unproven service may mean that your results come too slowly and may set you back when it comes time to achieve them.
Start with proven solutions they’re faster and often simpler too!
Types of scam services
While most businesses are legitimate, there are many schemes that take advantage of people’s trust. Some services may have hidden charges or extra fees, or they may sell your personal information for other purposes.
It’s important to do your research when you’re thinking about working with a service.
Why do people fall for scam services?
No doubt, when you set out looking for a new service provider or product, your mind is on how much better your life will be once you have it. It’s easy to get lost in that excitement and overlook red flags; after all, you think that if something seems too good to be true it probably is.
You might also assume scammers aren’t smart enough to craft a convincing website and make their deals seem realistic. Unfortunately, though, scams are as varied as they are common and many can fool even savvy people who don’t trust anything that sounds too good to be true.
The truth is there’s no guarantee of success in any business venture online or off.
Examples of non-existent service providers
plumber, electrician, and general contractor. While no website can ever give you a 100% guarantee that they aren’t running some kind of scam on you, there are ways to get higher quality service by using common sense and good judgment.
Ask for references: The easiest way to tell whether or not a plumber is worth your time and money is if he or she actually has clients who can give you honest feedback about their experience.
There’s nothing preventing them from having five or ten fake references so ask specifically how long they’ve worked with them and if they’d be willing to chat with you over email or phone as part of your due diligence process.
Conclusion
Always look for transparency and user reviews when trying a new service. If you can’t find any information about how a company operates or what its employees are like, chances are good that it isn’t reputable. Paying attention to past scams can also help keep you from falling prey to similar fraud in the future.
By researching what worked and didn’t work in other big data breaches, you’ll be able to more easily protect yourself and your personal data in the future.
Trust but verify; at every step along your path, double-check everything (including whether or not something is a scam) before handing over sensitive information or money.