[netguy]

The money making programs can be a great way to earn some decent dollars, but one has to be pretty careful so that one doesn't get scammed. I would like to propose you all to try and list here the ways you are able to notice a scam. I will start with few of my ideas and then you'd hopefully join in:

1. A look at the site can tell me a lot.

I like seeing nicely done sites that offer a LOT of the information I need. In the end most of us do work online so this is the first hint I get when a business is really something serious

2. Try to understand the business plan and if it does work.

I assume this is the most important thing. I always try to imagine HOW a business works and how they do make money. If there is something that seems fishy to me, then I won't put my money. An example like this was years ago in my country. There was a "system" that promised you would get 8 times more than what you invested. You would invest let's say 100 Dollars and get 800 instead. You can imagine this is NOT a viable long term business plan .. The problem is that many people were tricked into this. Some were that greedy they sold their cars and houses. Few thousands did get the money while the entire country was "hysterical" about getting money for "free". In few months it ended. The business owners disappeared and hundreds of thousands of people were left with no money. It's been years and they haven't gotten their money back ...

What is your "list" of ways to notice possible scammers?

[mimi]

To notice scammers first you look at the site if it is not a copy of a system previously registered
Than you check the amount you have to pay
And if it works in your country
You always have to read the terms of use and eligibily before sending money
Sometimes you send money for a program and it doesn't fit for your country
Then you paid for working for only few companies that doesn't pay much or only pay for
A monthly drawing
Check if the companies are still hiring peoples
There is a lot of programs who offers a list of companies'names and it depend for a survey as example
which are your consommation's habit to respond adequately to the surveys
If the company has a 1-800 number
If the company is registered with BBO
If the company had issues with the court before
If the product is well known
And if the companies are reliable and known companies

[Blair]

I think the most sure way to stay out of scammers is by reading other people's opinions... Try to see if any of your aquintances ever tried that program before, or even google search for it.

Read carefuly the TOS before you register or anything. Check out how much details of how they work they provide. If something's fishy, contact someone else for its opinion, or perhaps even contact that company and directly ask them what's unclear to you!

Personally, I dislike experimenting with new program-making programs, and prefer to rely on my contacts' already trusted ones.

[netguy]

Yeah, reading the TOS is VERY VERY Important. So many people have issues because they failed to read the conditions. I also found that the reviews people make are also an excellent way to know more. If I read something "fishy", then I am very careful with this.

mimi has given some excellent advice too ... If we are careful and read the information as we should, I am sure the scammed people will surely be fewer. In the end not paying too much attention can really harm one's business plan.

[usdollars8]

well let me add if you have a suspicion about a program make a search about it in forums and review sites, so you can hear others feedback.


freddy

[nexus]

I am a beginner in all this and I can't brag with noticing scammers that easy. I still try to enroll in some good programs and read a lot about the projects I want to invest time and money. Some good or bad reviews can offer me the much needed information so that i don't do anything stupid

[Geenie]

I think the most important aspect in a scammer is the site's looks. if it is too ugly or too complicated i leave.

Also, i find having contact information important. I would like to see at least a valid mail address, if not a phone number.

A third aspect would be a good explanation of th service. If the terms are not well explained i might think it's a scam since i don't understand what to do.

[Jayne]

I always look for what they are asking you to do first of all!
If the beginning page is all vague promises, testimonials & telling you how much they earn, without actually telling you what you will do to earn money (until you've coughed up yourself that is) then I would usually avoid it. They just want your money or your information.

Also, theres lots of site that review, rate & name&shame PTR, survey & cashback sites. Like this one & also Survey Police comes to mind

Also other people may tell you to use an entirely different email address when signing up to things....just in case! Although I've never suffered too much, but I do have a good spam filter

[nightfall]

I personally don't rely on how a site looks to judge if they are scammers or not..

Good looking sites these days are very easily gotten, and scammers these days do realise that having a good looking site is the first thing potential victims look for.

For me, I will do the following to find out if they are legitimate.

1. A registered company name, and use it to search in the respective countries registry of registered business

2. Telephone numbers

3. Address , a proper address and not a Post Box

4. the most important thing to look out for, their business model, is it sustainable. If not and its too good to be true, it usually is..

[Geenie]

I think a scammer promises too much. They tend to promise everything they can just to attract clients. It's nice to believe you can receive a lot of money fast but it sounds kind of suspicious. I would stay away from braggers :)

[yamesgang]

One of the first things I look for is if the site is sustainable.
Some sites will offer 1c per click plus 1c per ref click. But then if you look at placing an ad, it costs $5 for 500 hits. That means the site is losing $5 with every ad sold.

On top of that, I check for users who have reported their payments, or the opposite, users reporting complaints.

That usually keeps me on top of getting scammed, but it still happens occasionally.

[glitch00]

If they ask for money, I would consider it scam. But if they redirect you to another legit site where you may shell out money, I could be convinced a bit. Still the site layout can be a factor and too much hype as well.

[cyberfriens]

Thank for much information about avoid scam, I want to add some some tips as below:
1- Ptc sites are Approved by beenpaid and provided approval seal,
2-Search key word ptc name plus scam.
3-redimption money as $1-5 within 24 hours

[Eston]

If you are not sure about a particular site I think you should do some research before you invest your time and money. One way of doing this is by using the search engines. 9 out of 10 chances that you will find information on the net about the site. You could type a question like 'is XXXX a scam?'

If it is a ptr/gpt site that should not be too hard. Look at what the site is offering on then check out their advertisement. Also you can do a search in one of thous search engine about the site. Be careful where you invest your time and money if the offer look too good to be true then maybe it is.

[mousey]

thanks for the tips :) ill be using them

[sajjad]

scrammers are so much worriers and curios too... they keep changing their programs or may promises so much things because they have no future plans and they very very little patients too....

[mariaj]

I think when they ask you to purchase something that is scam because I would not want to pay and then they pay me little for what I paid. I always look for no need to purchase sites