internet scam

As use of the internet becomes more widespread and more and more affects our daily lives, so do the unfortunate proliferation of internet scams.

Internet scams work much the same way as more terrestrial cons do, except that internet access affords the con-artists a more direct way of reaching the consumer. In most cases, these scams use a hook, such as a promise of riches, or getting something for nothing. But then comes the catch, which is usually some sort of fee, or even worse, a pitch for access to private information.

The most common internet scams include e-mails from foreign dignitaries or pseudo-financial institutions asking for aid in administrating an estate claim in exchange for a percentage. There are also numerous work from home and pseudo-investment scams. Another common scam is phishing, where scammers send e-mails posing as a trusted website like PayPal, Monster, or ebay asking to update your information. There are also websites out there which contain hidden spyware, which can infect your computer much like a virus does.

There are hundreds of blogs which contain information on internet scams. Sadly, there are also blogs out there promoting them.

The best way to protect yourself is simply to remember that if you are promised something that seems too good to be true, that's because it probably is.

by Glen Boyd Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Original Technorati articles tagged “internet scam”

• in Technology
  Google "Toast"
  The Google biplane is on fire and leaving a downward corkscrew-shaped trail of smoke.
  by RipRagged / on Aug 16, 2011
• in Business
  Small Businesses Targets of 'Complaint Removal' Scams
  Another Internet scam to keep an eye out for.
  by chrissurefire / on May 3, 2011

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “internet scam”

 

• Internet Scam Terminology

  
  — Authority:
  " Internet fraud " uses online services to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme. Internet fraud can occur in chat rooms, e-mail, message boards, or Web ...
  6 days ago

• Security Flaw Found in Facebook Pages Manager App for Android

  
  — Authority:
  Facebook Patches Privacy Flaw In Pages Manager For Android … Over the weekend, Android Police received a tip about a serious privacy hole in Facebook Pages Manager for Android that made some privately uploaded photos public.   Shortly after  the details of this  issue went  public, Facebook ...
  3 weeks ago

• Is rip-off Britain killing our faith in human nature?

  
  — Authority:
  Like lambs to slaughter... Im a trusting sort. I believe deep down that most people are good and kind, or at the very least no worse than mildly opportunistic. I also think that the Internet is just a reflection of real life human interaction - no better, no worse. But. Yes, theres always a but. But ...
  3 weeks ago

• Microsoft Issues Worldwide Virus Alert

  
  — Authority:
  The talk and the footprint of computer viruses in the online world had reduced significantly in the last year. Hackers and online miscreants had moved on to other methods of attacking computers as viruses were considered to be too weak. But Microsoft recently announced that the trend is all set to change in the coming ...
  3 weeks ago

• Malware Threat to ATMs

  
  — Authority:
  Malware has been a big threat to computers and there have been a lot of problems caused by this type of malicious software. As if that was not enough, a forensics and security threat firm has announced a threat that malware can be used to target ATMs. Group-IB , the firm that announced these findings, said that ...
  3 weeks ago

Comments about internet scam