The Top 9 Internet Business Scams
These Internet Marketing Scams prey on newbies and advanced users alike. And they get more advanced ever year, as technology progresses! Here are the top 9 red flags to watch out for.
Internet Business Scam #1: Fake Testimonials Often Sales Letters will be full of over-the-top testimonials from satisfied customers. Now testimonials are actually a very good thing. If testimonials are listed, then the individual's name and web site should be included. Along with some other way to confirm the authenticity of said testimonials. Otherwise, you're taking the seller's word for it. And unless that seller has already established their trustworthiness... you're better off ignoring / discounting the outlandish testimonial claims. Internet Business Scam #2: The $1 Purchase (With Auto-Renewal for $29.95) This isn't necessarily a scam. But in the best-case scenario, implicitly tries to take advantage of the prospect by "tricking" them into a low-commitment purchase. Hoping they'll forget to cancel before the auto-renewal at the regular rate kicks in.The business model being applied here is to seriously lower the barrier to entry, so that the prospect will at least TRY the business. Assuming they like their experience, then the subscription renews for them at the regular rate. Offline businesses like magazines use this model. The problem is that the Internet is RIFE with abuses of the model:
Internet Marketing Scam #3: Hidden in the Shipping & Handling: The sales person hides their real intentions.Don't tell me: "Oh, my manufacturer printed too many CDs, now I'm giving the surplus away for free..." It's a manipulative tactic, and qualifies as an Internet business scam. Just as is offering a CD or DVD for free (or 1 penny)... but then charging $29.95 for shipping. 30 bucks for shipping a set of DVDs? Come on. Just charge a regular price for the DVD, and sell it on its merits. Instead of manipulating people into believing this thing is free. Internet Marketing Scam #4: The 3am Infomercial: Wow - have you seen some of these?They come on TV particularly on weekends, in the dead of night. They are chock-full of promises of EASY, QUICK wealth. Making legitimate money online is neither easy nor quick. I take that back. It could potentially be either of those, but not for newbies. It takes a lot of skill and know-how. More advanced Internet Marketers can often launch a new campaign ,and make money in a short amount of time, and with relatively little effort. But they likely already have:
Net: These infomercials are targeted at folks who are brand new to Internet Marketing. Even though they're offline, they are Internet Business Scams. Internet Business Scam #5: The completely automated system. Really?If it's completely automated, why does the seller need you to buy it? They can just take over the market on their own. They could hire dozens and dozens of folks at minimum wage, and have each of those people apply this system for them. They wouldn't need to sell it to folks like you and me. Unless they're selling it out of the goodness of their hearts... to help mankind and what-not. Plus, imagine this. If it WAS completely automated, then everyone who bought and used the system would produce exactly the same type of web site, the same type of selling language, the same look-and-feel, and so on. They would saturate the market, and completely duplicating each other in the process! Doesn't sound so good anymore, does it? It's a scam. NO successful Internet Marketing system is completely automated. Expect to add your own voice, flair, and know-how to an automated marketing system, in order for it to work. And if the folks selling this automated marketing system are honest and up-front about what you have to add, in order to succeed, then good for them. Otherwise, avoid what they're selling like the plague. Internet Marketing Scam #6: Promises #1 Ranking on Google! This is not impossible to attain. For any given keyword, it is very possible to attain. But it is impossible to guarantee. This is because no one outside of Google knows the Google search algorithm. It is extremely complex, and changes frequently. This internet business scam is easy to spot a mile away. Save your money - they can't guarantee a #1 ranking on Google. Internet Marketing Scam #7: The Pressure Sale
These are often manipulative, and reek of desperation. Internet Business Scam #8: Unverifiable earnings screen shotsThese screen shots of checks earned, or commissions sent to the seller's bank account, may or may not be real. The reality is that you can't verify their authenticity simply by seeing the picture on your computer screen. Any of these could be doctored.And consider this - so what if this or that person made huge money using the system? That tells you nothing about whether the system is right for you. What it does do, is appeal to the greedy side of your brain. Not the logical side. Unverifiable earnings screen shots aren't definitely the sign of a scam... but assuredly are there to appeal to your greedy nature. Which is not good. Buyer beware. Internet Business Scam #9: The Refund Run-AroundLack of a generous and simple refund policy is a surefire sign of an Internet Business Scam.
You have probably stumbled upon a scam. Here's a U.S. government resource that can help you deal with Internet Business Scams. What's the worst Internet Marketing Scam You've Come Across?Do you have a great story about this? Share it! What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Internet Marketing Scams - Online School for a Research Network
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Internet Business Scams are a dime-a-dozen. 
