How To Avoid Internet Scams

There are an astonishing number of Internet- and email-based scams being delivered to us with the false promise of riches. As to whom these animals are who run these scams, I have no clue. Sadly, most of the time, these criminals cannot be apprehended.

As Internet-savvy as I like to think I am, I recently almost fell prey to one of these scams, but thankfully figured it out before things got messy.

Here are some common elements found in 99% of these scams that I thought I should share after researching them:

1. No decent, self-respecting, honest and professional businessman or company will EVER offer you a JOB through email and there are no exceptions here....period.
2. No valid business organization or company will EVER ask for your help to set up trade of products with your country.
3. Job offers are never done on the Internet. You must go into a physical building, physically meet someone and physically go through an interview process to get selected.
4. No valid business, person, or company WILL or SHOULD need your help or assistance to transfer funds in and out of your country for any reason whatsoever.
5. If you are renting out an apartment, room or house, and have placed an ad online, be careful as some con artists have shifted to sending you a so called "rent check" through email or mail because they are in another country planning a move to your city. Then. they request you send them money back. Do not get involved in any bank or money transactions whatsoever for any given reason no matter how convincing it may sound.
6. For some reason, most of these email "offers" state that the person offering the job or the opportunity is from Africa, U.K "UK lottery," or some odd city or country you have never heard of and will most likely not find on the world map. If you simply try to call the phone number they provide, you will find it is not a valid one. Almost 100% of these organizations are unheard of if you research them on the Internet.
7. There is NO SUCH THING as an Internet lottery or email lottery and unless you get a knock on your door from a person with a million-dollar check, YOU DID NOT WIN THE LOTTO by a sweepstakes you never entered.

In the end, I hope whoever reads this information takes notes and passes the link to this article around.