Scam Alert
Scam Alert – PTC Sites
Watch out for high-paying PTC sites. These sites are often new, cannot sustain their business model, then dissappear before you ever see a payout. Sites that pay 50 cents per click and 50% for referrals are the most likely to be there when it is time for you to get paid. Make sure you also check the GPT boycott list to see if it is a junk site.
Watch out for sites with the following characteristics:
- Generic, plain wrapper page design
- No link to contact the site owner
- No user forum
- Recently created URL (check it out at whois.net)
- No member statistics listed
- Pay to Join
Protect Yourself
It is important to protect yourself when you are online. The first thing you will need is a good anti-virus software. Do not trust the software that comes free with your internet connection. We use SuperAnti Spyware. It is free, but you can get the better version for about $30 (which we did). We like it because it does just what it says – removes all the spyware.
Super Anti Spyware Screenshot
Scam Spotting
Another important step in protecting yourself online is understanding the tell-tale signs of a scam:
- Pay to Join
Claims of fast big money
Large pay per click, plus large minimum payout
Plain website with few resources or links
Hard to find or missing contact information
Hard to believe testimonials or none at all
You must set up a bank account to do the business
From email address does not match the company name
Job offer sounds like a sales pitch
Here are some links you can use to check out the offer you are receiving:
KillFive Scam Alerts
Federal Trade Commission Website
Free Samples
Beware of offers for free samples, where you pay just a few bucks for shipping. These sites will charge you around $70 for the product if you do not send it back in time. One site that got us sold “Recharge Energy”. Make sure you read all the fine print and content them before the trial period is over if you want to avoid being charged.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask
If you are ever offered a job that sounds like it might be good, but you are unsure, there is nothing wrong with emailing the person who offered it to you, explaining that you need to be wary of scams and asking for more information about the company. For instance, we received an offer that claimed free training, no experience required and $14 per hour pay, supposedly from a European segment of INGDirect Bank. The email came from a yahoo address, making us instantly suspicious. When we emailed for more information, we were sent back a garbage three-page email “selling” us the job. No legitimate employer will ever have to talk you into working for them.
If you have tried all of the above resources and are still unsure, send us an email. We’ll be glad to see what we can find for you and post the information in our blog.
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