With scams all around, it can be hard to find which products are actually true, and which ones are scams. It takes time, and sometimes getting scammed a few times, but if you learn from you mistakes, you’ll know how to tell if something is a scam.
Much of what I’ve looked at, on this site, and on others as well, has helped me find patterns and clues as to whether something is legit or not. The best way to avoid scams and other online frauds is to be very cynical and ask a lot of questions.
Just how hard is it know if something is a scam? Continue reading to find out!
1. What Does This Program Guarantee You?
The very first thing you need to look at, is what exactly this product, program, or site is going to give you. Some sites make outlandish claims to draw you in to buy their program.
For example, some scams will tell you that if you buy their program, you’ll make millions of dollars without having to break a sweat. If they tell you that, there is a high likelihood that program is a scam.
Claims That Are Too Good To Be True
If you think the claim they’re making is too good to be true, then it probably is. You don’t want to trust luck or ‘fate’ to see if a certain product is actually going to work. Many of these products will run in the thousands of dollars, and losing that type of money isn’t something you want to have happen.
Now, I’ve looked at several programs that had pretty outlandish claims, but were pretty decent when you actually used them. Sometimes, using the following methods below will help give you more insight to what you look at.
How Does The Program Present Itself?
Some programs you can tell right off the bat that they’re scams because of the way their pages are laid out, or because of the many grammatical mistakes that are on their website.
As you look at the various programs that you are checking to see if they’re scams, make sure to check the Privacy Policy, or the ToS (Terms of Service), as that can help give you a more clear idea of just what and who this program is for, and if they’re going to keep your info safe.
What about SSL? Do they run their website through a URL that starts with HTTPS? Or when was the copyright last dated? I’ve found some site that have a copyright on their site that was dated several years ago!
Unfortunately, these also can’t be clues in and of themselves. I have a friend who owns a site that doesn’t have SSL. I also reviewed something recently that was legit, but also had a dated copyright notice.
Are The Statements True?
When reading what the course or program is about, what exactly are they telling you? If their ‘evidence’ credible? Is it founded on science?
It can be even more simple than that.
Do they say one thing on one page, and another thing on a different page? For example, I reviewed one program, and they had two different prices, all on the same page!
What about names? Do they several names that they go by, or is it one name that is all throughout the program. One time, I received an email from someone, and they forgot to make sure to use the same name. They sent me a letter with two different names on it (that scammer wasn’t too bright…)!
2. Who Is The Person Behind The Program?
Oftentimes scammers will create fake names, and profiles, so that if the scam get shown for what it is, they can throw away their fake alias, and create a new one.
So it’s always a good idea to check and double check who the person is behind the program that you’re looking into. Some people you’ll find to be well-known, and verifiable – i.e. you can find out about their life, and their being talked about by other people (in a good way).
Others won’t be so well-known, and you’ll have to dig through old websites, and older articles to piece together who the creator really is.
Are Their Stories legit and real?
Many of the creators will give you a bit of their background to help make a connection with you, so that you’ll trust them. Listening to their story can be very helpful to see whether the program is a scam or not.
How can you tell?
Most scams will have videos for you to watch, and they take the majority of the time talking about themselves, and why you should buy the product or program, without talking about the program itself. They may say like it’s ‘secret’ or ‘hidden’, and give you only a tiny glimpse of what you think it is.
But if they don’t tell you exactly what they are going to give you, then it’s probably not worth it.
Also, see if you can find if their story lines up. If they’ve lost things, went through divorce, or lived in a certain area, check it out to see if it’s true. You won’t always be able to find the answer, but if you do, that can help give you a better idea about the program.
How Long Have They Had The Business?
Some businesses have only been around for a year or so. Others 10 years. Still others, 100 years. The longer the business has been around, the less likely for the scam.
While there are scams out there that have been around for a long while, most scams are relatively new. Check to see when the creator started their program or business, and you could know whether it is legit or not.
If the program has been around for 10 years or so, and there aren’t a lot of people telling you that it’s a scam, then mostly likely it is an okay program to join.
Do They Offer A free Program?
One of the best ways to see if something is legit or not is whether they have a free membership for their program. Even if it’s only free for 7 days, it can be helpful to see what exactly you’re getting.
With something free, you’ll be able to test drive the actual thing you’re interested in purchasing. With some programs, you’ll even be able to interact with the creators, giving you a chance to further see how legit the owners are.
3. What Are The Reviews Saying?
Positive reviews and negative reviews are all around us. Many of them are legit and from real people, but some are actually created by the creators themselves to get ‘positive’ reviews for their product!
So the best course of action when reading reviews is to keep an open mind, and take everything with a grain of salt.
Are The Review Positive?
If there aren’t any reviews of the program that you are looking into, or if they are all negative, then there is a high chance that it’s a scam, or that it’s just starting out, and you’ll want to wait until some reviews come out about it.
Many people will see negative reviews and think ‘that will never happen to me!’. Sadly, most likely that is what exactly will happen to you if you purchase a program that has a lot of negative reviews.
Are The Reviewers Real?
If there are a lot of positive reviews for a certain course, then good! The only thing to do next is check out to see if the reviewers are actually legit!
How would you do that?
Look up the reviewers name, and see if they have social media accounts. If they have an email, send them an email asking to know more about them. If they make claims in their reviews (like making a lot of money, or making a website), see if you can check those facts to know if it’s true.
For example, if you have someone who claims that they went through a program, made a website, and a lot of money, then go check out the website. See if they are actively posting on that site. Learn how many articles are on their site, and how popular they are.
All the above will help you discern whether the person is real or not, and hopefully whether the review is true as well.
How To Tell If Something Is A Scam!
Follow the above, and you’ll soon be able to notice the various clues that show up when something is a scam. You’ll be able to pick out scams in no time!
Sometimes, legit programs do have typos, and other things messed up with their programs and websites. So it’s always best to look at everything as a whole, and then make a decision.
If a lot of what you look at is scammy, then it’s probably best to look for another program to join. If it looks mostly legit, then the chance of you getting scam is less likely.
One Last Way To Tell If Something Is A Scam!
Feel free to take a look at this site. I look for scams on a regular basis, and try to get scammed, just for you! I’ve looked at many courses, websites, and programs of all shapes and sizes.
The product that I most recommend to those looking for a scam-free program to make money for you is Wealthy Affiliate. You can check out my review here.
In short, it checks out on all accounts. It’s creators are well-known. The business has been around for a while. There are plenty of people who review that it’s a legit program (including me). Wealthy Affiliate doesn’t have outlandish claims, and I have personally talked with the creators.
So overall, Wealthy Affiliate is a pretty legit program. Sign up today, and learn from one of the best scam-free sites I know of!
Got a job offer to send out check I need to go buy check, printer, envelopes etc .all correspondence has been done through my phone
How about this: Company hired me on the spot. Started training immediately, day of interview. Everything done online for a remote job. Couple days later, employer attempts to send me a cashier’s check for equipment through email to print and mobile deposit into your account. Fishy Red flag,…. the front copy of the check is two size larger than the back copy. The person interviewing had a name and email address of a real person of the company that I was supposed to be working for. Upon my researching the person, and their expertise. The mistakes the person was making did not line up with the person’s credentials that I researched. My immediate thought was scammers behind the scenes posting remote jobs, answering them and impersonating themselves as a known person of a real company. Thinking they have it down to the science? Is this a scam tactic?