Whether you choose to accept it or not, if you’re looking for ways to make money online you’ve probably been exposed to a scam and don’t even know it.
Unfortunately for me, I have fallen prey to these scams more times than I would like to admit but today it’s payback time.
Today, I’d like to make sure YOU don’t fall for these sites by sharing with you ways on how to tell if a website is a scam or not.
Getting scammed online can really have far worse negative effects than losing money.
When you go through these products and you get scammed each and every time, you start feeling down about your dream of making money online.
You start to think the internet hates you and it’s all about bleeding you dry.
Well, it’s not like that at all.
Below I’m going to share with you some of the signs that you need to watch out for when looking at a new product so you don’t be a scammed ever again.
Keep in mind that while not everything is a scam, most of them are. (I will recommend to you a scam free product further down below).
How To Tell If A Website Or A Product Is A Scam
The Man Behind The Product
See who is behind the product or the website, so some research online and see what the man behind it is all about.
It would also be wise to see what other products he associated himself with.
Most of these gurus publish products and sites promising riches every single year and promote others (as an affiliate every day).
Their products come out, squeeze as much money out people as possible and then close it down. It’s happened to me before and it’s not pretty!
If a seller has had more than 2 or (maximum 3) products to his name in the past few years it means that none of his ideas is worth investing in for the long haul.
It’s just another fly-by product that will or will not be a total scam.
It Offers a Money Back Guarantee
If it offers a money back guarantee IT’S SCAM! But how can that be?
Well in order for you to trust them they will offer something like:
“If you don’t make $1,000 by next month, I’ll give you your money back”.
“Well that is a fair deal right?” you might to yourself.
Sure it is BUT you will not make that much in your first month and when you go for the refund (if you do) the site is either closed down or they simply find a loophole to avoid giving you the refund.
Think of it this way: Legit learning centers and communities never give people their money back if they fail to achieve a certain goal.
If you go to college and you don’t graduate, do they give you your money back? Same thing here.
Can’t Try Before You Buy
Scam products will ask for the money first, then prove their worth later.
A legit one will let you try their services for free first, then if you wish to update and/or continue with their services there will be a fee. That’s proper business etiquette (in my opinion).
It Costs $7 / $17 / $27
I don’t know why I was so blind to this fact after I kept purchasing product after product all marked at $27 or $37.
Don’t ask me why but these scam products are all priced at either $27 or $37 and when they hit you will the upsell it’s $97 or more… pfff!
What is it with this 7 that is so famous in MMO products? Is it a lucky number?
Many, Many Upsells
Speaking of upsells; scams products are usually drowned in upsells.
What you see in the promo video would not be what you’ll get. After you pay the infamous $37 you’ll get this or something similar:
“Don’t miss out! Upgrade to the $97 dollar membership for some more useless training”
After that comes the $300 “Diamond Membership” and it just keeps going on and on…
The Promo Video Is a Scribble
Urgh, just urgh!
Every damn promo video for these money making taking sites and products is in scribble (not to mention some annoying stock music to go along with it.)
Another warning sign that it’s a scam would be if the video has no way of skipping it forward. AVOID!
Exaggerated Money Claims
Nobody can go from $0 to $1000 days in a week. That is just impossible.
I know how tempting it is to believe that but save yourself the pain of another scam and don’t fall for anything that promises exaggerated money claims.
If on the site you find either; money falling from the sky, exotic cars, mansions, and beautiful women hit that close button asap.
It’s all a made-up dream designed by professionals to hit that weak spot in your heart and mind.
If You Have To Pay To Blog
You should never, ever, EVER pay to blog.
Sure you can pay to learn how to blog and how to set it up, market it, etc.. but you should never pay to blog.
If a product tells you that you’re buying “a blog to blog on”, it’s an insult to the whole blogging world. Don’t pay to blog!
Get a free site here and have no restriction
If It Can Be Found on Clickbank
No disrespect to Clickbank sellers and affiliates (I sell stuff off Clickbank on my other blogs too) but for some other unknown reason; most “make money online products” found on Clickbank are scams.As a matter of fact, it’s not the first time I heard of a product on Clickbank getting banned from Google altogether.
As a matter of fact, it’s not the first time I heard of a product on Clickbank getting banned from Google altogether.
If you’d like to know if a certain product is on Clickbank simply sign up there for free and have a look at the marketplace.
Your Gut Feeling
When I bought into these scam sites and products, my gut feeling was telling me that this was clearly a SCAM. But my mind was so drunk with the promises of easy money and riches that I went for it anyway.
Deep down, I knew it was a scam but couldn’t get myself to believe it. Sure enough, I’d pull out my card and buy this magical product only to realize a day later I had messed up again.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Follow your gut instinct.
Are All Products A Scam? Who Can You Trust?
Of course not! Believe it or not making money online is REALLY possible! You just have to learn the right way from the right place.
Personally, I have not bought into a scam product for over four years now and I’ve quit my job to fully concentrate on building my small blogging business which I started thanks to the help of Wealthy Affiliate.
That is why I believe in the Wealthy Affiliate community so much.
It passes all the “scam” tests above with flying colors and I believe it is the best platform to learn how to start your own blogging business and make money online.
Thank you for reading folks and if there is a product that you’d like me to review to see if it’s a scam or not just drop me a comment below and I will look into it and let you know.
In the meantime I thank you for your time spent on my blog, I hope I brought you value today!
Chris Lee
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