Make Money Online - How to Avoid Scams

Being a college student myself making money online, I know how some stories of people claiming to make "$4,000 a WEEK!" are just too good to be true. Unless you are an established blogger with years of experience, or running an online scam, no one can make that much money online. When you first start off on your internet marketing journey, it is important to keep a few things in mind in order to avoid scams. I have put together a short list that you can reference in order to keep yourself safe!

Don't Send Money to Someone You Don't Know

Have you ever gotten those emails from a "Nigerian Prince" claiming that you are the rightful owner of a large sum of money? All they need from you is your bank account information and social security number. I think at one point or another everyone has gotten this email, and I can guarantee that no one has ever gotten any money out of the deal. In fact people can lose all their savings by giving out their information to a stranger. Same goes for sending money to someone you don't know. Unless you are using a reputable service like Ebay, Fiverr, or Paypal, do NOT send money to someone you don't know if you haven't done any research on that person or service. A good way to get a review on somebody is to simply Google that person or service + "review","scam", etc. This will likely turn up some information on whether the person is legit or not.

Check if an Email Address is Real or Not

Reputable companies and services will not email you asking your for personal information like your social security number or bank information. While an email may look like it is from a legit company in your mailbox, it is smart to click "show details" which will show the actual senders email. If Google or a similar company is actually emailing you, then the email will not come from "Sk8rboi@gmail.com."

No Money is Easy Money
If someone tells you that you can make easy money using their service with little to no work, don't believe it. Be smart and check reviews on certain people and services before you give anyone your hard earned money.

When in Doubt, Play it Safe!

If you have a weird feeling about a certain person or service, chances are that it is a scam. Trust your gut! Don't fall for scammers actions because the deal sounds so good. Especially as a teen, it can be difficult to differentiate certain deals from one another based on your lack of experience. Many online merchants also have a stamp of approval on their profile which can be seen to the right. If you cannot locate one of these stamps, trust your gut and don't pull the trigger on the deal. 

There you have it! Before you give anyone money you should do your research, or ask a parent what they think! Often times deals that sound too good to be true, are! Keep these tips in mind and good luck making money online! Comment below with any questions. Cheers to a happy 2015.