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Internet scams: Why you need to read the fine print on all 'terms and conditions'

by Annie Biller

Created on: September 12, 2010

With all the publicity about internet scams most of us are cautious, or at least should be, about offers that claim they will share a system with you that will enable you earn large amounts of money and greatly enhance your lifestyle with little or no work involved.


Some offers claim no registration or membership is necessary and no purchase is required to obtain their money making system. Beware. Read the terms and conditions. You may not have to register or purchase anything initially but by accepting their program you might be agreeing to acceptance of a contract thereby obligating yourself for future payments.


I recently reviewed an offer for one of the many money making systems I receive e-mails about. This one echoed many others I have received and it claimed large profits were possible with only a few hours work for those who utilized their system. This particular one advertised that no fees were involved in becoming a member of their site. Out of a sense of curiosity I followed the provided link to their site and found that not only did their offer ask for your name, phone number, and e-mail address, they also required valid credit card information. That rang a few bells. If there was no cost involved, why did they need credit card information? I chose to take the time and do a little more research on what was actually on offer. I found that there were in fact no fees involved in being forwarded to yet another site and becoming a member, however, in order to become a member you were required to check a little box that said you agreed to all terms and conditions.


I know how tempting it would be to just check that little box but at that point I looked for and found the link that took me to their terms and conditions. There, buried in among a lot of other legallese, I found that once you became a member you were required to pay for access to member services whether you made use of that access or not. It was up to you to then pay for services offered in addition to already having paid to 'access' them. I kept reading and learned that the site I looked at retains the right to alter their agreement with you at their discretion and without notice to you. They stipulate that it is YOUR responsibility to check for newly instituted changes. In case you should choose to dispute their amendments or changes you would find that by agreeing to their terms and conditions initially you had already agreed to accept all changes made.


The terms and conditions also clearly stated that the site I was reviewing was in no way responsible should you fail to turn a profit using their member services (which you paid for) and also stated that no refunds on any fees would be issued.


I can't say that the system they offered would not work. I chose not to find out. I did not choose to acquire a free membership. I chose not to click the little box that accepted all terms and conditions. I chose to sidestep the whole mess.


In reflection, their ad in actual fact did not lie. There were no fees to become a member. The fees applied after membership was acquired..



Learn more about this author, Annie Biller.
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