by Joshua Zambrano

Created on: December 29, 2010   Last Updated: December 31, 2010

The internet can be a fun, informative, and productive place to spend time.  Yet it also houses dangers for the unwary, due to its freedom of access and content.  If you want to avoid the pitfalls that trip up the careless web surfer, here's some tips to help prevent web scams:

1. If it sounds too good to be true... 

Heard a great deal from a website, that sounds too good to be true?  Probably is.  Check with a reliable source of information.  Sites like

Snopes exist to debunk the all-too-common myths that spring up in chain emails.  Try a Google search of "[company name] scam" or "[company name] complaint" to see whether negative information exists about the group or service in question.  Don't take for granted a source of information you're not familiar with.  Everybody has agendas, and those looking to make money off the web are numerous.  If not a major website you're familiar with, and an official spokesperson for that group, take it with a grain of salt.  Try to verify the information with a Google search, and see how many different groups back up what you're being told.  For example, a group may claim a charitable purpose, but might well be funneling the funds to a middle-eastern terrorist organization.  You should research the group first before committing resources (including time), to see whether negative information about them exists.  The Better Business Bureau for example has a website you can use to check up on businesses, including online ones, to see if the company has a history of abuse.  Reviews from customers at a mainstream site, or even a forum, may give you information the company's website will not. 

2. If phished swim away.

Phishing is the use of redirection to websites pretending to be something they're not.  The key to avoid being tricked is to check the address of the website.  An address or URL of a webpage has the familiar http:// in front (or https:// indicating a secure site) and may include a www. following as well.  Then follows the subdomain, if applicable, and then the domain name.  For example, www.main.microsoft.com and www.secondary.microsoft.com are both subdomains of the domain www.microsoft.com.  A fake website could pretend to be a part of Microsoft with an address like www.microsoft.zsdrfders.com.  It does not belong to Microsoft, but is housed on the domain (website) www.zsdrfders.com, and has named a subdomain

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>