How do you know that its a scam if you never tried it and plus you all are asking the readers if they think ?

Question

How do you know that its a scam if you never tried it and plus you all are asking the readers if they think ?

Answer 1

By using research tools, spamlists and searching through blacklisted sites and finding the reason for them being labelled as spam, fraud, phishing etc.

There are so many scams, especially via email and rogue programs that users have to be more alert as to what they are clicking on and what information they are providing, especially when it requires personal details and credit card / bank details.

Legitimate sites will usually have 'https' prefix as well as proper credentials and contact information.  

Answer 2

That's where you use common sense guidelines to decide whether or not.

Does it sound too good to be true?

Did they manage to contact you by an address that they couldn't know?

Did they use a name they could have pulled off your email address?  Example:  we had an email about more pornagraphic websites that came in my husband's name.  Our email account name was "Bob and Sandra" (made up for example).  The hilarious part of this was, my husband was computer illiterate at the time and I knew exactly where he had been at the time the email claimed my husband had been online with this guy looking at p**n.

Did they use a full name that they would only know if you had given them the details when you signed up?  Example:  Sandra J. Smith instead of just Sandra.

Is it someone reputable and big contacting you without you having contacted them first?  If so, why would they?  For example, I once had an email from Microsoft.  I correctly figured it wouldn't really be Microsoft because they didn't know me to know whether I was using Windows and Microsoft wouldn't spend the huge resources emailing everyone in the world.

Also, how pushy are they in trying to get you to use it?  The pushier they are, the less likely it's really worth it.  Good products get known and recommended and don't need to be pushy.

Answer 3

Are you talking about email scams, advertising scams, or illegitamate website company scams?

Email scams: You never get something for nothing; corolary, no one ever gives something without expecting something in return.  Mark them as SPAM and move-on.  Greed makes people a scam artist's mark.

Advertising Scams:  When was the last time I clicked on anyone's advertisement?  Maybe ten years ago.  I just don't go there.  

Illegitimate Website Scams:  Purchase something that is being advertised from reputable companies.  If they post a phone number to call, call it if it is a U.S. area code.  Check to make sure it is a legitimate U.S. area code.

There are 900 numbers that look like 800 numbers where you can get charged hundreds if not thousands of dollars for making the call.  The same is true for overseas numbers.  And they will hound you for collection, and being outside of the U.S. you have no legal recourse to fight them.

But if it is a legitimate U.S. area code (search for "area code" on the internet), then call and make sure the number is valid and the person on the other end says the right things.  You can usually find someone else to sell the same product.  So find someone else if you don't feel right about the whole situation.