Hey ,

Have you ever gotten scammed online?

Sometime in 2019, I fell victim to a scam that wasted my time and effort. Yes, it's possible to be scammed of your time and effort.

Those who were mining Pie (intentionally misspelled to avoid the spam folder) that year can relate, and those who are still doing so will eventually be able to relate as well.

It's even worse for some people because they not only invested their time, but also their money - lots of it. The effects can be devastating and may even discourage you from trying to earn digitally.

While I encourage earning digitally, I cannot overlook the fact that the internet can be a dangerous place.

There are people out there who will misuse it to their own advantage. However, you should not let this stop you from working towards earning online. Instead, be aware of how these scammers operate so that you can shield yourself from them.

Here’s a quick rule of thumb that will save you from getting scammed online as you explore the digital space.

1. Verify: Before engaging with a website, take a few moments to verify its legitimacy. Look for clear contact information, including a physical address, phone number, and email. Scam websites often lack these details or provide vague information, making it difficult to reach them or validate their authenticity. Cross-reference the information you find on multiple reliable sources to ensure consistency and legitimacy.

2. Trust Your Instincts: Your gut feelings are powerful indicators. If something feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts. Pay attention to red flags such as pushy sales tactics, urgency-inducing countdown timers, or requests for excessive personal information. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

3. Check for Secure Connections: Secure websites employ SSL encryption to protect your sensitive data. Always check for the padlock symbol and "https://" at the beginning of the website's URL. Scammers may use deceptive domain names or URLs that resemble well-known brands, so stay vigilant and double-check before sharing any personal information or making payments.

4. Research and Read Reviews: Prioritize research! Before making any transactions, search for reviews and feedback from other customers. Negative online reviews or complaints about scams, poor customer service, or undelivered products should raise a red flag. Learn from the experiences of others and avoid falling into the same trap.

5. Stay Updated and Educated: Scammers are constantly evolving, using new techniques to deceive unsuspecting individuals. Stay updated on the latest scams and tactics used by fraudsters. Share your experiences and knowledge with family, friends, and colleagues to help create a safer online community. Together, we can raise awareness and protect one another from falling victim to online scams.

6. Report any digital scams you encounter to the online platforms where you find them. By doing so, you contribute to preventing others from becoming victims of online scams.

If you follow this rule of thumb and stay vigilant, you can confidently navigate the digital world and protect yourself from scam websites.

To learn more about how to identify and protect yourslef from scam websites, read this article: How to Identify a Scam Website and Never Get Scammed Online Again

Paid Writing Opportunity

Oriire is a company I work with, and we’re accepting paid articles from writers. If you're knowledgable about African mythology, history and/or food, then you can write articles around these topics, and we’ll pay you for them.

Ensure you read the giudelines, terms, and conditions carefully before writing or submitting an article to prevent your articles from getting rejected.

To submit an article click here.

That’s it for today,

Talk next week,

Viki 💜