Dot Cons

Eight Easy Steps: So You Want to Get Scammed?

Got some unwanted cash lying around? Getting ripped off online isn't too hard. In fact, if you follow all these simple rules, we practically guarantee that you'll soon count yourself among the conned.

Do business with spammers: Miraculous pharmaceuticals, vacation giveaways, incredible work-at-home plans--unsolicited e-mail is full of deals that sound too good to be true. Why not put them to the test?

Take advice from strangers: For all you know, the anonymous tipster touting MoneyDowntheDrain.com stock at a message board is really Warren Buffett. Don't stop to research the companies he recommends--someone might get in before you.

Click first, think later: Those embedded links and file attachments in junk e-mail may lead to a sham Web site or a Trojan horse. But you'll never know unless you open them.

Share your PC with abandon: You may be very careful about the sites you visit and the files you download. But Uncle Bernie isn't. Still, he's family, so let him at your PC!

Ignore the fine print: Lots of scammers leave subtle hints about their chicanery in the form of pseudo-legal disclaimers. Reading these details is a pain, though, so skim them--or better yet, skip them altogether.

Surf unprotected: Antivirus utilities and personal firewalls help guard against the backdoor programs and password stealers used by identity thieves. But why bother?

Pay their way: Credit cards are the safest form of online payment--for the buyer. Some sellers, however, demand a money order, a cashier's check, or good old cash. You don't want to jinx the deal, so do as they say.

Walk the seamy side of the web: X-rated e-mail messages and sites are favorite tools of swindlers. But honorable pornographers probably exist somewhere. So obey the instructions in those messages to the letter.