How can you tell if a con is being played on you while on the Internet?

Answer 1

Depends on the con.

If something sounds too good to be true it is.

Common example: someone promises to give you money if you give them your bank account so they can deposit the money in it. (They're just getting your account so they can take your money)

Simply, if they ask for your personal information, start to be suspicious.

There are those that like to chat and make friends. Asking for you're email and/or name really isn't that personal. Asking for a credit card number or bank account is.

But, cons are not limited to just finances.

I've been a programmer for over 4 years, and wrote a program - would you be willing to test it for me?
(Hopefully not, you don't know me. You don't know if I'm giving you a trojan or not.)

Emails are teh typical way of getting trojans. Someone luring you to click on something. Sometimes trying to mimick some compnay with an offer.
Such as: Microsoft wants to give you $100. (yeah right!) No matter how legitmate it works - if they want to give you money, or need to for some court order - you'll get it.

Cons always happen because you willingly take an action that gives the con access to you. If you can remember that - you'll be able to avoid them.

If you're worried about a potential specific con you just received and want some advice feel free to email me and ask: [e-mail]

Answer 2

Depends on the con you think is being played.
If it is free, be suspicious.
If you have to give a credit card number to verify, surf away.
If you receive an email asking you to reply with your userid and/or password to anything, send it to junk mail
If the picture of the person you're chatting with is hot, add 50 pounds. If they say they're sensitive, lonely or want you to send them your picture, add another 25 pounds, remove hair and douse with sweat.
All 15 year old girls are really 45 year old men and all 69 year old men are really 15 year old boys.

If the link that they want you to surf to has numbers in it instead of words...its a scam. >10.153.78.### vs www.fishing.com<

Answer 3

The link below should give you a lot of links and info on how cons are run on the internet
http://spywarekiller.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=26

Answer 4

If someone is pumping you for information, you're probably being conned. Internet cons generally revolve around gaining personal information for identity theft, bank account invasion (Nigerian e-mail scams), or stalking. If you keep your personal information to yourself, you should be fine.

Answer 5

Anything asking for social security numbers = scam
asking for any billing information unless you planned for it = scam
ANY sites with flashing letters on their homepage or register page telling you to register now = scam
otherwise if you're not sure about something set up another email adress and use that for safety

Answer 6

Stop surfing without disconnecting. Right click on task bar choose task manager. Don't touch your computer or any thing attached to it after selecting processes if CPU usages go above "0" something is running behind you & it can never be other than a spyware.

Answer 7

I you have to pay anthing of give to much personal information

Answer 8

use common sense. if you dont have any, dont go on the internet