GOOGLE processes billions of searches a day but some search terms get curious users more than they bargained for.
Consumer tech expert Kim Komando has revealed one dangerous phrase you shouldn’t search on Google.
The scam specialist highlighted the term in an article for USA Today.
If you’ve ever searched “how to make money online,” you could be putting yourself at risk of a scam.
Komando wrote: “On my national radio show, I get so many questions about whether an amazing money-making opportunity is real. Almost always, my answer is no.
“There is certainly money to be made at home, but if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
There are definitely legitimate ways to make money online but scammers try to take advantage of people looking to do so.
If you see ads or websites for get-rich-quick schemes, you should think twice before clicking.
You’ll see plenty of legitimate websites when you search that phrase as well but the key is to decipher the warning signs of a scam.
Komando warns against falling for work-from-home job adverts that offer too-good-to-be-true perks.
Scammers could steal your personal details, including financial information via fake job schemes.
The FBI also warns users to be wary of online investment scams and advance fee schemes.
It says: “Advance fee frauds ask investors to pay a fee up front – in advance of receiving any proceeds, money, stock, or warrants – in order for the deal to go through.
“The advance payment may be described as a fee, tax, commission, or incidental expense that will be repaid later.”
In this situation, a scammer will likely keep your money and give you nothing in return.
If you hand over any financial information, they could also drain your funds.
It’s also worth watching for pyramid schemes and Ponzi schemes that are often advertised as a quick way to make money online.
The FBI warns: “A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors.
“Ponzi scheme organizers often promise to invest your money and generate high returns with little or no risk.”
Cybercriminals often promise a reward that’s too good to be true and a “guaranteed return” is just that.
It’s hard to guarantee you’ll see a return even in a legitimate investment situation, especially a large return.
Pyramid schemes are equally as dangerous for your bank account.
The FBI warns: “Pyramid scheme promoters may go to great lengths to make the program look like a business, such as a legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) program.
“But the fraudsters use money paid by new recruits to pay off earlier stage investors (usually recruits as well).
“At some point, the schemes get too big, the promoter cannot raise enough money from new investors to pay earlier investors, and people lose their money.”
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