Being the victim of a web scam is quite hard to accept, no one wants to look like a fool, regardless of how it happened.
So how do people get duped into giving money?
There are bid sites masquerading as legit sites, baiting people with prizes until they find out that their freebies actually cost them more. Or in caes of Penny Auction sites, users feel that this wasn't what the signed up for, most just wanted the freebie for what it was- a FREEBIE.
Like a toy that comes with a happy meal, the free stuff they wave in your face are often not free, the cost is deducted from somewhere, someone has to pay because services in general cost money and the cost will always be taken from the user who wants the free swag.
So take care of your credit card info, listen to your gut feel- do you really want a FREE iPod Nano? What's the catch? And if there's a catch, is it worth my time and money?
Penny Auctions often work that way. They lure you in with free products in return you sign up for months-worth of membership. Bet you didn't know that, huh?
In the larger scheme of things, it is legal. Penny sites getting you to sign up is not a scam, giving your credit card number willingly for a freebie is not a scam on their part (hey, you handed it over without a gun to your head, right?). These websites have all the legalities down pat, they know you'll fall for their bait-and-switch. Well, you shouldn't really feel bad about it, that is, if you really wanted the membership or if you really wanted to sign up, anyways. But if it wasn't the case, then you have every right to be mad as hell. It only starts to feel like a scam, when you finally find out you'll be paying for the subscription through your credit card.
So how did that just happened?
Most users are just too lazy to find out what the catch is, they didn't bother reading the fine print or a site's ToS (Terms of Sevice) all they want is that freebie. To hell with freebies, didn't your mom ever tell you nothing in life is free?
So if you don't like Penny Auction sites and you don't like paying for FREE shit, keep your credit card snug safe in your wallet.
So how do people get duped into giving money?
There are bid sites masquerading as legit sites, baiting people with prizes until they find out that their freebies actually cost them more. Or in caes of Penny Auction sites, users feel that this wasn't what the signed up for, most just wanted the freebie for what it was- a FREEBIE.
Like a toy that comes with a happy meal, the free stuff they wave in your face are often not free, the cost is deducted from somewhere, someone has to pay because services in general cost money and the cost will always be taken from the user who wants the free swag.
So take care of your credit card info, listen to your gut feel- do you really want a FREE iPod Nano? What's the catch? And if there's a catch, is it worth my time and money?
Penny Auctions often work that way. They lure you in with free products in return you sign up for months-worth of membership. Bet you didn't know that, huh?
In the larger scheme of things, it is legal. Penny sites getting you to sign up is not a scam, giving your credit card number willingly for a freebie is not a scam on their part (hey, you handed it over without a gun to your head, right?). These websites have all the legalities down pat, they know you'll fall for their bait-and-switch. Well, you shouldn't really feel bad about it, that is, if you really wanted the membership or if you really wanted to sign up, anyways. But if it wasn't the case, then you have every right to be mad as hell. It only starts to feel like a scam, when you finally find out you'll be paying for the subscription through your credit card.
So how did that just happened?
Most users are just too lazy to find out what the catch is, they didn't bother reading the fine print or a site's ToS (Terms of Sevice) all they want is that freebie. To hell with freebies, didn't your mom ever tell you nothing in life is free?
So if you don't like Penny Auction sites and you don't like paying for FREE shit, keep your credit card snug safe in your wallet.
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