Scam Types dot Com

For many webmasters, forums of like minded individuals offer many opportunities, such as the sharing of information, services, trades and general cameraderie with other people looking to make money online.

Perhaps the best, and most well known, such forum is Digital Point, run by Shawn Hogan. It’s certainly the forum I have spent most time in over the last couple of years and the knowledge I have acquired there has been invaluable. More importantly, perhaps, is the feeling of unity between members - it’s quite amazing how far virtual strangers will go out of their way to help newcomers learn the ropes.

Additionally, Digital Point has a vibrant market place where webmaster can trade, buy and sell web sites, links and a whole variety of other services. In this section of the forum, however, there seems to be a growing number of alleged scams taking place.

When I first joined there was the odd bad apple amongst the membership. After a while they would be ‘outed’, their reputation in tatters and they would never be heard from again. Now though, it seems like there are a dozen or so members a day reporting that they have been duped or just plain ripped off.

So what has changed recently?

Some time ago Shawn implemented a system that allowed two parties in a transaction to leave feedback about their dealings with each other. Members covet a good ‘iTrader’ score and the better ones would never do anything to risk blemishing their record.

You would think that this would make Digital Point a safer place to trade in then wouldn’t you, especially as each member has their own reputation score too. Buyer’s could factor in both when deciding whether or not to trust a member.

The way I see it though is that the scamming issue is not as simple as some would choose to see it. Whilst there is undoubtedly a growing number of less than honest members there, one must also consider the foolishness of some of those who are crying onto their keyboards after a bad deal.

How many of them were too lazy to check out their business partner thoroughly before dealing with them? How many were blinded by the offer of a deal that was obviously too good to be true?

Also, I’m fairly certain that a good number of ‘the scammed’ are simply posting out of a need to attract sympathy where none is warranted. Worse, some are taking advantage of the ‘popularity’ of these scam threads in order to raise the profile of their own websites and services. Then again, maybe I’m just too cynical!

Ultimately, trading online, especially in forums, should carry a wealth risk and the buyer should definitely beware. However, if you do your homework, don’t rush into anything that looks too enticing and pay with a credit card (so you can initiate a chargeback if necessary) then sites such as Digital Point can offer you opportunities you just won’t find anywhere else.