Information: The Key to Confidence.

   Lack of knowledge breeds fear and uncertainty. How can you know if the information provider is authentic and giving good information?    Most people are afraid of offshore investing. Generally the immediate reaction to that word offshore is one of doubt, suspicion, mistrust and fear of losing all the money.

      Good informative and useful offshore intelligence data is mixed with misleading material.

   The mis-information about offshore investing keeps people from even checking it out. Add to that the sensational headlines of the media when an offshore or tax dodge is uncovered, and most people would not even bother considering investment offshore.

   Unfortunately for those who do have the courage to investigate the offshore world there are unscrupulous people at all levels. Long before you get to looking at particular investments there are con-men to rip you off. They might not be out to rip off your investment funds but instead, quite content to rip off the basic information seekers of the fifty dollars or so they spend to get a book so they can find out more.

Tips to avoid internet purchase scams

   1. Before buying, call the phone numbers listed as contacts on the site. See if they actually work or are answered by a real person rather than an answering machine.

   2. Make contact by the email address to see if you get a reply.

   3. Ask questions in forums and bulletin boards to see if anyone else has had problems buying from the site in question.

   4. Check the scam reporting sites to see if the site or person's name is mentioned.

   5. Take no notice of money-back guarantees.

   6. Be wary buying books through other than recognized reputable internet bookstores.

   7. Purchase through a known and reputable payment gateway.

   8. Keep copies of the payment pages and contact details. If you can't contact the vendor then maybe you can contact the shopping cart you purchased through.

   Now, please realise that even if the site seems clean, no one else has reported a problem, the email and phone numbers work and you get to speak to a real person, it could still be a rip off.

   Like all con-men they are available before you buy but not after you buy.

You are here:
Information scams - a warning about a type of scam that targets small amounts from offshore information seekers.

Offshore Scams and Rip-offs - an introduction to the biggest offshore investing danger.

Common scams - a description of the main types of scam commonly perpetrated offshore and onshore.

Spotting a scam - How to recognize a scam. Common traits of offshore scams.

Spotting a Scam Business - The features of businesses and organizations which are out to take your money while under the guise of a legitimate business operation.

Spotting a Con-artist - How to recognize the typical characteristics of the conman after your money.

Avoiding scams - How to go about avoiding being caught up in a scam onshore and offshore.

Reporting scams - Where to report scams and bodies that can be of assistance.