You've heard horror stories of people losing large amounts of money through the internet.

The reason you many have heard so much about it is simply because it's true.

 People are scammed and robbed everyday.

This guide is to provide you with some information so you won't become a victim.

There are many scams out there so we can never guarantee this information will protect you from all of them.

 Also there are new scams starting up each day so always be careful.

That doesn't mean that you can't buy safely online.

 Millions of people do it each day.

There are different variations of the scams most are very similar.

Two simple rules:

If the deal sounds to good to be true, it's probably not true.

If a person makes it a point to tell you to trust them because they are honest - they are probably not honest.

A few tips when buying or selling on the internet.

Know how the scams work. They only work if they can fool you. If you know about them they can't fool you.

Purchase in person if possible. The most expensive items sold in the classifieds, are Corvettes. If you see a good deal on a Corvette that is thousands of miles from you, there is a good chance you'll find a similar deal close to you. If the deal really is good you might find it worth while to travel.

Use a secure method of sending money. Never send cash or transfer money via Western Union to an unknown person. OK, it looks like I am picking on Western Union. We don't mean to. They are great for sending money to someone you know.

Use a third party to help with the transaction. Escrow companies can help but be very cautious. Make sure you are dealing with a real and licensed escrow company. Many scammers are setting up fake companies to collect the money. This can be a problem if you are selling also. This is one of the common scams. Some fake companies can be very convincing. If in doubt, don't use them.