How To Not Get Scammed

[carvalho20]

I've been scammed by other sites as well: they started good but in the end they've taken money from many users and made people like me waste time...

So, If you wanna join a PTC, PTR, whatever site that pays you to click, here's my advices:

1) Never join a site which is owned by a known scammer.

Examples: J.J., Samantha Shephard, Maderite(Lola/anmlwalkr), Eric Lew, Michael 'Mike' Pratt and GPT Networks.

If a PTC site is owned and administrated by these people above, don't join, for frog's sake!
2) Suspect of sites that only offer AlertPay as a payment processor.
Because the owner: or is a kid(with an unverified account) or a well-known scammer.
3) Join sites which has an admin with a good reputation(trusted) and/or has more than 2 years.

So, be careful with new sites. If they don't last, at least 6 mouths, then, It's a scam.
4) Never join sites which requires you to pay to be paid.

Also, never join sites which requires you to invest a part of your money in order to you get paid.

Examples: TrekPay, YourBestBux.com and other site with rules like "50/50", "40/60", "10/50" etc.

PTC means Paid to Click not Pay to Click.
5) Visit sites and forums which talks about PTC and warns people about scam sites.

That way, you can have an idea on how the scam sites act and don't get scammed again.

Some good sites to you visit:

http://ptc-investgations.blogspot.com/ - PTC Investigations Blog

http://www.southernpal.com/surfing4cash-blog.html - Southernpal's PTC Site

http://papaiclick.blogspot.com/ - PapaiMark's Blog (Papai=friend )

http://ptcsites-scam.blogspot.com/ - Panos' Guide on "How To Be Scammed"

http://www.genuine-ptcs.com/index.php - ricmetal's "Genuine PTCs" site

http://www.talkptc.com/ - TalkPTC (the site which you're now )
6) Suspect of sites that has its *'whois' protected and/or guarded.

A PTC site that hides information from you can't be fully trusted. Or it's owned by a known scammer or by a kid with (an) unverified account(s) (AlertPay, PayPal, etc...).
7) A site that violates its TOS, even only once, is a perfect candidate to turn in a scam. No exceptions.
8 ) When a site has more negative than positive feedbacks, It's a perfect candidate to be a scam site. Bux.to anyone ? 
9) Never join a site which has a ripped-off (generally, stolen) layout from another site. If he/she can't buy a decent layout or make it from scratch, how he/she'll pay his/her members ?

Example: Paid2YouTube
10) Never join sites which uses a *free hosting. If a he/she can't buy a decent hosting, how he/she will pay his/her members ?

Example:
- Sites with "co.cc" on the end of its link;
- Sites with ".ws" on the end of its link;
- Site hosted by "namecheap.com".
11) Be careful while joining "BuxHost" 'generic' sites. Because, as I've learned with Southernpal and here:

"Most of the owners do not have a clue on How to run a PTC site."
12) If a site stops paying, leave. Don't wait no more a second, just leave.

This generally happens when the admin confesses that PayPal or AlertPay has frozen his/her account due to "n" reason(s).
If that happens, leave and don't waste your time anymore there.
13) Never join sites that gives you high click rates per click and/or per e-mail read.

Example:

If:

Clicks - are from $0,10 to $1,00;

Paid to Read E-mails - are from $5,00 to $15,00 and

Payout - are from $5.000 to $30.000

Don't join a site like that!


These kind of sites are unsustainable. Trusted site will pay you no more than $0,02 per click and $0,01 per e-mail read, so, step away from these scammers.
14) Always read the T.O.S. (Terms of Service) and F.A.Q. (Frequented Asked Questions) of the site.

Because it's from there you'll know If a site is scam or not.
15) Check out If a site has a forum.

This is important, because, If a site doesn't has a forum, it means that the admin doesn't want to "have trouble" with the members.



Well, that's all I know by far, and If someone wants to add some more tips, just reply to this thread.

And I'd like to see this thread as a 'sticky', you know. This should be useful for those who are starting in PTC.

(lol long post )

EDIT 1: Added two more sites on tip number 5.

EDIT 2: Some things added and writing 'fixed'.
---------------------
* What's "Whois" ?

'Whois' is a tool used to know who owns a certain site.

You put the link of a site in the box and then it's given to you a detailed information about the site which you want to lookup.

http://whois.domaintools.com/ - 'Who is' site

Another useful on-line tool is the 'Robtex' site - http://www.robtex.com/

[carvalho20]

Below It's a clear picture of scam sites. Have fun! 

 
In the end, ashes to ashes.

[darklord]

thanks for those info
but even with them we will be scammed
even you was
so ashes to ashes

[carvalho20]

thanks for those info
but even with them we will be scammed
even you was
so ashes to ashes

You're welcome, but It costs nothing do your best to guide people on the right way.

[carvalho20]

From:
http://www.talkptc.com/index.php/topic,2411.0.html - "Important Rules For Joining PTC Sites!!!" thread

Quotes edited for better reading. Have a nice reading.

1 ) Don't join sites from poor countries.

Anymore, you really only want to join sites originating from Canada, UK and USA, even still you better investigate a little!

Scammers still come from those countries!
2 ) Investigate the functions of the site!

Are there broken links? Are there parts of the site that don't even function at all? Are there lots of errors?

If so, then pass it up!

It means the script is a piece of junk and if they launched it with errors and bugs that means they don't know how to fix it and could care less they only want to trick you into your money!
3 ) Stop joining 1 cent per click and 100% referral sites! THEY ARE ALL DESIGNED TO COLLECT MONEY FOR ADMIN AND CLOSE!

The highest amount you should ever consider joining is 1/4 cent per click and 50% ref!
4 ) Don't join bux sites using only PayPal!

That right there tells you that the 'Admin' is a frogdamn amateur and knows nothing of the business world and how to use PayPal!
(And yes I mean you, IsabelMarco! You fell for GGEPAY for Frog's Sake!    )
5 ) Look at what the 'Admin' of the site is promoting!

Are they promoting nothing but a bunch of stupid 1 cent 100% ref sites? If so then don't join!

That tells you that the 'Admin' is relying on those sites to be able to pay you!

If they scam the 'Admin', then that 'Admin' will scam you because he/she now has no money to pay you!

'Admins' should use several type of programs to generate revenue! Not just stupid 'Ponzi' Schemes!

THEY WILL SCAM THE ADMIN AND THEN ADMIN WILL SCAM YOU!
6 ) Don't join sites that offer nothing else but paid links!

If they don't offer featured links on the side, banner ads, featured banners, signup ads, then they are missing out on 100% profit for the Webmaster!

BANNER ADVERTISING IS CRUCIAL TO ANY BUSINESS ONLINE!
7 ) Don't join a site where 'Admin' can't speak any English no matter what country its from!

That will 99% of time turn into a disaster as communication is not there! COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL!
8 ) Don't join default Bux clones or any of Yourownbux BuxHost script sites!

They will always fail! They are pieces of garbage with so many security holes and exploits its ridiculous! They are not designed to operate a legitimate business!
9 ) Don't join sites that use free hosting.

If they can't afford a decent hosting service, they won't be able to pay you!

Also, once the members start pouring in, the limited bandwidth won't handle it!
10 ) Don't join if the 'Admin' has an unverified payment processor account.

If he/she can't go through the simple process of proving their identity and age, they usually have something to hide...

Most of the time, they're hiding their age.
If they're under 18 and AlertPay, PayPal, etc. finds out, the account gets locked or closed and they can't pay you!

They shouldn't be conducting online business in first place if they're underage![...]

You can add this rules If you like, some of them are personal experience and some from others' experience:

- Have a crap design;

- Have a high payout;

- An Exaggerative Click, Read, Surf value;

- Invoke 'n' reasons to not pay you;

- Freezes or delete your account for no reason;

- Have a bad reputation (Known Scammers);

- Doesn't answer your e-mails;

- Have no longer a Webmaster;

- It announces Itself for sale;

- Are using 0 Iframe/1 Iframe (Frame Brakers);

- Promotes porn and illegal material;

- Pay only upgraded members;

- Have a low domain validity (Like Months);

- Ask for money in order to join them.

This far I remember.

[eecash]

The best 'rule of thumb' is if the site has the word "bux" in it, it is probably a scam. (except for buxp.info and such)

Unfortunately, Bux is now a bad word.  The word "Bux" has such a bad connotation that only the most ignorant (or ballsy) admins still use the word in a site name. 
-----------------------------------------------------
"MotherBuxers!  Give me my Buxing money, you Buxing thief!"

[LOUIEVILL]

The best 'rule of thumb' is if the site has the word "bux" in it, it is probably a scam. (except for buxp.info and such)

Unfortunately, Bux is now a bad word.  The word "Bux" has such a bad connotation that only the most ignorant (or ballsy) admins still use the word in a site name. 
-----------------------------------------------------
"MotherBuxers!  Give me my Buxing money, you Buxing thief!"

"What the Bux! They have no intention of giving it Bux Sire!" LOL

[carvalho20]

To stress my third advice...

prelaunch sux,  they have a habit of changing tos or deleting earnings   

3) Join sites which has an admin with a good reputation(trusted) and/or has more than 2 years.

So, be careful with new sites. If they don't last, at least 6 mouths, then, It's a scam.
Two good examples are Jaysu and Slobux.

The second already came back, but it's a scam already as well, so, bear in mind: be careful with new sites. Give time to them, or they'll waste your one.

[sabbie]

3) Join sites which has an admin with a good reputation(trusted) and/or has more than 2 years.

not many of them around in ptc, i wouldnt be able to name more than about 5

[ClixQueen]

Below It's a clear picture of scam sites. Have fun! 

 
In the end, ashes to ashes.

This is just priceless!  Thanks for all your helpful tips and the time you put into this subject.