I think that the biggest online scams are the ones where somebody, often from Nigeria, emails you and asks you to send money to somebody else, and claim that you can keep some of the money. I have known a couple people who fell for this back when they were just getting popular. Now both of these people are in debt.

I think the biggest scams are the ones that say: EARN $200 a day!

Those usually tell you to buy this "Guide" and the "guide" ends up to be a text file saying some crap that is useless. I hate those scams but I have never fallen for one. I make it my life goal to make their lives miserable.

Nigeria scams have my vote. I can see where people are sometime so desperate for money that they'll believe them, but really.... I've never found them remotely tempting. Getting paid for surveys and mystery shopping are two others that aren't as expensive to fall for but will take your money.

Auto surf scams have to be the biggest scams as people have lost in 1000$ . I don't know too many auto surf site these days any way .

I have to agree on this one. I know very few people that really make this kind of money online and the way they are doing this is through a business of their own where they are selling their own goods.

You have to love the Nigeria scams though. The spelling and English in these letters is usually so atrocious, you would have to be an idiot to fall for them. Unfortunately there are a lot of idiots out there. The newest twist I have seen on this type of scam is a letter purportedly from the Nigerian Government stating that they now have a fund to pay people back that got ripped off by the scams. All you have to do is give them your banking information and...

According to me biggest scams are those telling make 100$ in just few moments and those telling to make a deal with them.

My uncle have been ripped off by autosurf scams so I have to vote that they are the worst scams ever. At first they give you returns of about 10% of what you have invested in just a month or so. Then you tend to invest more money and even invite other people without knowing that you are just getting into a web where you could not get out of. My uncle just lost about $5,000 which he have loaned just to invest to these scams.

I paid a small fee to sample a survey company.It was like 2.95 or so. I found the surveys they offered I had already dealt with. Then after only like 3 days they debited my paypal account for 39.95.I had a round with them over this but they did eventually return my money.

By far, the biggest scams are the 401 "Nigerian" scams, so-called because they originally started in Nigeria and 401 is the statute number in the Nigerian Penal Code that covers Internet scams.

See below for a partial sample of a typical 401 style mail.

FROM: MR.BRIGHT NGOMENI.
South Africa Civil Aviation Authority
Private Bag X 73,
Halfway House 1685.
Rep.Of South Africa.

ATT:SIR/ MADAM,

PROPOSAL FOR TRANSFER OF EIGHTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS (US$18.5M) INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT:

I am MR.BRIGHT NGOMENI ,the financial controller of South Africa Civil Aviation Authority, and Secretary to the Contract Award Committee of my department. I have concluded arrangements with a bank director, to transfer out of this Country this US$18.5 Million Dollar for investment purposes. This Fund is from an over inflated invoice, arising from a contract awarded to one of our Aviation Authority contractors.

The contract has already been executed and the original contractor has been fully paid. So I have decided to transfer out of this Country US$18.5M, which is the balance of the contract fund. Because of my position in the office and for the fact that I am a South Africa, it will not be possible for me to transfer such huge amount of money on my name, because, there will be a lot of question from the authority on the origin of this fund. Consequent to this reason, I require the assistance of a Foreigner, who will present himself as the contractor and beneficiary of this amount: US$18,500,000.00 {Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars}, which will be transferred into your nominated overseas account.

I have deposited this Money with a reliable Security Company as a family valuable what eighteen million five hundred thousand dollar for safekeeping. Moreover, this money is already covered with South Africa Civil Aviation Authority contract and completion numbers, which of course makes it easier for us to affect this transfer on your name without any questions being asked. So, this is why I need a foreigner, who will stand and act as one of our Civil Aviation Contractor to claim this fund.

As the Financial Controller, I will assist you to procure the contract completion certificate that will back up your claim as our contractor. I will also monitor the immediate remittance of the above amount. You would however, be required to furnish me with these necessary informations to enable me install your information into our computer data base system as one of our contractors.

1.Your direct phone and fax numbers for easy communication.
2. Photocopies of your Identification, i.e. your Drivers license, your international passport or your national ID.

There are also those solicitations for cheap Viagra online. They'll ask for money to be sent via creditMoney loaned or the ability of an individual or company to borrow money. card and they'll either not send you anything or they'll send fake Viagra pills.