Most people think they’d never fall for a scam. Guess what – that’s exactly the frame of mind con artists are looking for! Why? Because people who think they know better are often the last to smell a rat. So, here are the top Internet scams people fall for, and how to avoid them. This comes from MSNBC:

• Online dating scams. Love-based cons are the easiest to pull off, because love always involves a leap of faith. Especially when you only know them via email and chat rooms. Some cons spend months sending flowers and candy – bought with stolen credit cards, and pretending you have a lot in common by using what’s on your Facebook page. Then, they ask you to wire $800 so they can come visit. In fact, dating scams are so profitable, many criminals pay monthly fees on some dating services. Bottom line: If your new love is asking for money before you’ve met face-to-face, that’s a huge red flag.
• Fake or “rogue” anti-virus software. You’ve seen the pop-ups: “Your computer is infected! Get help now!” The minute you click, it downloads software that disables your computer until you pay up. Your best protection: Back up your important files. So your digital life won’t be on the line. If you need anti-virus software, go to a legitimate company. Don’t click on pop-ups!
• Another Internet scam: Facebook impersonation. Basically, a crook impersonating you. Face it; a criminal who hacks your Facebook account can learn a staggering amount of information about you. They can use it to trick your friends and family into sending money for what seem like a believable call for help. Like, “Passport and wallet stolen in London! Need $1,200 to get home!” The fix: Use a strong password for Facebook, and change it often.
• The final scam: The fake-o-sphere – fake blogs, fake work-at-home-jobs, fake ads: “one rule to make your tummy flat” - and fake websites saying how great they all are. The fix: Never purchase a product without doing two Google searches: One with the name of the product with the word “scam” and the other with the word “complaint.”