You name it there is a scam for it. The most popular scam out of all are internet scams. There is no telling what or when you might do to get into an internet scam. The only way you can find out is through your phone bill or bank statement.

Since the internet is patronized by millions of users on a daily basis there are plenty of attractive advertisements and promotions to lure unsuspecting browsers into these internet scams.

Here us a look at some of the most popular internet scams:-

- Lottery - these are very popular scams and is usually sent to people who do buy lotteries. It is still a mystery as to how scammers get details about people who are buying lotteries.

- Love/ dating - on the onset these people look rather genuine and are really out to meet someone, chat and have a long term relationship. But once they get to know you and you think you know them, they start asking you for a cash advancement to visit you or put you on a spot to test how you really feel about them. Some of these scams lead to a tragic end for the victim, as in the case of Raymond Merrill.

- Phishing - scammers send out requests that are similar to official bank requests and obtain credit card details and other useful information, which are them used to make cash withdrawals or make credit card payments. The fake websites are similar to the real websites. Now scammers use telephone calls as well.

- Free offers - the advertisement says that everything you want on their page is free but as you register and want to download or visit the free sites, there is a request for credit card details. By this time you have been enticed by the site and would not mind paying a few dollars to get the free offer. It is not a question of paying a few dollars but these sites use your credit card to appropriate thousands of dollars.

- Auctions - Scammers use attractive pricing for mostly antiques to lure their online customers. Once payment is made, you don't have your product and you can't even ask for a refund on your money.

- Shopping - Scammers target those who are selling their products and send out a cheque for more than what the product costs. They then ask you to wire the extra money back but before you realize that the cheque you were issued with is a fake, you have already paid money and also lost your product.

- Approved credit cards and loans - a fake email is sent out to potential customers saying that the following bank has approved a credit card or a loan in your favour and in order to confirm this offer you need to send US$ 50 (a fee) as quickly as possible.

- Online jobs - a rise in the ratio of unemployment will no doubt give rise to these online scams as people are desperate to find jobs with the recession hitting almost all countries. The best way to beat an internet job scam is to actually work online without paying a registration fee. Genuine job sites often do not request for registration fees.

- Virus and spy ware - it could be a website that you visit or simply view an online video, you have no idea what is being downloaded. Spy ware is also used to get bank account details and passwords of the user.

- Vacation and travel - they are very popular during the holiday season such as Christmas holidays and during the summer. You generally get an email asking you to take advantage of this good offer and book instantly. You have to give your credit card details to make the reservation. You are in for a nasty surprise as you get to your destination to find out that your travel fares where indeed over prices and the fortune you paid for accommodation in a 5 star hotel, was only for a run down old villa.

- Competitions - Scammer send out email saying that you're the lucky winner of prize and click here to claim it. If you do you are not only installing hidden software that will trace your passwords but also create a lot of problems for your operating system.

- Donation and charities - these scams operate during a natural disaster such as a tsunami, hurricane or a flood. They pose as relief agencies and request for aid and donations. They operate on the web and request for payments to be made online.

- Ring tone and free downloads - Free downloadable wall paper or ring tones for your phone is not really free as you will soon find out. There is a fee involved when you check out your 'free' shopping spree.