BBB: Twitter a Scam Breeding Ground

Twitter may be a potential Nobel Peace Prize nominee, but it’s also a breeding ground for scams, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB says it’s seen a big increase in the number of companies that claim to help turn the microblogging site into a cash cow without even trying hard.

One scam promises to pay users to “tweet,” but charges them a monthly payment and never gives them their reward. Another warning from the BBB involves job seekers who might be desperate in this tough economy. The scam promises money to “tweet” from home – of course, it asks for money up front, something the bureau says is always a red flag.

The bureau, based in Washington, warns job seekers to be wary of claims that they can earn substantial paychecks simply by tweeting from home. Websites asking for money upfront for a tweeting "position" should also be avoided, the bureau said.

And to top it all off, not all of the scams that the BBB describes to the Los Angeles Times are illegal. And illegal or not, getting your money back from an online scheme is extremely difficult. The best advice may be “buyer beware.”