Hi Lin!
I've come across the Schvoong site a number of times over the last couple of years. I was really attracted to the idea of making some cash for reviews in my spare time. However, one of our customers warned me off such sites. It's not that they're not legit, they probably are - somewhere down the line. But the warning I got was about identity theft and how hackers and other nasty little busy bodies will use ANY personal information that you put online. He very strongly advises NOT to use ANY credit cards, paypal or any other system online that requires personal or banking information.
As such ANY purchases I make for products that I see online are done strictly via cashier's cheque or money order. There are some sites that won't accept this method and I am out of luck but I feel safer. Ditto goes for any sites offering to pay me but require my banking or other personal info. Better to be safe now than very sorry later, I guess. I'm sorry if this sounds a tad on the paranoid side but when my customer relayed info about someone using his credit card in Australia while he was actually in Canada, it was really something. He had to fill out a very extensive report to the police and close and reopen all his bank accounts. They still never caught the perpetrator but now this gentleman does us all a favour by advising everyone against the practice.
What about E-bay and other sites that make claims and "guarantees"? Don't touch them, he says, you don't really have an iron clad guarantee that you'll be safe. I hope this helps. Have a great day!
Chris
