Blockchain technology is a wonderful thing, but be wary, my brethren, for there are also many who would twist it to evil. Any new advancement promises unimagined opportunity, but there are always people eager to exploit the naïve, too. Do not fall for such scams. Be wise as a serpent, and gentle as a dove as you explore this untamed wilderness of the internet.

Pyramid Schemes

A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly impossible, and most members are unable to profit; as such, pyramid schemes are unsustainable and often illegal. (Wikipedia]

Cryptocurrencies in general are not inherently pyramid schemes, and HIVE in particular is not, either, but there are people eager to use our platform as a foundation for such deception. Anyone who promises an "investment opportunity" or access to special tools and knowledge in exchange for first bringing more people into their system is not there to help you along. They want to exploit you.

Bid Bots & Vote Sellers

Under the current code, this may not be as prevalent a problem as it has been in the past, but there are always people eager to exploit the greed of others in order to satisfy their own greed. When you buy a vote, you send tokens you have in exchange for the anticipation of tokens. meanwhile, the vote seller gets your money and a curation bonus. They win. You may gain in the short run, but you are not buildinging a sustainable curation trail of real people.

We all want to increase our wallet balances, but the wise course of action is participation in the community. In fact, we now have numerous communities where you can interact with like-minded folks. Vote on posts you like. Make substantive comments. Focus on creating quality content yourself. You will earn real followers who actually read your work and contribute to conversations. This is the long-term path to success. It isn't easy, but it is sustainable and infinitely more gratifying.

Reposting Services

While I have not seen this here yet, it was a common-enough scam on our previous platform, and even more of a blatant ripoff than the bid bots.

Do not pay someone else to share your content.

Ever.

There is a saying among entrepreneurs, artists and performers: "People die of exposure." This is because many people promise "exposure" instead of real payment in entertainment and startup business ventures. It's not a winning model in traditional markets, and it's not a winning model here.

If you create quality content, people will notice, and some will share it. In fact, make an effort to repost something good you find for each original post you write. Be a valuable part of the community, and the community will likely value you in return.

Conclusion

Be wary of anyone who promises a fast path to wealth and influence. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are very good at finding your psychological weaknesses in order to exploit them, and in turn, exploit you. Whether we are discussing cyberspace or meatspace, the same principles always hold true.

So remember, we're all here looking for opportunity, but so are those with less-than-honest intent. Take any offer with a grain of salt, and be suspicious of anyone who comes to you with their hand out while promising wealth untold.