Google+ Invites are Hot Commodity: Watch Out for Scams

So, you've heard all about this brand early social network called Google+. The tech illuminati are all aflutter about it, our own Mark Sullivan and Megan Guess consume given it high marks. But in that location's indefinite problem: as of Wednesday night, you can no more go in.

Google has stressed that its nascent social network is sporty a "field trial" at this stage. Despite the search hulk's warnings that this isn't available yet for prime time, people still want in. What we're beginning to see is a black market develop for that coveted Google+ invite.

As of Thursday good afternoon, a search on eBay showed 69 listings for "google+ invites." selling prices ranged from 99 cents to as high as $27.00, with approximately even oblation to teach you the Immigration and Naturalization Service and outs of the new service. A search of my local Craigslist listings also brought up a a few listings.

It's surprising to me that some techies are going as far as to spare actual money for an invite to a social network. But then again to some being first in is more epochal, no matter what crazy price they may pay.

On with the obvious ways of making money, the controlled rollout is too opening the door for possible scams. PCWorld has already seen at to the lowest degree one comment (since removed) along a recent Google+ story.

"I have some invites left, call for them here: http://wp.me/p1FykR-6," scan the comment. The link leads to a WordPress page with a soma asking for the users name and e-mail. I sure as heck wouldn't fill that form tabu, operating theater even trust visiting the site for that matter.

Eager future Google+'ers are too taking a risk by posting their e-mail addresses in the comments of many stories across the web on the topic, aiming to stupefy that coveted invite. Doing so can open you up to spam — and with the recent spat of hacking, possibly put you at risk of level worsened.

So here's a suggestion. Be patient. Chances are that a friend of yours will soon represent allowed in. Get an invite from masses you know, not more or less stranger on the Internet. Mind of some person along the World Wide Web offering an invite in exchange for personal data or payment. It's much improved to be unhurt than sorry, assume't you retrieve?

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