When does a product cross over from being cleverly advertised to being an outright scam? Internet marketers love to claim that all products but theirs are just attempts to take your money. With all the hype in advertising, it's hard to decide what is true and what isn't.

But how many products really do everything that they claim? Good advertising almost always involves more flash than substance. "Our soft drink tastes good" isn't nearly as interesting as "Fizzy Cola, an explosion of taste." You really wouldn't want your soda to explode, though, would you?

Even well respected, established companies are less than 100% truthful in their advertising. Are they trying to scam you or just get your attention? Consider the car company that claims their vehicles are an "American Revolution." Are they? Do you overthrow a government when you drive one of their cars?

Then there is the fast food chain that claims you can "Have it Your Way." If you could really have it "your way," you wouldn't have to pay for it, would you? So is it a lie or just good advertising?

Webster's dictionary defines scam as slang for "a swindle or fraud." That's not much help, so let's look up swindle. "To get money or property from another under false pretenses." By that definition, almost all advertisers are trying to scam you.

Maybe it would be better to judge whether or not a product is a scam by the intent of the advertisement. "Our toothpaste gives you a smile that lights up a room" would be okay if the toothpaste cleans your teeth, even though you will still need a flashlight if the lights go out. It would be fraud if the toothpaste tube was empty when you purchased it.

Way too many internet advertisers try to claim that all products and services but theirs are trying to scam you. This is worse than exaggerated advertising, because it can't be proven. Unless you buy every product in a given market, you will never know how many are really worth the money.

Consider a common internet advertisement that claims something like "98.2% of all work at home products are scams, but we have found the few that work." This sounds interesting, so you visit the website and discover that it has found two or three products that are wonderful. It's just a nasty coincidence that the top rated product is also the most expensive.

Where do they come up with such an official sounding percentage? Have they really purchased the thousands of products available and tested them, or could it be that they are getting a commission on the products that they claim are so much better than all the others?

The best ways to avoid a scam are caution and common sense. Before purchasing a product or service, check to see if it has a money back guarantee. If possible, try and find two or three unbiased reviews of the product. Above all, maintain a healthy skepticism and ask questions before you make a purchase.