7 Websites I Initially Thought Were Scams (but will not, apparently, hack into your computer and rob you blind)

Happy Friday, Cyberspace!

Remember last Tuesday when I said that I wasn’t going to just randomly disappear into thin air? Well, guess who just randomly disappeared into thin air this past week?

That’s right. This cookie right here.

But never you fear, my smol crumb, for I have returned to you with a thousand and one excuses as to my absence that I shall not be naming because A) they’re extremely lame and not at all worthy of my absence, and B) I only have like three excuses.

HOWEVER! I have not been completely MIA, as I actually wrote a guest post over on the wonderful Alex’s blog, Lord Of The Trekkies, which was posted yesterday! So technically I still posted something this week? Just…not on my own blog.

Yeah.

So if any of you would like to hop on over and check that out, I’m sure we’d both appreciate it very muchly!

However, I must inform you that I wrote this particular post whilst suffering from a severe allergy/cold mutation that would not be tempered by any form of medication, so the quality of the content in the post is highly debatable at this point in time.

Ye have been warned.

But anyway, now that I have insufficiently explained where I have been, I believe it is time for us to get on with the Smudge!

Ah, yes. There is something about myself that I don’t believe I have ever clearly addressed on this blog. It is odd. It is shameful.

It is the fact that–despite all my talk about the Great and Terrible Cyberspace–I have severe anxiety whenever it comes  to the internet.

Or, more specifically, websites.

But what do I mean by this, you may wonder? Allow me to explain.

There happens to be this wire in my brain, see, and it consistently tells me that any and all websites on the internet that I have not visited previously are a complete and utter SCAM and must therefore be treated with extreme caution lest there be a hacker on the other end of the screen trying to break into the computer’s database and steal my identity and all of the laptop’s information and all of our money and then promptly give the computer a virus.

This is a completely rational method of thinking, I assure you. It is perfectly natural to believe that a normal and frequently used website is a scam, to the point where you boycott it and try to delete your account before the hackers realize you’re there.

Obviously.

So today I have delved into the depths of my past (and shame) and compiled a list of websites that I–in my perfectly sane mind–once believed were scams that were out for my blood.

Beginning with–

Scam One– Canva

You know that wonderful designing website that allows you to create graphics to post on your blog for free?

Yep. I thought this was a scam. In fact, my password for the longest time was ‘pleasedonotbeascam’, if that gives you any indication of how deeply rooted my fear was.

(I have since changed this password, so trying to hack into my account is most futile, sir)

However, in my defense, their weird swirly log in screen is creepy and highly suspicious. It just screams HACKER, does it not?

Of course it does.

Scam Two– BookBub

A website where you can get daily deals on ebooks (some of which are best-sellers) and even some ebooks for free?

Totally a scam.

But also apparently not.

And now that I have properly tested this site and know that it is not–in fact–a scam, I would highly recommend it to all my fellow readers who are looking for daily ebook deals.

And though the site is wonderful for finding cheap ebooks, you must admit that its name is slightly disturbing.

I mean, Bookbub? Bub?

BUB?

Scam Three– Goodreads

I have no shame.

I first heard of Goodreads a few years back and thought, “Hey! That sounds like fun! Perhaps I, a smol reader, shall try it!”

So, of course, I promptly made an account.

Only to discover that Goodreads wanted access to all of my Facebook information and my friend lists and all of their information and birthdates and credit card account numbers and safe passwords and basically was out to eat my soul and murder a man*. I tried in vain to delete my account, and even went so far as to ignore the verification email they sent me to start up my Goodreads experience (because the email said to ignore it if it had been sent in error), but then Goodreads just kept sending me emails about how I was officially part of their community now, even though I NEVER VERIFIED THE ACCOUNT.

It was quite a traumatic experience for me, really.

(*you should know by now that I exaggerate greatly whenever possible, dear bean)

Scam Four– Inlinkz

Now, Inlinkz is a site where you can find tons of neat tools–such as link-ups (which refuse to work on my blog???) and other nifty doodads that I care nothing about–to add to your blog.

I happened to find this particular site when searching for a way to host a monthly link-up, and the minute I found it, I knew it was a scam.

But of course it turned out that it wasn’t a scam after all, and it just so happens that a lot of bloggers actually use Inlinkz tools on their websites rather frequently.

#themoreyouknow

Scam Five– WordPress.org

Now, this one is most definitely a scam.

Fraud! Fraud, I tell you!

I bet there are tons of hackers just waiting to get their hands on unsuspecting bloggers’ blogs the moment they sign up to this creepy site.

I mean, why are there two WordPress’s? WordPress.com is obviously the real thing.

Obviously.

Scam Six– NaNoWriMo

Once Upon A Time, back in the good ol’ year of 2015, when young Kenzie first heard about NaNoWriMo, she wanted so desperately to participate, yet refused to actually make an account and participate properly with all of the other NaNoers because the whole thing was obviously a giant SCAM.

So she decided to just go it alone and keep track of the 50,000 word goal herself. #smurt

Smol Kenzie, however, did not anticipate how difficult it is to write 50,000 words in one month without any motivation brought on by both the writing community and winner prizes, so by the middle of the month, she quit.

Her story, Reset, remains unfinished to this day.

The End.

Scam Seven– WordPress.com

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Ha.

#helpme

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And that’s all I’ve got for today, folks! What do you think? Are there any websites that you just knew were scams, but turned out to be relatively normal? Do you get anxious when it comes to trying new websites? Are there any websites you feel deserve more attention than they’re actually getting? Let us talk about all of the scammy-website-related things below!

And don’t forget to boycott any and all websites that seem suspicious, dear children! Better safe than sorry!

*flings cookies in the air and disappears*