Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department are reminding citizens to beware of online money scams.

Citizens who are searching for new jobs or selling items via online websites may encounter various types of money order scams.

Some money order and traveler's check scams have been seen as job announcements in which the "employer" advertises a job that allows the employee to "work from home," "earn up to a 10 percent commission" and "no experience is necessary." The jobs require the employee to handle "billing" for the company.

The victim of the scam will be told that he'll receive checks by mail from a "buyer" of whatever service or product the company sells.

The victims are instructed to deposit the payment into their own personal bank accounts and keep the agreed upon commission percentage.

The victims then transfer the remaining payment from their personal account to the third party via a money order service or by traveler 's check. The person to whom the money is to be wired or sent is often in another state or country.

Once the money has been transferred out of the victim's account, the criminal stops payment on the check and the victims lose the full amount of the check or money order from their personal accounts.

Another scam occurs when a potential buyer responds by email to an online seller of an item. In the e-mail, the potential buyer explains that they wish to purchase the item and says they will send a check to the seller.

When the seller receives the check, it is for significantly more than the agreed upon sale price. The buyer explains away the overage as an accident and requests that the seller transfer the overage back via a money order service.

Once the money is wired out of the seller's account, the buyer stops payment on the check, and the seller loses the money out of his/her personal account.

The above listed examples are only a couple of the scams that might be encountered online. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to be cautious and educated.

•Always know the person you are sending money to and avoid paying for online purchases with money transfer services.

•When contemplating employment with a company advertising job opportunities online, contact the Better Business Bureau to determine if the company is legitimate or if there are recent complaints against the business.

•Never provide confidential information such as account or personal identification numbers to any person not affiliated with a legitimate business.

•Discontinue transactions if someone gives instructions on how to respond to questions from money order service employees.

•Buy goods and services from reliable, known and trusted sources.

•Above all, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.