What constitutes a "scam"?

Good morning everyone,
I have taken the time to read through many pages of social networking sites, and it would appear that the term "scam" is a very frequently used one. A person shares his/her system, which yields great results, only for it to fail once everyone starts to follow it, then resulting in everyone calling the O.P. or system creator "a scam". Do you guys think the term is overly used? Do you think it is fair for someone to be called a "scam" if his system fails down the road? I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's response.

First, not all systems "fail". If you take the time to look, there are quite a few traders who have shown steady increasing profits for well over 1, 2, 3 years and more. Second, as you gain experience, you will learn to see what claims are readily plausible vs those that are not. Beyond that, trading is a very subjective practice, and one method or system that may work for one person may not work well or for as long as the next person due to a wide range of factors and variables. As you gain experience, which you can only get over time by observing market flow and events, you can adopt a plausible method or system and use it yourself to determine whether it works.

In my opinion (I have over 5 years experience. This particular FF account is new but I am not new to trading or FF), you are better off reading up on the basics of technical analysis and how to use the tools (Elliott, Fibonacci, Candles, Indicators, etc) and becoming proficient in how to use them and interpret what you see.

I really would avoid taking too much stock into what anyone says on a forum until you have enough of a foundation to identify good advice and info from not-so-good.

But, getting back to your main question, there are definitely things that are clearly scams. There are also people that like to call any and everything that they do not like or understand a scam simply because of those reasons or for some other agenda (such as jealousy).

So again, I would suggest focusing more on developing a strong technical foundation in understanding how to do technical analysis and how to proficiently use those tools and demo trade until you see consistent positive results. I have some specific suggestions of where to look if you care to know. Feel free to PM me or chat offline (skype/IM) if you like.

I am not saying there are know commercial systems that work, there are many of them, even here on FF. But for me my Scamometer goes to the highest reading if the op starts asking for money, for more information about the system, but that does not stop me from reading more of the thread starters claims, to see how true his or her claims are, If you have sufficient experience in this business you will be able to separate the Bull from the Bullshit

I agree that this term is over-used. One system can work perfectly with one trader, in certain times and time frames. Then another trader uses it with the different conditions and the outcome is not the best. Result=crying it's scam. Not too fair, I believe.

A scam is when you create multiple usernames to sell your junk of a system:-

http://www.forexfactory.com/master_kiwa
http://www.forexfactory.com/english
http://www.forexfactory.com/cholipop
http://www.forexfactory.com/kmbiodmoneda
http://www.forexfactory.com/babysteps101
http://www.forexfactory.com/ptyforex
http://www.forexfactory.com/chupamelo
http://www.forexfactory.com/dontswing
http://www.forexfactory.com/interesting1
http://www.forexfactory.com/phoenixinc
http://www.forexfactory.com/mrjose
http://www.forexfactory.com/pauladrian
http://www.forexfactory.com/pauljames
http://www.forexfactory.com/tomford
http://www.forexfactory.com/xuxamadre
http://www.forexfactory.com/nicholas1021
http://www.forexfactory.com/forex_people
http://www.forexfactory.com/claropty