I'd hardly say that the existence of scams is reason to not pursue something. It just means you need to be more careful and discerning, just as with many other things in life. Having said that, aside hustles are merely tools. They're helpful for achieving certain things. If you want to engage in something beyond your day to day work, diversify your income and your experience, etc., a side hustle may be right for you. If you despise your job or your boss, a side hustle may be helpful if you can't simply quit and find a different job. However, that does not make side hustles right for everyone and for every situation.