Home Based Business or SCAM
You've probably seen these types
of advertisements: "Earn $15 - $50 per hour stuffing envelopes. Send in $25 in a self addressed stamped envelope to ….", "Make $5,000 - $20,000 per month in your own home based business.
No experience necessary. Start up costs $99 - $499." If you are skeptical and think these advertisements might be a scam you are probably saving yourself from a minor loss of $25 to a possibly greater losses
of more than $5,000 depending on the scam. Getting rich quick sounds good to most of us, but the reality is most people get rich through hard work and
effort over a period of time. Don't let the lure of fast money reel you in only to have your hard earned savings lost in a scam. Use these tips to prevent being scammed by the next "Get Rich Quick
Scam".
- If it sound too good to be true……
- Check out the company with the appropriate regulatory agencies
- Get references
- If it looks good today, it will look good tomorrow
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Does this business opportunity's advertisement promise you riches beyond your wildest dreams (did they use these exact words?)? Does this company ask
you to invest money before they tell you exactly what you will be doing or before they release any information? Have they told you that the information is so secret and such a great opportunity they can't release
it until you are committed to working with them and that you have to prove your commitment by paying your money up front? Is the only address a P.O. Box? Put the CAUTION flag up! Buyer Beware!
Make sure you can get details about this business opportunity prior to giving anyone any money or any personal or financial information about yourself.
Check out the company with the appropriate regulatory agencies. While looking into this opportunity, you should also check with different agencies in your local area and state to find out if there are any
complaints filed against the company. Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area and with your state's Consumer Affairs Department. If you are not sure how to contact these agencies, check
with your local government to ask for the agency phone numbers and addresses. When investigating an opportunity, look for any complaints from people claiming not to receive promised benefits and complaints that
the company won't handle their problems or that the company won't communicate with them. Get references. Make sure you get a list of callable references from the company. This list should include
satisfied customers and other people like you who have spent their money on this opportunity. Call these people and ask them questions about how the company has handled any questions or problems they have
had. Also ask these references if they are satisfied with the amount of money they are making, if they found the opportunity works as it was advertised and if they would recommend this opportunity to others.
Include on your list questions that you want answered. Don't feel as if you are intruding or prying. It is better to find out everything now instead later after you have been scammed out of your hard earned
money. If the company can't or won't provide references, run away. This is a clear sign of a potential scam. If it looks good today, it will look good tomorrow. After you have done your
due diligence, take a few days to think about this opportunity and analyze the facts. Try to block out the thoughts of promised riches and fast /easy money. Get a second opinion or even a third from
someone who you respect. Formulate your plans with the pros and cons on paper. Every good idea still has some drawbacks. Analyze these issues and then decide whether you are willing to spend your
money. Lastly, don't spend any money until you are absolutely sure of the company and the offer and that you are willing to lose the entire amount you spend. 2/6/00 |
