| People who are eager to start a home business | | | | for their sales representatives? |
| are often new to the Internet and filled with hope. | | | | 5. Read the fine print before you sign anything. If |
| Unfortunately, that can make them easy prey for | | | | you don't understand an agreement, have a |
| con artists. The lure of easy money can serve as | | | | lawyer or an accountant review it before signing. |
| a difficult lesson for those who fall for it. If you | | | | 6. Make sure there is an out. Before you sign |
| are looking at job opportunities online, its | | | | ANYTHING, find out what the procedure is to |
| important to watch out for scams and | | | | withdraw if you change your mind and what, if |
| get-rich-quick schemes. Many scams are cleverly | | | | anything, it will cost you. If you have to pay |
| packaged, making it hard to determine the | | | | startup fees, pay with a credit card rather than |
| legitimate work opportunities from the fraudulent | | | | cash or check. That way if things go awry you |
| ones. | | | | can cancel payment or dispute your credit card |
| "If you are looking at employment or business | | | | charges. |
| opportunities online, watch out for scams," | | | | How to check out a scam or potential business |
| Tamsevicius says. "Many get-rich-quick schemes | | | | opportunity: |
| are cleverly packaged, making it hard to sift | | | | 1) Contact your local Better Business Bureau |
| legitimate work opportunities from the swindles." | | | | (BBB). The national BBB web site is There you will |
| Common cons include Nigerian letter schemes | | | | find a link to locate the BBB for your area and |
| asking for money, pyramid schemes, Ponzi | | | | information on work-at-home scams and how to |
| schemes, and "work at home" offers that involve | | | | file a complaint. |
| stuffing envelopes or assembling crafts. | | | | 2) Check the Scambusters |
| Here are some tips for sidestepping scams: | | | | 3) Go to WorldWideScam, offers a funny insight |
| 1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! | | | | into some of the more outrageous scams in |
| Any offer that promises to make you rich | | | | circulation. |
| overnight with a business that works while you | | | | 4) Visit the MLM Survivor Site. Here you can |
| sleep is a rip-off. Watch out if a company | | | | check out any potential MLM opportunities to see |
| promises large profits for little or no work, or | | | | how reputable they are. |
| claims no experience is necessary. If anyone can | | | | 5) The United States Postal Inspection Service |
| do it, why should you pay to learn about it? | | | | offers several pages on its web site about |
| For that reason, multilevel marketing (MLM) has | | | | scams, including work-at-home schemes, |
| gotten a bad rap. Granted, there may be some | | | | multi-level-marketing schemes, distributorship and |
| legitimate money-making programs out there, but | | | | franchise fraud, and how to file a mail fraud |
| there are also a large number of overhyped, | | | | complaint. |
| overpromising, underdelivering scams too. | | | | 6) The Federal Trade Commission offers |
| 2. Be especially wary of any company that | | | | information on work-at-home schemes, medical |
| requires an initial investment to get involved. | | | | billing, business opportunity schemes, the top 10 |
| 3. Be leery of anyone who uses hard-sell tactics | | | | Dot Cons, and how to file a complaint. |
| or pushes you to sign up right away. Take your | | | | 7) The National Consumer Leagues National Fraud |
| time to think about opportunities. If you do find a | | | | Information Center offers information on pyramid |
| program that intrigues you, do yourself a favor | | | | schemes, MLM, and how to report a fraud. |
| and check it out first. | | | | HAVE YOU BEEN VICTIMIZED BY SCAM? |
| 4. Double-check the reputation of a company | | | | If you fall victim to a scam let others know so |
| before signing up for its program. Get at least | | | | that you can protect them from falling prey too! |
| three references from people who are currently | | | | Heres how to report a fraudulent business: |
| involved in the program to get the real story. Find | | | | 1) Contact the attorney general in your local state. |
| out what strings are attached, how much money | | | | 2) File a complaint with the Better Business |
| it will take to get started, and what the fine print | | | | Bureau in the fraudulent business native state. |
| says. Also find out how long they have been in | | | | You can find contact information for that individual |
| business. Ask what their experience has been | | | | state at the BBB web site at . |
| working with them. How long have they been in | | | | 3) Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Call |
| business? What kind of training will the company | | | | them at 1-800-876-7060 or visit their web site at |
| provide? Do they have a good support system | | | | to file a complaint. |