Business Opportunity Ads - How to Avoid the Scams
A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill
Avoiding the Business Opportunity Scam
There's an old adage that holds so true when it comes to avoiding a business opportunity scam - if it seems too good to be true, it is.
Long before the Internet, when your primary source for business opportunities was your local Sunday paper there were three types of business opportunities that appeared each week on a regular basis. Now they've spread their slimy tentacles out to the World Wide Web. But wherever they appear they are still scams.
Common Business Opportunity Scams
They are envelope stuffing, assembling items and postal business opportunities.
What's an envelope stuffing business opportunity really mean? Do you really sit at home and stuff envelopes, send them off to your "employer" and then wait for your big fat paycheck? Not a chance. The only business opportunity here is the opportunity for these scam artists to take your money. What this alleged business opportunity really is is something called a pyramid scheme.
The only money made is by talking others to do the same - place an ad asking for people to pay money for the chance to make money stuffing envelopes. But they don't stuff envelopes. They ask for money from others - who then recoup by placing ads. Ad infinitum. Product assembly works on the same pyramid scheme.
When I say Postal jobs ads are scams, I'm not saying all postal jobs are scams. No, just those line ads that say POSTAL JOBS in bold caps as a header and then say your local postal service is now hiring for all positions. They then give you a toll free number to call. They have nothing whatsoever to do with the postal service. They are selling you a list you could put together on your own for free.
These ads are noted by the publication as so often fraudulent that they refuse to allow them to run as employment ads, insisting instead that they be placed in a business opportunity classification. If these advertisers had their way they'd be calling themselves employers and offering you a job - which it most definitely is not! The postal service rarely, if ever, needs to advertise its openings in other than a federal publication.
And if it does, it won't be placed in a business opportunity classification.
What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself from a Fraudulent Business Opportunity
It's easier than ever with today's Internet for a company to hide from prying eyes. You must ask for verification of all before spending a penny. You need to know the names of officers and managers, physical address, a local - not toll free - number to call and how many years in business. You need written guarantees that spell out what you will be reimbursed under what conditions and within what timeframe, if not satisfied.
Then you should contact your Better Business Bureau and ask if they've had complaints. You can also contact the Federal Communication Commission if you have a complaint. Your state attorney general's office can help with verification and complaints as well.
Ask questions before plunking down your hard earned dollars. Legitimate companies will be happy to provide you whatever information you require. If they hesitate, walk away!
