Resources for
investigating a home business opportunity
Is it a
scam?
Don't rely
on gossip boards or he said she said
unreliable information. Get the facts!
The
internet is full of good things but it is
easy for anyone to post what might seem to
be good advice or information that is false
or misleading. The fact is, you can
get bad advice and miss information from
many sites on the internet. Many times
these sites are self serving sites with an
ulterior motive. If you are making a
decision as important as working at home,
what company to work with, what products or
services are out there, or who and what is
legitimate go to reputable and verifiable
business organizations to get your fact
right!
Resources for checking
out a company:
-
The
local government consumer affairs office
and Better Business Bureau in your area.
They can inform you if complaints have
been lodged against the company you're
dealing with.
-
Your
State Attorney General's Office or the
Attorney General's Office in the state
where the company is located.
-
The
local postmaster. The U.S. Postal
Service investigates fraudulent mail
practices.
-
Report
your experience to the advertising
office of the publication, radio or
television station that ran the ad you
answered.
-
The Federal Trade
Commission
(FTC). It cannot help resolve individual
disputes, but it can take action if
there is evidence of a pattern of
deceptive or unfair practices. To
register a complaint, write to
Correspondence Branch, FTC, Washington,
D.C. 20580; or call (202) 326-2222.
-
The U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Check to see if a
company is a member.
-
The National Fraud
Information Center.
To get updates on the latest frauds,
scams, or to report a fraud (or
suspected fraud), write to The National
Fraud Information Center, P.O. Box
65868, Washington, D.C. 20035, (800)
876-7060.
-
The Better Business
Bureau.
Check their site for tips and local
offices in your area.
-
Netscams.com
posts Internet scams and viruses.
-
Direct Selling
Association Find out
how long a business has been around and
who they are.
-
ScamBusters
lists all kinds of scams, including
urban legends and area code frauds.
Chambers of
Commerce, home-based business groups, the
U.S. Small Business Administration's small
business development and women's business
development centers, all can help you get
the information you'll need to start a
successful (and legitimate) venture of your
own!
_________________________
The
entrepreneur always searches for change,
responds to it, and exploits it as an
opportunity.
- Peter Drucker
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