The Internet is loaded with scams aimed at taking as much money from you as possible in the shortest amount of time. With so many innocent people trying to find a great opportunity to work at home, it’s easy for scam artists to draw you in with the promise of riches.
Fortunately, there are resources available for your use to help ensure that you are not helping a scam artist to get rich by throwing away your hard earned money.
There are quite a few of these opportunity “regulators” as I like to call them. Use these resources to investigate an opportunity before you get involved and/or send any money:
The FTC has a lot of information for businesses and consumers. You can check out things such as the top ten consumer fraud complaints, work-at-home schemes, your legal rights, and much more. You can also file a complaint if you have already had a problem.
The BBB is a very well known and reliable resource for checking out businesses. They provide information on over 2 million organizations. You can find reliability reports on organizations as well as a lot of other helpful information. As with the FTC, you can also file a complaint at the BBB if you need to.
3) Scambusters:
These guys claim to be the #1 Publication on Internet Fraud. You can find a wealth of information and resources on this site aimed at avoiding scams and fraud. They also offer links to other sites that may be helpful.
The ITB was formed to help promote fair business practices on the Internet. They offer site reviews, and tracking of consumer complaints. They do not retain any members who get complaints.
5) ScamWatch:
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Excellent Raul, would love to see follow-up pieces talking about individual scams and resources we can use to help shut 'em down!
2 - Raul Vergara
thanks eric. you can visit my blog on Scams Unlimited. You will find there my daily updates. Thanks again for the comment.
3 - Brian Sorrell
The resources here are all quite good, except for the BBB. There is an inherent conflict of interests in their business model, insofar as those whom they would ostensibly prosecute for wrong-doing (bad businesses) are their source of revenue.
Additionally, they have no legal authority. And there have been a lot of investigations into their funny bookkeeping, pressure tactics, bogus "claims" against those who do not subscribe, and failed inquiries against those who do.
There are additional resources on my web site. (At risk of being self indulgent: BBB Scam.) There's also a fun site called Rip Off Report that is a loosely moderated complaint forum. Another organization, "The Fair Business Association of America" (who oddly links to my article), sounds just as shady as the BBB.
The more reliable resource is your State Attorney's Office or the FTC. Unlike the BBB, they check backgrounds and verify such things as contractor licenses and insurance.
This said, I appreciate Raul's call for vigilance. It's important and not to be understated.
4 - marie c sterna
thats life
5 - DEBRA ANN STENLUND
DEBRA ANN STENLUND nice
6 - andrew r smith
good
7 - ANDREW R SMITH PLAINFIELD IL
ANDREW R SMITH PLAINFIELD IL true