Want to "be
your own boss," "work
from home," or just "make
extra money"? Then you may be tempted by
an ad for a business opportunity. Before you open your
checkbook, check out the offer. Fraudulent business
opportunity promoters use the classifieds and the Internet
to tout all kinds of offers, from pay phone and vending
machine routes to work-at-home businesses like medical
billing and envelope stuffing. Too often, these ads
make promises - about earnings, locations, merchandise,
or marketability - that sound great, but aren't truthful.
The result: consumers are getting ripped off, losing
money instead of making it.
This website has practical
information about some common business opportunity
scams; how to spot, stop and avoid them; and how to file
a complaint if you think you've experienced a fraud. In
the Press Room, you'll
find information on the FTC's recent law enforcement
actions against promoters of deceptive business
opportunities.
