At GlobeLiveMedia we tell you about some of the most misleading offers related to job or business opportunities in the US and how to detect them
As the cost of living in the United States increases, almost in parallel, advertisements appear for supposed job or business opportunities in which they promise that you will be “your own boss” and that you will earn very attractive sums of money. However, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many of these offers are actually empty promises.
These “opportunities” are usually published in places where they can be seen by a large audience: daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and Internet portals.
If you have come across any of these offers, at GlobeLiveMedia we explain how to detect whether they are fraudulent or not.
What do I need to know to spot fraudulent job or business opportunities in the US?
In general, each advertisement of a fraudulent job or business opportunity offers idyllic scenarios or dream working conditions, in order to attract victims who, later, will ask for a certain investment in exchange for the services offered.
Here are some of the most used opportunity slogans by scammers in the US and the explanation of how you can detect if it is fraudulent or not:
1) “Work part time from home” – This is one of the most promoted ads. Basically, scammers offer an ideal work scenario (where you can set your own hours, be your own boss, or work from home). In reality, most small businesses require you to work, sometimes, even more hours than the stipulated in a regular 8-hour day job.
2) “Earn $2,000 dollars a month”: according to the FTC, the law establishes that all advertisements that offer consumers to earn a specific amount of money must, in the same way, detail the number and percentage of users who obtained said amounts. Profits. If this information is not included in the ad, the promoter may be breaking the law. Other slogans related to this type of offer are usually “Earn $50,000 dollars a year” and “Russian sales $1,700 net dollars per week”.
3) “No risk! Guaranteed!”: Every legitimate business venture involves risk, and usually the risk is proportional to the promised benefits. Therefore, ads that promise great results with little or no effort and no risk are often a sign of fraud.
4) “Quick and easy”: starting a business requires a lot of effort and difficulties. In general, very few businesses report profits from the beginning. Therefore, any announcement that promises extraordinary returns should be viewed with caution.
If you have come across one of these offers, you can call, toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) to file a complaint.