How to Pursue Online Money-Making Ideas Without Getting Scammed
Many small-business owners and startups turn to online resources for financial opportunities. This venue offers the chance of reward for small upfront costs, but also hosts many disreputable dealers and scams designed to take money without providing any benefit. Business owners looking to make money online should take precautions to help avoid scammers and get the best return for their investments of time and money online.
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Instructions
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Search for information on potential money-making ideas through the major search engines. Include the words spam or fraud along with the name of the idea or concept for more detailed results. Many users fall for scams online and later post reviews and updates to prevent others from encountering the same.
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Verify information through trusted sources. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General suggests TruthorFiction and Snopes.com Urban Legends as excellent resources for verifying potential money-making scams or other falsehoods.
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Provide only the most basic information when entering a new agreement for an online money-making venture. Keep your banking details, passwords or other financial information safe.
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Stop all deals with online partners immediately if payments or information do not appear as scheduled. Many companies lure investors deeper and deeper into financial burden. Pump-and-dump schemes offer an example wherein unwitting investors purchase stock to drive the price up and then the original provider of the investment advice sells out at the higher value, leaving the small business to absorb any losses.
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Avoid spam emails or other unsolicited money-making advice from unclear sources. Scammers love to send mass unsolicited emails with incorrect information designed to advance their own agendas or steal personal information outright.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact the Federal Trade Commission through its website or at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) if your searches turn up a scam or dishonest online money-making deal. Reporting these situations helps prevent others from falling into the same trap.
Never pay for "information kits" or other information-based products with vague opportunities. These kits typically provide only an inducement to pay more for additional information and rarely provide legitimate opportunities.
