Internet Business Scams
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Becoming aware of internet business scams can save time, heartache, and headaches. Promises of financial freedom, time for family and lots of money are easy lures for people who are just plain tired of running the rat race. A person in this category must be careful. This type of online business scammer is gunning for an opportunity to offer all those things and more. Unsuspecting recruits rejoice when they have finally found the golden key to making money online without doing much of anything at all. If the opportunity sounds too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true.
Especially prevalent online are internet business scams called pyramid schemes. A main characteristic of a pyramid scheme is that there is an investment with the promise that when a person gets to a certain level the initial investment will be returned along with thousands more. People will send in money hand over fist. It's like creating an ATM machine. Run for cover. Don't pass GO. Picture this; there is a website that says to just duplicate this website in order to get similar results. In the real world, in home towns and communities, that may be true, but on the internet duplications are, not only, not rewarded; they are, in fact, shunned.
The typical search engine will only list unique results. Therefore, posting the same content as someone else, will get the least amount of traffic. Search engines look for customized, unique content. Google; for example will only return results according to the ranking a website receives in harmony with the relevance to the search. Therefore, a person who duplicates the website of another is seen as a non-entity and will not be ranked at all. In addition to the search engine ranking issues, there are many other clues that the website being viewed may be one of those pesky internet business scams. Businesses, real businesses, whether they are internet based or not, have products or services to offer people whether or not a person signs up as a representative. A multi-level marketing or MLM company has products and/or services. There may be other websites that post the fact that any MLM is a scam. Although that may be true in some cases, do not shy away from a multi-level marketing (sometimes called a network marketing) company; based on their business model alone. Many companies successfully market their products and services through MLM's.
Take a look at the business opportunity franchise disclosure document to see if there is any information about lawsuits, fraud, or previous unsavory dealings. The document also gives information about previous purchasers. Internet business scams give people the run around. Check references given to see if the previous purchasers are on the list. Then, interview previous buyers, in person if possible, to see if they are actually operating that business. If an internet opportunity promoter charges more than $500 to get involved in the business, disclosure of potential earnings is required in writing. If a straight answer is not forthcoming or there is a refusal to put the information in writing, watch out, this may be a scam. The allure of programs that turn out to be internet business scams is quite amazing. The program developers appeal to the basest parts of the human imagination; the desire to be rich, carefree, and part of the leisure class. Quiet as it is kept, the leisure class is actually not the people who have done what it takes to earn or otherwise acquire wealth, but are the recipient children and spouses that come along after the fact. Most people who earn the money are too worried about returning to their previous financial status to really get the full benefits of enjoyment.
On the internet people can sign up to represent many different companies and never pay out a dime in what are called affiliate programs. They are not internet business scams. Affiliate programs have rules and regulations, but do not require a cash investment in order to make money. The premise is a win-win for all. A merchant has a product. But instead of hiring a sales team and paying salaries or even keeping track of earnings for the payment of commissions, the merchant either starts their own or signs-up with a company who runs affiliate programs. The affiliate program is, by and large, automated. The affiliate just follows the rules, promotes a product or service, and gets paid a commission if a sale is made. If no sale is made, the affiliate gets paid nothing. The benefit to the merchant of course is that a sale is made and the cost to make the sale is very minimal. If a person comes in contact with an affiliate program that asks for money to sign up, then it is not a true affiliate program; but may be one of many internet business scams.
Promises of lots of money, free time, and an opportunity to join the leisure class will probably fall into a category of scam. But, there is hope for those who really do want a way out of their 9 to 5. "There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail." (Ecclesiastes 4:8) A real business starts with a plan, research, and hard work. There is no substitute. Whether a network marketing business model is the choice or not; be aware that time and sacrifice is needed in order to reap the rewards. Otherwise, rejoicing will turn into sour grapes because of being scammed in one of the, ever so plentiful, internet business scams.
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