We’ve all seen the ads tempting us to earn hundreds, even thousands of dollars by working at home. Some government sources say that 95 percent of these offers are bogus. We all know that – after all, we’re older and smarter, right?
Not necessarily. I confess I still read these ads and think of how fast I can fold and stuff envelopes – after all, I do this for several organizations now – but they are authentic organizations of which I am a member. But those ads are still very tempting!
Now that more than half of all seniors (like myself) have access to the Internet and daily e-mail, we have another venue to receive these amazing offers! Not only do we get the “free vacation” offers by phone and mail, according to the Federal Trade Commission, e-mail boxes are filling up with more offers for business opportunities than any other kind of unsolicited commercial e-mail.
In response to requests from consumers, the FTC asked e-mail users to forward their unsolicited commercial email to the agency for an inside look at the bulk e-mail business. FTC staff found that more often than not, bulk e-mail offers appeared to be fraudulent, and if pursued, could have ripped-off unsuspecting consumers to the tune of billions of dollars.
The FTC has identified the 12 scams that are most likely to arrive in consumers’ e-mail boxes. Some of their “dirty dozen” are listed here.
Business opportunities
These business opportunities make it sound easy to start a business that will bring lots of income without much work or cash outlay. The solicitations trumpet unbelievable earnings claims of $140 a day, $1,000 a day, or more, and claim that the business doesn’t involve selling, meetings, or personal contact with others, or that someone else will do all the work. Many business opportunity solicitations claim to offer a way to make money in an Internet-related business. Short on details but long on promises, these messages usually offer a telephone number to call for more information. In many cases, you’ll be told to leave your name and telephone number so that a salesperson can call you back with the sales pitch.
The scam: Many of these are illegal pyramid schemes masquerading as legitimate opportunities to earn money.
Work-at-home schemes
Envelope-stuffing solicitations promise steady income for minimal labor. For example, you’ll earn $2 each time you fold a brochure and seal it in an envelope. Craft assembly work schemes often require an investment of hundreds of dollars in equipment or supplies, and many hours of your time producing goods for a company that has promised to buy them.
The scam: You’ll pay a small fee to get started in the envelope-stuffing business. Then, you’ll learn that the e-mail sender never had real employment to offer. Instead, you’ll get instructions on how to send the same envelope-stuffing ad in your own bulk e-mailings. If you earn any money, it will be from others who fall for the scheme you’re perpetuating. And after spending the money and putting in the time on the craft assembly work, you are likely to find promoters who refuse to pay you, claiming that your work isn’t up to their “quality standards.”
Guaranteed loans or credit, on easy terms
Some e-mail messages offer home-equity loans that don’t require equity in your home, as well as solicitations for guaranteed, unsecured credit cards, regardless of your credit history. Usually, these are said to be offered by offshore banks. Sometimes they are combined with pyramid schemes, which offer you an opportunity to make money by attracting new participants to the scheme.
The scams: The home equity loans turn out to be useless lists of lenders who will turn you down if you don’t meet their qualifications. The promised credit cards never come through, and the pyramid money-making schemes always collapse.
Vacation prize promotions
Electronic certificates congratulating you on “winning” a fabulous vacation for a very attractive price are among the scams arriving in your e-mail. Some say you have been “specially selected” for this opportunity.
The scam: Most unsolicited commercial e-mail goes to thousands or millions of recipients at a time. Often, the cruise ship you’re booked on may look more like a tug boat. The hotel accommodations likely are shabby, and you may be required to pay more for an upgrade. Scheduling the vacation at the time you want it also may require an additional fee.
Protect yourself
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.
To get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
