July 2016 Internet Business FROM PAGE 1


a variety of places: on the Web and in e-mail offers, infomercials, classified ads, flyers, texts, telephone pitches, seminars, and direct-mail offers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that many of these solicitations are scams that promise more than they can possibly deliver. Often, bogus internet opportunity sales pitches are short on details and long on high-pressure tactics to persuade you to buy before you’ve investigated the offer.


Short on Details An internet business is just like any


business – it requires a solid business plan. Anyone who sells legitimate business opportunities should give you detailed information. Be skeptical of a seller who offers vague descriptions of what the business is and how it will work. Sit down and ask yourself some critical questions, like:


What would you be selling or doing?


How and why shoppers would find and use your website?


How would the business generate


income and what are your specific expenses?


Answer these questions before


you pay any promoter the price of admission to a business.


Some sellers claim you don’t need


to understand the details of the business because “it’s the internet” or because their expert coaches and support staff will “take care of everything for you.” The internet is not a magic place


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


for business owners: in an internet business success requires the same solid planning and hard work as in any other venture. It’s your business and your reputation; you can’t afford to be in the dark about key details.


Long on Pressure Scammers try to create the


impression that if you don’t buy immediately, you’re going to miss out on a valuable opportunity. They emphasize the need to act fast, and may suggest that other buyers are ready to take your place if you hesitate or ask questions. They want to persuade you to give up your credit card or bank account information before you’ve had time to research their claims or other people’s experiences with the company. The scammers know that if you do even a little research, you’re likely to find reports of rip-offs. In fact, a quick internet search often is enough to reveal alarming complaints. Legitimate business opportunities don’t need to use high-pressure sales tactics: if an offer is good today, it should be good tomorrow.


As part of their sales pitch,


scammers often hype a “no risk” refund policy to encourage you to buy an opportunity before you’ve researched it. Here’s a tip: don’t rely on a refund policy or a money-back guarantee because you have “nothing to lose.” No matter the guarantee, scammers will make it virtually impossible for you to get your money back.


Before you buy any business


opportunity: Consider the promotion carefully.


If it claims buyers can earn a certain income, the promoter also must give


FHA Program FROM PAGE 14


among non-profit organizations. FHA expanded a foreclosure moratorium from six-to-12 months, requiring purchasers of these distressed mortgages to suspend any foreclosure action against these families. In direct response to non-profit organizations seeking to participate in DASP auctions, FHA provided more advanced notice of pending sales and


Being Pregnant or Breastfeeding a Baby Is a Big Job


The WIC program can help pregnant, breastfeeding or post-partum women, infants, and children in low income or no income families.


Virginia WIC Program Income Chart Household


Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8


Each additional person, add


Annually 21,978


29,637 37,296 44,955 52,614 60,273 67,951 75,647


+7,696


Monthly 1,873


2,470 3,108 3,747 4,385 5,023 5,663 6,304


+642 Count a pregnant woman as 2


Virginia Beach: (757) 518-2789 Norfolk: (757) 985-4856 Hampton: (757) 727-1140 Portsmouth: (757) 393-5340


For more information visit www.healthyvb.com Please mention this ad when scheduling your appointment.


Weekly 423


570 718 865


1,012 1,160 1,307 1,455


+148


Chesapeake: (757) 382-8608 Suffolk: (757) 686-4956


WIC will provide: *Information on healthy eating *Breastfeeding support *Nutritious food to supplement diet *Community referrals


WIC is an equal opportunity Program. If you believe you have been discrimi- nated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington DC, 20250.


extended the due diligence periods to accommodate these organizations. In addition, FHA offered a 'first look' opportunity for non-profits to purchase vacant properties to be occupied by owner-occupants. Finally, FHA created specific pools of mortgages that would be exclusively offered to non-profit organizations and local governments.


The Hampton Roads Messenger 15


the number and percentage of previous purchasers who earned that much. If the promotion makes an earnings claim - but the additional information isn't there - the business opportunity seller may well be violating the law.


Study any disclosure documents.


Under the Business Opportunity Rule, which is enforced by the FTC, many business opportunity promoters are required to provide a document to potential purchasers that includes information about cancellation and refund policies, whether the seller has faced any lawsuits from purchasers or other legal actions alleging fraud, and contact information for references who have bought the opportunity.


Interview previous buyers in


person. This helps reduce the chance of being misled by phony references.


Do a few internet searches by


entering the company name, or the name of the company’s CEO or president, and words like “complaints” or “scam.” Contact the state attorney general's office, local consumer protection agency, and Better Business


Bureau, both where the business opportunity promoter is based and where you live, to see if complaints are on file. While a complaint record may indicate questionable business practices, a lack of complaints doesn't necessarily mean the company – or the opportunity – is legitimate. Unscrupulous dealers often change names and locations to hide a history of complaints.


Consult an attorney, accountant,


or other business advisor before you put any money down or sign any papers. Entering into a business opportunity can be costly, so it's best to have an expert check out the contract first.


Report Possible Fraud If you suspect a business


opportunity promotion is fraudulent, report it to the attorney general's office in the state where you live and in the state where the business opportunity promoter is based. You should also report it to the FTC. File a complaint online or call toll free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).


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