Before you pay: spot a business opportunity scam

Pause when the pitch promises certainty

A polished website and confident presenter do not prove an opportunity will work. The FTC warns about business offers that promise guaranteed income or unusually large returns for little work. Be especially cautious when pressure to pay replaces clear answers about what you will actually do.

Before a sales call, write down the problem you are trying to solve and the amount you can afford to spend. Keep those notes visible. A course that teaches a specific skill is different from a package that claims to remove the uncertainty of running a business.

Ask for details you can check

Request the complete offer in writing. Ask what is included, what costs extra, who provides the work, and how cancellation or refunds operate. A refund promise is only useful if you understand its conditions and the seller actually honors it.

• What specific skill, service, or product am I buying?
• What recurring charges or required extras are missing from the headline price?
• What evidence supports any earnings claim, and does it account for costs?
• Can I review the terms without buying during this call?

Separate a customer payment from a money-transfer request

Some fake clients or employers send a check, then ask you to forward part of the money or buy supplies from a named seller. The FTC warns that the check can be fake even when funds appear available. Do not send money on the strength of that arrangement. Verify suspicious payment requests through a trusted, independent channel.

A simple boundary helps: your service should have an understandable customer, deliverable, and payment process. If the arrangement suddenly requires moving money for someone else, pause the job. Do not let a supposed deadline stop you from checking.

Make verification a habit

Search the seller's name with terms such as 'complaint' and review independent accounts. An absence of complaints does not establish trust. Ask someone who is not involved in the sale to read the offer with you. Do not treat screenshots of revenue as proof of profit or typical outcomes.

If you have already paid a suspected scammer, contact the payment provider promptly and ask what recovery options exist. Keep receipts and messages. U.S. consumers can use the FTC reporting link in its guidance; people elsewhere should use their local consumer-protection channels. Recovery is not guaranteed, and anyone promising guaranteed recovery for another upfront fee deserves scrutiny.