Business Opportunities and Job Placement Scams
Business Opportunities and Job Placement Scams and How they Work. A business opportunities criminal demands a large amount of capital, $19,900 is the new minimum number, up from $9,900 in the late 90's, for ATMs, vending machines, internet kiosks, or other self serve kiosks. The FTC notes that:
"The very amount of capital requested can bolster the illusion that the business opportunity is a legitimate investment. Victims of these scams often believe they are investing in highly developed businesses. In fact, scam artists take the consumers' investment as profits and commissions, and provide them unprofitable business plans in return. The injuries to consumers can be devastating, not only in terms of the dollars they lose, but also in the time they invest in unprofitable enterprises. For example, one victim in a recent FTC case estimates that he spent $75,000 in an attempt to make such a business opportunity profitable."
But, once you have decided, because of the money that you have previously spent, that this is a real business, you will continue to try to fool your gut by spending more money. The brain believes that the continued investment in the scam will soothe the rumblings in the gut - which by the way is screaming "run away, run away."
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