Checking Ads
The typical person who gets tangled up with a business opportunity sees only one classified ad in their local paper. But as the FTC has explained, con criminals nortoriously spend vast amounts on blanketing the nation with ads.
For example, "A couple of examples as typical as any, I think, illustrate the approach. First, during the week of March 6, 1994, 154 newspapers ran this ad: "Huge Profitmaker: $3,000 to $4,000 weekly income possible. All cash vending business. Prime groups available. Buy now and save. Zero down and qualified. Call Ed or Cindy or Lou at 1-800-192-1202." (Emphasis added)
Tip: When reviewing a business opportunity, google the 800 number for 7-10 days and see whether they blanketed the area. If so, that is a huge red flag, according to the FTC. (I especially liked one ad that "advertised" a "local" distributor route was avaiable - in 26 states, according to google.)