How can the FTC Protect you, even if you aren't an American.
Federal Trade Commission There are a number of ways that the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission, can be used effectively in your due diligence and research about business opportunities. But, first let us be clear on how you cannot use their expertise: like all regulatory bodies they are not going to give a recommendation one way or the other about the opportunity. Don't expect the FTC to give you free legal advice - something for nothing.
How can you use their expertise? Basically, you want to review past scams, for example this list of State Actions against Business Opportunities Scams, and check for similar frauds or scams. Here is another summary of the recent 2005 Federal Trade Commission actions against the sellers of business opportunities. Most business opportunities scams or frauds do not develop full blown, they have been carefully crafted, changed, and added to. They are the big cons, of our day. But unlike the charming Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the movie The Sting, based on David Mauer's book, there is little to admire about these psychopaths.
Only if you are completely sure that the business opportunity is not similar to one of the criminal schemes that the Federal Trade Commission has prosecuted should you take the next step in contacting the company for their disclosure document.
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