| Two of the oldest scams around appear to be as | | | | materials and many hours of your time to |
| popular as ever. I'm referring to stuffing | | | | produce items such as baby booties, toy clowns, |
| envelopes and home assembly programs. Let's | | | | and plastic signs for a company that has promised |
| talk about stuffing envelopes first. | | | | to buy them. |
| Ads for envelope stuffing "opportunities" seem to | | | | Once you have purchased the supplies and have |
| be everywhere--from your mailbox to your | | | | done the work, the company often decides not |
| newspaper to your e-mail box. Promoters usually | | | | to pay you because your work does not meet |
| advertise that, for a "small" fee, they will set you | | | | certain "standards." You are then left with |
| up to earn big money by stuffing envelopes at | | | | merchandise that is difficult or impossible to sell. |
| home. And they claim that they will pay you a | | | | If you have spent money and time on a |
| dollar or more for each envelope stuffed, resulting | | | | work-at-home program and now believe the |
| in hundreds or thousands of dollars for you each | | | | program may not be legitimate, contact the |
| week. | | | | company and ask for a refund. Let company |
| Now I want you to think about something very | | | | representatives know that you plan to notify |
| carefully. Why would any legitimate company, pay | | | | officials about your experience. If you can't |
| you a dollar or more for each envelope you stuff, | | | | resolve the dispute with the company, file a |
| when they can use high-tech mailing equipment | | | | complaint with the following organizations: |
| that can stuff thousands of envelopes at a time | | | | The Federal Trade Commission works for the |
| for only pennies apiece? | | | | consumer to prevent fraud and deception. Call |
| The answer is, THEY DON'T PAY YOU! Here's | | | | 1-877-FTC-HELP |
| how the scam works: After you send in your | | | | (1-877-382-4357) or log on to: |
| money, you will receive a letter telling you to | | | | Also contact: |
| place the same "envelope-stuffing ad that you | | | | * Your state's Attorney General's Office. |
| originally responded to, in newspapers or | | | | * Your local consumer protection offices. |
| magazines, or to send the ad to friends and | | | | * Your local Better Business Bureau. |
| relatives. The only way you'll ever earn any | | | | * Your local postmaster. The U.S. Postal Service |
| money is if other people fall for the scam like you | | | | investigates fraudulent mail practices. |
| did, respond to your ad and pay the fee. | | | | * The advertising manager of the publication that |
| Home assembly scams work pretty much the | | | | ran the ad. The manager may be interested to |
| same way as envelope stuffing scams. This scam | | | | learn about the problems you've had with the |
| requires you to invest money in instructions and | | | | company. |