If you’ve been trying to make some extra cash online or you’ve been attempting to create a full time income from home, I’m sure you’ve had telephone calls from telemarketers wanting to sell you on a business plan of how to make a living from home on a full time basis. These people have gotten your name and contact information from some type of form you’ve filled out online requesting more information on a money making opportunity.
The problem is once you provide this information to one online business you’re setting yourself up for a barrage of telephone calls and email messages from other legitimate businesses and some not so trustworthty entrepreneurs who have purchased your contact details from the original party. If you’ve turned down the first business’s offer or you’ve requested a refund from a previous purchase the original enterprise may then sell your name, email address and telephone number to another Internet marketing company as part of a package of leads for a tidy profit.
So the question is: How do you differentiate the genuine offers from the scams? Here are 6 ways to discover who’s telling the truth and really want to help you become a successful home business owner online and who’s only interested in taking your money.
1. First of all, ask the caller how they got your contact information? They should be able to tell you when and where you provided your details on the web and what information you were interested in receiving. If they simply say you gave it online ask for the specific website address and the legal name of the company involved. When, and if they give you their URL tell them you’ll check it out and if you’re interested you’ll call them back.
2. Always ask for the name of the person on the other end of the telephone. If they’re legitimate they will give their full name and tell you the name of their company and provide you an extension to reach them when you call back after having investigated the information they provided.
3. It’s been my experience when the first caller says he or she has just received an important call after having completed the preliminary questioning and has to hand you off to a second person this usually means they’ve determined you’re an easy sale or possibly an easy target. The second representative is the closer or the high pressure person who will ask for your credit card information almost immediately and most often won’t take no for an answer.
4. Always check out the company and their website before giving anyone your credit card information or agreeing to make any purchase. These scam artists first try to gain your trust and then zero in on closing the sale by simply asking which credit card you’re going to use for your purchase.
5. Never make a purchase on the first telephone call from a telemarketer. You must always give yourself time to check out the business and their offer before making any decision to purchase.
6. This last tip is actually the result of something which actually happened to me so please beware of anyone calling with an online home business opportunity who claims to be associated with a high profile, and or successful Internet marketer you know or you’ve done business with online. Some of these unscrupulous individuals try to build your trust, in them, by taking advantage of the reputation of other people you know and have faith in on the Internet.
Having said all of this please remember there are legitimate and well meaning people online who want to help you build a profitable home business. However, there are others who are just waiting to pounce and take advantage of your inexperience and your trusting nature for their financial gain, so please beware.