FTC Work at Home Guides

The Federal Trade Commission has put together several printable (pdf) guide book on popular work job offers and scams, as well as general personal finance.

Facts for Consumers

• Medical Billing Opportunities: Worth a Second Opinion [PDF] [en español]Medical billing opportunity promoters often misrepresent earnings potential and don’t provde key, pre-investment information required by law. 8.5″x11″, 4 pages.
• Net Based Business Opportunities: Are Some Flop-portunities? [PDF]Cautions consumers about web-based business opportunities that promise more than they can possibly deliver, and what you can do to protect yourself. 8.5″x11″, 4 pages.
• Read Up! How to be an Informed Consumer [PDF] [en español]A comprehensive, bilingual guide for Hispanic consumers with information on managing personal finances, major purchases and investments, consumer rights, and identity theft. 7″x10″, 44 pages, color.
• Read Up and Reach Out: A Guide to Consumer Education and Outreach [PDF] [en español]Mailer with CD for organizations with tips on how to conduct consumer education in the community and create partnerships. Includes calendar with suggested topics to speak about. Accompanies Read Up consumer guide. 7″x10″, 6 pages, color.
• Seminar Pitch: A Real Curve Ball [PDF]Warns consumers about solicitations and infomercials promoting seminars and conferences that promise to help consumers make a lot of money. Tips to avoid getting hit by the seminar pitch. 8.5″x11″, 4 pages.
• The Bottom Line About Multilevel Marketing Plans and Pyramid Schemes [PDF]Explains how to spot the warning signs of an illegal pyramid scheme and gives tips on evaluating the trustworthiness and value of a multilevel marketing opportunity. 8.5”x11”, 4 pages.
• Work At Home Schemes [PDF] [en español]Advises consumers interested in work-at-home opportunities (including medical billing, envelope stuffing , and craft or assembly work) to research these offers carefully. 8.5″x11″, 4 pages.

Consumer Alerts

• Mystery Shopping Scams May Target New College Grads [PDF]
• Take This Scheme and Stuff It: Avoiding Envelope-Stuffing Rip-Offs [PDF]
  [en español]
• The Secrets of Mystery Shopping… Revealed [PDF]

• Business Opportunity e-card
• Job Scams Bookmark [PDF]This bookmark urges job seekers to watch out for job scams and never pay for the promise of a job. Includes link for ftc.gov/jobscams. 8.5″x 2.5″, 2 sided, color.