Work At Home | New Work At Home Regulations And Email Scam Using BBB’s Name

December 24, 2011 – 12:07 am

Work-at-Home scams have been with us for years. We have all seen the ads claiming you can make “$1,000 a week stuffing envelopes”. The BBB now brings good news that the FTC has approved changes to its Business Opportunity Rule that will ensure consumers have the information they need when considering buying a work-at-home program.

The new regulation will be effective on March 1, 2012. Work-at-Home promoters will then have to disclose five key items of information in a simple, one-page document:

When asked about how these regulations will play out, Bligh says, “It will be interesting to see how those less than honorable work-at-home promoters handle this.”

Scam of the Week

Bligh also talks about the scam of the week concerning a massive email scam using the Better Business Bureau’s name.

The Attorney General and BBB are issuing a SCAM alert cautioning businesses and consumers about an email that looks like it is from the BBB, with the subject line “Complaint from your customers.” “This e-mail is fraudulent,” says Bligh, “ignore its contents and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked on a link in the e-mail, run a full virus scan of your computer.”

The e-mails have return addresses that the BBB does not use and are signed with the address of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the national office of the BBB system. The e-mail contains a link to a non-BBB web site.

Bligh warns viewers that if they receive this email to not click on the link. The BBB is working with law enforcement to determine its source and stop the fraudulent campaign. Bligh says the have experienced a dramatic surge of calls from businesses across the coastal bend area this past week. He also mentions the situation is so bad that the Texas Attorney General sent out a news release, and that even the FBI is involved in the tracking down of these schemers.

If you have a question you would like to ask the Better Business Bureau, you can reach them at 852-4991.