FTC FACTSfor Consumers

INVESTMENT

1-877-FTC-HELP

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER

www.ftc.gov

The

Seminar

Pitch:

$

$

$ $

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$$

What a pitch!

You may have received a letter or seen an infomercial promoting a seminar or

conference that promises to help you make a lot of money. Seminar hucksters

say theyíll give you valuable information about how to invest successfully or

operate a profitable business. Their ìsuccess storiesî and testimonials seem to

show that anyone who attends the seminar can make money from the investment

and business program theyíre selling. Some promoters may even claim to have

gotten rich from their own investment in the program.

Earn up to $100,000 per year!

At the worldís most successful seminar, weíll show you how to multiply

your money in 6 months or less ó with little risk.

Our experts will teach you the latest insider secrets for making money fast.

You canít afford to pass up this valuable opportunity.
Facts for Consumers

If you attend one of these seminars, youíll hear

a series of sales pitches for a variety of business

opportunities and investments. Consumers who

invest in these ìopportunitiesî frequently find

that the pay-off isnít as promised ó and they

canít recoup the money they spent.

The Federal Trade Commission wants to alert

you to the secrets of the seminar squeeze. Be

wary of promotional materials or sales pitches

that make these claims:

$ You can earn big money fast, regardless of

your lack of experience or training.

$ The program or business opportunity is

offered for a short time only.

$ The deal is a ìsure thingî that will deliver

security for years to come.

$ Youíll reap financial rewards by working

part time or at home.

$ Youíll be coached each step of the way to

success.

$ The program worked for other participants

ó even the organizers.

Donít Get Hit By The Pitch

Promises of quick, easy money

can be a powerful

lure. If

you buy

into a

business

opportunity

at a seminar,

you may find

that the products

and information you

purchased are worthless

and that your money is gone.

You can avoid getting hit by the seminar pitch.

Hereís how:

$ Take your time. Donít be rushed into

buying anything at a seminar. Avoid highpressure sales pitches that require you to

buy now or risk losing out on the opportunity. Remember, solid opportunities are not

sold through nerve-racking tactics.

$ Investigate the business youíre considering

investing in. Talk to experienced business

people and experts in the field before

spending your money.

$ Be wary of ìsuccess storiesî or testimonials

of extraordinary success. The seminar

operation may have paid ìshillsî to give

glowing stories.

$ Be cautious about purchasing from seminar

representatives who are reluctant to answer

questions, or who give evasive answers to

your questions. Remember that legitimate

businesspeople are more than willing to

give you information about their investment

or sales opportunity.

$ Ask about how much money you need to

qualify for the investment or sales opportunity, and ask about the companyís refund

policy. Get this in writing. Keep in mind

that you may never recoup the money you

give to an unscrupulous seminar operation,

despite the operatorís stated refund policies.

Taking precautions before you invest is a

more effective way to safeguard your

money than trying to get a refund after the

investmentís been made.
Facts for Consumers

To File a Complaint

You may wish to contact the FTC about your

complaint. The FTC works for the consumer to

prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair

business practices in the marketplace and to

provide information to help consumers spot,

stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to

get free information on consumer issues, visit

www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTCHELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-

4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing,

identity theft and other fraud-related complaints

into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online

database available to hundreds of civil and

criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

and abroad.
Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Office of Consumer and Business Education

May 1998

F C EDERAL RADE OMMISSION T FTC OR HE ONSUMER

1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov

Facts for Consumers