Get Rich Quick Schemes - Who Gets Rich, Who Gets Poor?

Is your mailbox packed with everything from envelope-stuffing opportunities to horse racing schemes? Have you been conned before? Have you handed over money for packages and plans that proved to be worth less than the paper they were printed on? Many would-be entrepreneurs admit to falling foul of the offers from a handful of companies who give the mail order business a bad name at the expense of genuine business book and plan promoters.

Having investigated many such opportunities over the years, we find all but a few are flawed. For example, we asked an experienced model-maker to check out one craftwork opportunity for us. Having paid his 25 for start-up materials our friend submitted his finished cottages and awaited his cheque. Instead he received a message to the effect: "not up to standard, please try again." It seems such a response is common, making us think 25 start-up packs are the real profit-makers for some firms in the craftwork sector!

But not always, and we know several people who receive regular payments for carrying out similar tasks, especially from firms needing local helpers.

In the final analysis, a genuine scheme is quite easy to spot, once you know how.

These tips will guide you:

* Look for a telephone number from which to obtain further information about a given opportunity. However, just because the number is missing, does not mean the offer is a scam - the firm could be a one-man operator unable to handle constant telephone enquiries. But...the message is still to beware. Ask Directory Enquiries for a business or private listing. If there is no telephone number or the number is ex-directory, be suspicious.

* Look for a money-back guarantee. If a plan or business opportunity works, most reputable firms back it with a 'suck it and see or get your money back' guarantee.

* Avoid PO box numbers where possible. Again, not a definite indication of a scam but a distinct warning signal.

* Phone or write to the firm and ask about other satisfied customers and homeworkers for you to approach for further information.

* If there is no 'joining' fee it might he worth taking a chance on an opportunity that catches your eye. For example, several firms requiring agents to sell travel vouchers and business books offer circulars and marketing materials in exchange for a couple of stamps to cover production costs and deter time-wasters. In such cases it could be worth joining up just to see what's involved and decide whether the business is right for you.

* Look for agency opportunities where all orders - and money - come straight to you, rather than the promoter or principal. In such cases agents normally bank and wait for cheques to clear before processing the order and paying a percentage of takings back to the principal. Be very dubious if orders go direct to the supplying firm where it's much harder to keep track of your money.

* Look to have a portfolio of money-making opportunities rather than trust your entire income to one or two parent firms.

One of the easiest ways of deciding whether this is a worthwhile venture or not is this. Ask yourself, "Is it too good to be true?" If your answer is "Yes" or even "Well, maybe", you're probably looking at a con. If the answer is "No, I've checked everything out and all seems well", you may have uncovered a money-making scheme!