No matter what you do in life, you will always find that there is always a chance that you can be ripped off.  Basically, it’s a fact of life and instead of sitting back and never trying anything new, you have to learn how to deal with it.   This same idea applies to business opportunities, as well.  There may be some that are scams, but unless you learn how to tell the difference between a scam and a legitimate opportunity, the only person that will suffer is you.   The following are a few tips to help you in researching the various network marketing programs that are available and how you can tell the difference between a scam and a real opportunity:

When Did The Company Go Into Business?

This is very important as there is less chance of getting scammed by network marketing programs that have been in business for more than three years.   If possible, try to stay away from newly developed companies or at least do a more thorough background check on the newer ones.

Who is in Charge?

Do some research and find out who is running the show.  You will be able to pull up some information on the top people in the company on the Internet.  If not, make sure you join a few forums and start asking questions to see what type of feedback you can get.

Have the Had Complaints Filed?

The Better Business Bureau is an organization that deals with consumer complaints.  They can let you know if complaints have been filed and, if so, how these were handled.  Most of your research with them can be done online and quickly.

What is Their Financial Status?

Don’t join any of the network marketing programs without first checking their financial stability.   While they may not be a scam, if they are not financially sound, you run the risk of losing your investment.

These, of course, are just a few things to look for when you are researching an opportunity.  Depending upon the type of business it is, you will need to do some more research, as well as find out how often they pay their members.