Reader Inquiry: Is it a Scam?

I received the following e-mail this week:


A business advertised on Craigslist for $495.00 for materials to start a home inventory business. They are based in FLorida and said they have more work than they can take on.
In addition to the initial fee, they are requiring $150.00 for every referral after the affiliate has been paid. their name is HTCA and when I looked the website up on whois.com
 the website was registered in July of 2010. It seemed to good to be true. What do you think?


My response:
Most of these are a scam. Legitimate firms looking for subcontractors approach people directly ("competitors" in their area) or hire additional contractors or employees. If they legitimately have too much work, they're not going to be selling you a kit and then charging you $150 for referrals.

I addressed a similar issue in a previous blog post:

http://homeinventoryservice.blogspot.com/2008/03/home-inventory-service-business-scam.html

Home Inventory Service Business Scam Update

I received an e-mail from a blog reader wondering about a company that advertised in Colorado for a home inventory service business start-up business opportunity.

As mentioned on the Complete Home Journal message board, this is a scam, similar to the ones I warned my readers about a few months ago. The company name is Esrom Inc. and they offer a startup kit for about $600. The principals' names are Larry Moore and Carol Simms.

As I told Roy, RUN, don't walk away from this offer.

If you're looking for a legitimate opportunity, the Complete Home Journal product is recommended by several of my readers.

Beware of Home Inventory Service Start-up Scam

Thanks to Ari Dorfman of South Florida Inventory Specialists (a legitimate home inventory service business) for this alert of a scam targeting prospective Home Inventory Service business owners.

Ari reports that a company is advertising in newspapers about a start-up opportunity for running a home inventory business. They ask for a check or money order for between $750 and $1500 and they will "send you everything you need to get started, schedule training and start to book you clients."

Ari says, "They have used the name Capital Home Inventory. Florida Inventory Specialists, and others. They are usually based somewhere along the east coast of Florida, but advertise in Dallas and New Jersey for sure. They have used the names Rick Miller and Tom McEntrye and also use a female named Erin or Kathy."

Buyers beware! There are a few legitimate franchise or "business in a box" opportunities available for starting your Home Inventory Service business, but check them out carefully before purchasing. And always pay with a credit card, so you can dispute the charges, if need be.

Have more information about this? Have you seen the ads? E-mail me at homeinventoryservicemagazine@gmail.com.