<prompt> Human: We get a lot of questions on here about is this job opportunity too good to be true and does this job sound like a scam? I want to address two of the most common schemes:Multi-level marketingDid your friend, distant relative, or some guy in the grocery store recently approach you about a great job opportunity where you can be your own boss, work your own hours, andor make money by doing things you already do like buying detergent, clothing, cosmetics, or vacation packages through independent seller agents? If so, you are likely being recruited for a multi-level marketing MLM company. These go by various different names like network marketing, but they all have one thing in common: they are barely legal pyramid schemes where the real money is made not by selling the product but by recruiting people to your down line. There is a guy named Ethan Vanderbuilt who exposes a lot of these business opportunities and runs the real numbers on these schemes. If you suspect that a job opportunity is an MLM, I urge you to check out if he has posted an article or video on the company in question. In virtually all cases of MLM, you will make much, much less money than you will working for McDonalds.These companies typically make money by recruiting new sellers and getting them to recruit even more new sellers. You usually pay an upfront fee to get a website setup, take training classes, buy materials, etc. This money goes to the very few at the top of the corporate ladder. Virtually nobody makes decent money as an independent agent for these companies. All the real money is at the top where the founders are. These companies also have a habit of going out of business, and the founders move on to start another one until it dies.Some of the most well-known and most likely to make you lose money as an independent consultant MLMs are:- Amway- World Ventures- Empower Network- Avon- Herbalife- LuLa RoeIn my honest opinion, MLMs are scams that prey on the desperate and uninformed. People will tell you that those who fail just didnt try hard enough. These systems are designed for you to fail and get burned out. Dont get sucked in.Check-forwarding scamsThere are tons of these floating around. Basically, someone hires you to process payments through your personal checking account. What ends up happening is that they send you a bunch of fake checks and tell you to deposit them. You deposit them and are required to send money through an untraceable unrecoverable method i.e. Western Union. Western Union has be fined in the U.S. by the FTC for being complacent in these scams A few weeks later, the bank realizes that the original check is fraudulent, and it bounces. Youve already withdrawn and sent off the money, so the bank comes after you for the funds that bounced. No legitimate business requires you to process payments through your personal bank account.If you are suspicious, or something sounds too-good-to-be-true, I also would urge you to ask the folks over at rscams as they have a pretty good eye for this stuff.Basically, if a jobs duties require you to do anything with your bank account or pay an upfront fee to get hired, be very, very skeptical.  <response>: Im a big fan of John Olivers segment regarding MLMs, definitely worth a watch to get a better understanding of how they work. 