Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Progress
JACKSONVILLE — The Better Business Bureau has advised consumers to use caution in regards to a new easy money opportunity claiming to pay people to gather license plate numbers. Jacksonville Police Department Crime Prevention Officer Tonya Sonntag said the old adage applies.
“If something looks to good to be true, it probably is,” Sonntag said.
She said she saw someone in the area with a granddaughter involved in the supposedly money-making opportunity and added it has a presence in East Texas.
“They’re going to come up with something different all the time,” she said. “This sounds like one of those pyramid schemes to me. You can’t get involved in a pyramid scheme.”
A press release from the Better Business Bureau stated this company gives commissions based on the collection of up to 10 qualifying license plates per month which the company sells to identify the location of motor vehicles.
“The company implies customers are lien holders, law enforcement and government agencies, however, BBB has not been able to confirm this data,” the release noted.
Jacksonville Police Department Assistant Chief John Page said there is no reason for a law enforcement agency to purchase a license plate number.
“Law enforcement is not going to buy license plate numbers for any reason,” Page said.
“If we want to find your license plate number we’ll just look it up.”
Page also said several Web sites already exist which allows people to look up license plate numbers and view who the numbers are registered to, though he added a fee is charged for this.
Sonntag said she could never understand what any company would want with the plate numbers, though she also said it’s possible the numbers are being used for repossession purposes.
“There are a lot of different things they could be doing with them,” she said.
She also cautioned consumers to avoid business opportunities which tell customers the more people they sign up, the more money they get.
“The only one who really gets any money is the one on top,” Sonntag said.
The BBB recommended the following ways to watch for pyramid schemes and other illegal opportunities:
• Avoid any plan which places primary emphasis on commissions for recruiting additional distributors.
• Beware of plans requiring purchase of expensive products and marketing materials up front.
• Don’t pay or sign contracts in an “opportunity meeting” or other pressure-filled situation without taking time to think over the decision. Talk it over with a family member, friend, accountant or lawyer.
• Beware of plans claiming to sell miracle products or promise enormous earnings and ask the promoter to substantiate these claims.
• Check with the local BBB and state attorney general about any plan in consideration.
• Remember no matter how good a product and how solid a multilevel marketing plan may be, everyone will need to invest sweat, equity and dollars for an investment to pay.
For more advice on evaluating these types of opportunities, go to www.bbb.org.
