PENSACOLA — Northwest Florida residents seeking a new job or investment opportunity: beware of this scam.
Someone is calling people and claiming to represent a business seeking new partners. Under the scam, new investors supposedly receive 50 percent equity in the company — but there's a catch: they must pay thousands of dollars in "associated fees and costs" first.
In one case reported to the Better Business Bureau, "Academic Tech Partners" claimed to work with universities turning their research to marketable products. Its name and logo look similar to Academic Tech Ventures Inc. Both have domains registered in September 2015.
This advanced-fee scam is similar to a Nigerian prince scam, BBB stated.
So, what can you do?
●Use the "too good to be true" rule. If an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, there's probably a catch.
●Don't share banking information. Do not reply to emails asking for personal financial information.
●Be wary of individuals claiming to be overseas. In many types of scams, con-artists claim to be living abroad to avoid in-person contact.
●Be suspicious of transactions involving additional fees. Scammers will often tempt victims with lottery winnings or a job offer, and request additional fees to further the transaction.
●Hit delete. Don't reply, and don't click any links or download attachments in emails such as this.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Beware of this new investment scam circulating Northwest Florida