The best place to get started is by digging in and doing your research. The only option for discovering the true integrity of a company is by picking it apart piece by piece. Check out the website, listen to a conference call hosted by the company, and conduct your due diligence online.
Don't just assume certain things about a company without checking it out for yourself to verify your assumptions.
Ask Around
It never hurts to ask other people's opinions. Know that you'll probably always find negative reviews, but what you should be looking for is more positive than negative. If the only thing that you discover is negative reviews, then I would recommend finding a different company. However, if you find more positive, then the company is probably a legitimate, honest company.
A great place to find information is by reading blogs, chatting in forums, or talking to people that you know in the industry.
Don't Be Too Cynical
At the end of the day, don't be too cynical. You can spend all of your time trying to find the faults in a program, or just take a leap of faith at some point and jump in.
If all of your research reveals a legitimate opportunity and not a scam, then trust your research and get involved with the company.
Get To Work
Now is the time to put all of your positive energy into making money online. If there is money to be made in an opportunity, then why not get busy and go after it? If you don't, someone else will.
Conclusion
Although it is not possible to know for certain whether or not you are being ripped off, there are definitely red flags and warning signs to be aware of. Never forget to follow the leading of your instincts. If you have a bad feeling, then it probably is bad.
However, don't spend the rest of your life sitting on the fence waiting for the perfect, low risk opportunity. It is unlikely to come. You are just going to have to jump into the game and get your feet wet.
The truth is that most people lose some money before they make any money. Chalk it up to experience and move on. You can often times learn more from your failures than you ever will from your successes.
