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I'm glad we have an observer of the obvious on board... Unfortunately that doesn't answer the question or help out in any way.

Glad to see you walk with your eyes open though.

More Clues to keep you from buying into a SCAM or what I refer to as "fake gold":

1. If when you are talking with a "supossed investor" you hear what sounds like a telemarketing center in the background, your usually dealing with a telemarketing center, or someone who is trying to sell you a bag-o-crap. A true Angel Investor should not be trying to SELL you Anything.

2. You keep receiving that initial "hello" email from them, even though you have already made an appointment. A serious investor will deal with you on a personal level, not through some general email letter with a video and no "real" person contact.

3. They won't sign a confidetialty form that you initiate. Or they try to pass you one with a STAMPED signature, verses a Personally Signed one.

4. They don't or won't give you references, at least 3-5 that you can actually contact. And they say: "It's all confidential". Most companies, will show the logo's of their clients on their website, and are proud to show share the case studies of who they have helped. This is the only way they can show credibility, why wouldn't they use it?

5. You meet with them and none of them have a business card.

6. You meet them and it is a telemarketing center atmosphere.

I was approached by this company this morning. It sounds so easy to give up $250 for a turnaround of financial support to start a business when noone else can help. I had a banker take my business plan home for a whole weekend trying to find a program that would help me. However, without the initial 20% down there was no way to get an SBA loan. So, I started looking for private investors. Thats when NPILF contacted me and made it sound so good.

I wish someone who had success with a group would post on here as to where the funds came from.

Give us your email address so we may contact you. I actually was thinking of that option the other day.

If you are looking for angel investors, start with www.techcoastangels.com They don't charge any fees , but you better have a sound business plan. you have to sign up to have access to their website, again not to worry no fees for this, inside their website that have list for other angel investors. I hope this helps.

Best Regards

Alex

This is the reply i got from them when i asked for them to stop harassing me.

Brian,

I'm sorry you are going to miss out on a great opportunity. It's easy to file a complaint with the BBB. We'll keep our money! Good luck in your funding search because we all know how credible our banking system is. I wonder what Citi groups BBB rating is?

Thanks Wendell

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Original Message

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Subject: RE: BBB Score
From: "Brian Straw" <bbstraw@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, March 26, 2009 2:01 pm
To: <gobig@nailf.com>

A B- isn't much better. The fact is, there are complaints against your business. Angel investors shouldn't charge any type of application fee. A business owner is trying to raise funds not spend funds. I feel that you would be more willing to help people like me if you were to take a profit of the loan that you were able to provide a business rather than taking the money up front and not guarantee anything. I have spoken to many others that feel you are a scam and I agree that this doesn't seem very promising to invest money into a company like yours.

Again if you had some positive references I would gladly check into those as well. But unless you are willing to supply those to me please stop harassing me.

Thank you,

Brian Straw

I had an initial call with them today. The guy I spoke with was very friendly. However, I told him that I was concerned about getting scam'd. I know that banks have doc fees and such, but why should I pay $250 up front and not even be guaranteed I will get the money I need. After reading the posts here, I don't think I will be returning the call.