Many reentrants don’t believe they will ever get a business license through the usual channels. That makes them vulnerable to scams. Some reentrants may find themselves frustrated by occupational licensing regulations that don’t make sense. Maybe their trade is licensed in some states, but not others. That’s confusing.

If you’re looking to get a professional or business license, here are three things you should do before you pay anyone money:

If you own a small business or work for one, you’re probably concerned with protecting your business’ data. You want to make sure that sensitive information isn’t accidentally deleted, turned over to a scammer, or hacked. So this week, during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s focus on making sure you know the resources the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has to help you and your employees understand cybersecurity, maintain your business’ computer networks safe, and keep sensitive information protected.

Sharing what you know with your community can help others make sound financial decisions, avoid scams, and recover from identity theft. To help you spread the word, the FTC has created nearly 200 free publications on a variety of topics and in multiple languages. Order now — it’s free!