Tips for Avoiding Work-at-Home Scams

Just an idle internet search for work at home opportunities can yield hundreds, even thousands, of hits, but just how many of those are legitimate? Wouldn't it be terrific to be able to make big piles of cash all from the comfort of your home - maybe even just sitting around in your pajamas?

There are legitimate work-at-home opportunities, but almost none of them are too good to be true. If an opportunity comes around that sounds like an easy money-making scheme, that is probably just what it is: a scheme. Legitimate work at home jobs are jobs, they will involve work. For some tips to avoiding falling for work-at-home scams, read on.

First, if the site says you have to pay, it is almost always a scam. There are a few sources that are legitimate, but really, how much sense does it make to have to pay for your job? Ultimately, it doesn't matter if the site wants you to pay a fee, purchase a membership, buy a publication, a DVD or even an e-book. Don't. Pay-to-Read, Pay-to-Surf or Pay-to-Click programs are generally a waste of time, although not, strictly speaking, scams. In general your time is worth far more than these kinds of jobs are willing to pay. A slightly different scam is the classic envelope-stuffing or assemble at home scam. With this version, you will invest a significant amount of money for your materials, but seldom see any return.

Next, pay attention to the fine print. Frequently the scam is that the company isn't looking to hire you, but is actually looking to sign you up to their service. The fine print will also contain key information such as the refund policy. Because some services that require you pay a fee to sign up are legitimate, it is important to note the refund policy. If there is not a policy, or you can not locate the information, you probably are looking at a scam.

Research all opportunities. If you have never heard of a company, look them up on line, contact the Better Business Bureau for their information and talk to your friends. Chances are, if they are a scam, there is a website somewhere dedicated to telling the world about the hoax. Make sure you read all the information available, sometimes legitimate companies treat their employees badly, and you don't want to work for them, either. As you investigate, make sure you can answer these questions: what will my actual job be, how will I be paid, is there a cost to me (and how much), do I work on commission or do I receive a salary, and most important, when will I receive my first paycheck. If these questions are not or can not be answered, get away fast.

Finally, be very wary of opportunities in which you are not actually offering a product or service. This is a serious scam, and, if you participate, you could also be charged with fraud. Multi-level marketing schemes (MLM's) are everywhere, and in assessing those you must ensure that the majority of your income will come from the product, not from your referrals. This is a fairly difficult way to make money, although not necessarily a scam.

While it is possible to find legitimate work-at-home jobs, you may be more likely to find a scam. By keeping your wits about you and not allowing yourself to become distracted by fancy websites and fantastic promises, you should be able to keep yourself from falling for scams and wasting time and money.