How to Avoid Work at Home Scams

Just as with any investment, where there is potential gain, there is also potential risk.  So, while working from home may be a great investment in yourself, be sure to stay alert for potential scams.  With internet fraud lurking around every corner, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

Be vigilant in researching the job and the company.
You wouldn’t hand in a resume if you had to meet a guy on the corner to do so.  Internet jobs are the same way. 

Check out their storefront, a.k.a. -- the website:

Do they have one?  Unless you’re being hired to make one for them, move on.

Does it look legit?  If you try to exit and get a pop-up saying “Hey wait!  Before you go… To receive your last minute discount, hit CANCEL below” or some similar scam, they don’t want to hire you, they want you to pay them.

Contact them from the company website.
Until you’ve become a little more seasoned in being able to visually sense a legit job offer from a scam, always contact the company.  If the representative you’ve been speaking with has not told you the company’s name, ask (then go back to step one).  Next, from the “contact” page on the website (they have one right?), send an email regarding the specific job offer, whom you heard about the job offer from, and then simply inquire a little more about the position.  For instance, is it long-term or short-term?  How many hours a week do they need from you?  Just ask a genuine question that should illicit a genuine (not automated) response.  If you get no response back, you probably just pulled your hand out of a bear trap.  Move on.

Ask for references.
Working online means no opportunity to go in and scope out the happiness of current employees (or other contractors).  So, ask for company references.  Legitimate companies will have no problem handing over a list of references.  They may even be really impressed that you are asking.  Then, call and actually speak with the references.

Never pay money to get a job.
You wouldn’t pay your boss to give you a task list now, so why would you online?  Never pay for “more information” or to “find out how to get started.”  If you have to pay for a work at home directory, you’re being scammed.  Don’t give out your money.  If you’re being hired for a work at home position, the only one getting paid should be you.  Memberships are a different (iFreelance.com or elance.com for example), but still, as Roosevelt would say, walk softly and carry a big stick.  You never know when you’ll run into another snake in the grass.

Check online job scam lists.
There are many websites, such as Scam.com, that are dedicated solely to “out” work at home scams.  If you can’t find the job on the scam list, do an Internet search on the job (or the email connected to the job offer), and see if there is anyone else posting questions about its legitimacy. 

Use common sense.
If it sounds too good to be true, it is.  After all, you’ll still be working—just from home.  You’re not going to get rich quick, and if someone tells you that’s the case, tell that person to get his or her head examined.  You can make a legitimate income working from home, possibly even more than you make now, but you’ll still be working.

Stay tuned as we continue this "Make Working From Home Work for You Series!"

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