With the economy is such poor shape right now, job seekers and business owners alike are feeling desperate. For those looking for employment, sometimes an “anything will do” approach can have lasting repercussions on not only their careers but also on their bank accounts. This can come in the form of scam “work from home” opportunities (can you say “criminal background check”?) that have increased dramatically since the downturn of the country’s financial state. For people who once worked for a company and fell victim to a layoff or downsizing, starting their own business can sound pretty enticing. But what is the real deal with opportunities that allow you to work from home? Here’s the scoop on several jobs you can do from home and the warning signs of scams.
It’s probably a scam if:
• They ask you for money upfront. No legitimate company makes you pay into working for them. Take, for example, a company that makes you buy a booklet about how to work at home, but the book simply advertises selling those same booklets to others. This is likely one scandalous individual running a “company” where the police should immediately do a criminal background check!
• They promise you all the money in the world with very little effort, employment screening, or skills necessary. These scams prey on people who have the least experience and education so they can make a quick buck off of the person’s initial investment and they know the person does not have the means to do a criminal background check on the company or pursue legal action against them.
• They come to you in the form of an email. Spam messages are bought in bulk by email listing agencies and then sent to the masses with the hopes of catching several hundred people who are in desperate times. If you have not sought out information from them, they have no business contacting you by email!
Legitimate work-from-home jobs:
• Amway, Mary Kay, or Avon. These are all examples of legitimate business opportunities that require effort in order to turn a profit. Although they do not perform employment screening and require no education or experience and, even though a small investment is required upfront, these are companies who have seen countless success stories. They have been around for decades and are likely to be around in the future.
• Freelance writing. Through online communities such as Elance and Odesk, freelancers can be outsourced by companies who need writing, technical work, medical transcription and many other tasks completed outside of their offices. Payments are made through the outsourcing site and not between the 2 negotiating parties, so there’s little risk in losing money for work completed. No employment screening is usually required for outsourced positions.
• Affiliate marketing online. Joining a, affiliate network such as PepperJam can give someone who has time on their hands and good writing skills the chance to make some money online. Articles, blogs, and informative essays are written and distributed across the Internet and a small commission is awarded for new business gained from those efforts.
Keeping your eyes and ears open to new opportunities is a smart idea. However, if the opportunities have any of the 3 signs of a scam, walk away fast! On the other hand, if you’re ready to work from home and would consider a reputable business to work for, the rewards can be great!
