Job seekers actively looking for opportunities often find work-from-home opportunities as the most attractive positions. Working from home affords you with the privilege of saving on commuting costs and allows you to set your own work pace. Unfortunately, there are many work-from-home scams, and manipulative business practices can wind up costing you in the long run. Learn how to reduce your risk by recognizing unethical practices.
The Get Rich Quick Scam
Avoid spending time entertaining job ads that promise instant riches with a work-at-home opportunity. The reality is that hefty paychecks are not distributed after a few hours of work. Companies promising $1,000 a day for stuffing envelopes or making cold calls to a list of leads are not being truthful with you. You may even find that the leads you are calling are derived from a list generated from the phone book or pulled from online directories. Reduce your risk and your frustration by spending your time on job leads from reputable companies that recognize that hard work pays off in the long run, not instantly.
The Pay Up Front Scam
You should never have to pay money for the chance to access work-from-home opportunities. Companies that request you to invest in a work opportunity are likely to keep your money and rob you of any chance of gaining on your investment. Perform thorough research before applying for any work-from-home job. Check the company's rating on the Better Business Bureau, and conduct an online search for input from people who have worked with the business. And most importantly, do not spend any of your own hard-earned money for a job opportunity.
The Online Business Scam
Job advertisements promising a lucrative paycheck from starting your own online business can be tempting. These ads outline how you can manage a website and sell products without the hassle of hosting the inventory. Be leery of these opportunities. What typically happens is that the company asks you to pay upfront for a brochure or booklet that provides information you can easily find online for free.
The Medical Billing Scam
Many scams target people trained as medical transcriptionists and billers. Job advertisements from what seem to be reputable companies promise you thousands of dollars to process insurance claims from physicians. However, the reality is that these companies send you marketing materials, software and a list of leads - for a fee - when you could seek out your own clients and purchase similar software for much less at local retail outlets. Before jumping into a work-from-home opportunity that may seem appealing, research the company and ask questions about the type of leads they send. Do not pay for any type of job opportunity.
The Mystery Shopping Scam
Avid shoppers may think they have found the ultimate job as a mystery shopper, but unfortunately, these opportunities are often a scam. Mystery shopping companies require you to make purchase at local stores and then evaluate your experiences after you have paid a registration fee. The bottom line is that reputable companies do not require a fee or ask you to become certified as a mystery shopper. If this line of work is appealing to you, inquire with national chain stores to apply directly instead of working through a company that claims to manage accounts with a variety of stores.
The Check Cashing Scam
A position as a financial manager may be right in line with your experience and education, but if you are asked to deposit checks from people who live abroad, you are not managing financial information. Instead, you may be roped into an illegal scheme to cash counterfeit checks. As a result, if you agree to cash checks, you may find that the checks are returned within a few days, which ultimately costs you fees, time and money.
Avoid work-from-home opportunities that seem too good to be true. Do your research and investigate companies before committing to something that may ultimately turn out to be a scam.
Photo Courtesy of Prime Time Printing at Flickr.com
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