There comes a time in everyone’s life when the balance in the savings account doesn’t cover the bills. Whether you have an unexpected emergency or are dying to take a vacation, you’ll need more money. It’s at these times that people turn to work-at-home sites to make a few extra bucks. While there are dozens of legitimate online opportunities, there are as many, or more, that are simply rip-offs. Here are five ways to spot a scam and save yourself frustration:
1.Bogus Emails
There’s a new trend starting and it’s a dangerous one. You’ll wake up in the morning, open your email and find a message from someone offering you a job interview. They’ll ask that you send your resume so that they can consider you for a fabulous opportunity that fits your skill set. The problem is, you don’t remember applying for this position or talking to this person; you didn’t. Delete these emails immediately; don’t get suckered into sending your personal information to anyone with whom you haven’t initiated contact.
2.Up-Front Payment
No legitimate work-at-home site will require that you send money up front in order to gain access to work. You may find that some sites will charge you a small fee for performing a background check as part of your employment, but these opportunities are few and far between. If a site wants you to pay for access to surveys, small tasks or other work, look elsewhere.
3.Limited Time Offers
You’ll undoubtedly stumble upon sites that scream “Limited Time Offer!” There’s simply no such thing. Work-at-home opportunities that are legitimate are never for a limited time. You don’t have to rush to join, hurry to send your money, or click here in the next five minutes for a fabulous opportunity. If you run across one of these sites, it’s not for you. If legitimate sites have no current work, they will be up front in providing that information to potential applicants.
4.Purchase Requirement
While you may need to purchase your own equipment with which to set up your home office, you should never have to purchase anything from a company offering work-at-home opportunities. You shouldn’t have to purchase inventory, equipment or software. If a company hires telecommuters and uses specialized software, they will provide this to you once get the job.
5.Bad Ratings
Before you sign on with any work-at-home company, look them up on the Better Business Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org. All you have to do is type in the URL or the name of the company. If they aren’t listed, don’t fret, it isn’t required; look for online reviews. If they are listed, however, look for their score. You can easily see what complaints have been filed and how they were resolved. Keep in mind that no one is happy all of the time and some people will complain no matter what. You’ll need to decide what the lowest acceptable rating is but, in general, if a business has a score of less than A-, you may want to continue your search.
If you need extra cash, you certainly don’t need to waste what you have on a scam. Keep your eyes open and trust your instincts when it comes to work-at-home opportunities. If you follow the five tips above, you’ll be sure to avoid the scams and find an opportunity that serves you well.
