The Best Way to Avoid a Work-At-Home Job Scam
by Leslie Truex
Each year, millions of people fall victim to work-at-home job scams. This
happens despite all the great information in books and online on how to identify
legitimate work-at-home programs and avoid scams.
One reason that people still get caught up in scams is because they look for the
wrong kind of work in the wrong place. As a result, they are exposed to more
scams and don't ever find the real jobs.
Here is how to avoid looking for the wrong work in the wrong places:
1. Don't expect to just sign-up for a job. You can't just sign up for a job in
the traditional job world, even at McDonalds. And, you can't just sign up for
a job in the telecommuting world. Any job ad you come across that gives you the
impression that you can just sign up and be employed should be questioned.
2. Don't expect to get paid licking envelopes, gluing earrings, reading email,
surfing the net, or "placing ads". This is where most people get in trouble.
They search for work in areas that are almost always scams.
3. Don't expect to sign-up and type or do data entry. This is another area
people get into trouble. There are legitimate clerical jobs BUT they almost
always require passing typing tests for speed, accuracy, and grammar and punctuation.
4. Don't expect a $25 (or any amount) processing fee will get you a job. Any
company charging a fee to hire you is not offering a job. These "jobs" will tell
you the fee is to process your application, support the cost of the website
hosting, or to add you to payroll. DON'T FALL FOR IT! You wouldn't buy it in the
traditional work world so you shouldn't fall for it in the telecommuting world.
5. Don't fall for 'no experience necessary'. Employers are looking to hire
people who can do a specific job. While there are some jobs don't require
experience, they do require skills such as a pleasant speaking voice, writing
talent, or some other skill that can be measured to insure you have what it
takes to do the job. In the traditional work world, you need to show you have
what it takes to do the job. You will need to provide the same proof in the
telecommuting world.
6. Don't expect to find jobs through search engines. If you are looking for a
legitimate job, you need to look where jobs are posted. Employers post jobs on
their websites and on employment websites. There are many free and fee-based job
sites that offer legitimate work-at-home jobs. It is okay to pay to access a job
database as long as it offers real jobs (see number 2). Scammers are known to
post their schemes on job sites but if you follow the rules above, you won't get
caught up in them.
Working at home is WORK. Any ad that tells you anything different is trying to
sell you something or steal your money. Don't fall for it. To avoid a work-at-home
job scam, you need to know what jobs you are qualified to do and conduct your
job search in the same professional manner you would a traditional job search.
By searching for 'real' jobs in the places that employers post jobs, you will
not only have better success at finding legitimate work, but also you will
decrease the number of scams you are exposed to.
Leslie Truex is a stay and work-at-home mom who has telecommuted in a variety of
jobs since 1990. She is the author of Jobs At Home: A Complete Guide to Finding
or Creating a Work-At-Home Job which provides specific details and hundreds of
job resources to help you find a legitimate work-at-home job.
Work At Home Success
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