While the idea of swapping your 9-to-5 office job for a more flexible working environment in the comfort of your own home may sound alluring, one must be wary! Work from home scams are all too common and the modern growing shift towards remote jobs provides the perfect opportunity for these scams to flourish.
It is a sad reality that the internet will always be fraught with schemes and scammers looking to make a quick buck. However, with the right information, you will be able to steer clear of fraudulent job opportunities and find the legitimate home-based working opportunities that are indeed out there.
Master your job hunt by using the following guide as you navigate your way through the web and its seemingly endless listings of work from home opportunities:
Avoid Work From Home Scams By Doing Due Diligence
As is the case with any job, you will need to do your fair share of research before starting with a new company. Make sure to effectively search online for as much information on the company and position as possible. In your investigation, check whether the business has a physical address or person you are able to contact via phone or video call to discuss the opportunity with further. Social media and customer reviews are also important to search for; these should be relatively easy to find as having an online presence is critical to the success of most established businesses in this day and age. Finally, request references and talk to present or past employees about their experiences with the company.
Keep Level-Headed When Approaching A Potential Home-Based Job
Online fraudsters know that the idea of making good money doing a part-time job from home sounds ideal to most people. As a result, work from home scams thrive by exploiting the hopes and dreams of countless job seekers.
It is important to keep your wits about you when reading the descriptions of potential work from home positions. Look out for emotionally charged language and ads that are overly focused on pitching the job to you, rather than encouraging you to market yourself for the job by applying with your qualifications and capabilities.
Think About It Rationally
When thought about objectively, work from home scams generally do not make any sense from a business point of view. If the job description offers a high salary for minimal work hours and skills, the opportunity is probably too good to be true. One should be able to see how the business is profitable and if in doubt, ask your potential employer questions about the structure of the company and details regarding how it operates.
Know What To Avoid When It Comes To Home Based Work
While research and common sense are crucial for spotting scams, these alone are often not enough. It is also useful to know which work from home jobs to be suspicious of, as certain types are generally more likely to be fraudulent than others. In particular, the following examples should be approached with caution:
- Pyramid schemes
- Multi-level marketing (MLM)
- Home assembly jobs (such as envelope stuffing)
- Data entry jobs
- Posting ads
- Jobs involving processing money transfers and/or the cashing of checks
Other telltale characteristics of work from home scams include:
- Brief job descriptions that under-emphasize the need for qualifications and over-emphasize how the job will enable you to make money easily.
- Jobs primarily posted in search engine advertising rather than through established job search channels.
- Being asked to pay an application fee and/or for training and materials.
- Being hired without an interview conducted in person, telephonically or by video conference.
Knowledge Is Power
The information above should better equip you in your search for legitimate home-based working opportunities. Share this article with friends and family and be sure to report fraudulent online activity whenever possible.