Avoid Work at Home Scams

Whether you’re looking to make a little extra money or you’ve recently been laid off, you may be considering a work at home job. While there are plenty of legitimate work at home jobs, there are even more work at home scams. It’s very important to guard personal information and proceed with caution when searching for the right work at home opportunity. There are very simple steps you can take to make sure you don’t become a victim of one of the many work at home scams floating around the internet.

Before handing off any personal information to a company, check out their record with the Better Business Bureau. Simply go to the BBB website and type the company information in.

A fantastic way to learn about a work at home opportunity is to join an online community such as WAHM.com. Here you can chat with other people who work from home. Not only will you learn about scams, but you’ll also be able to find out more about legitimate companies. People in the community gladly share their experiences with others, including a company’s expectations, pay, and overall demeanor.

Getting an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS is a very easy way to safeguard personal information on the internet. Legitimate companies who hire independent contractors to work from home will ask you to fill out tax papers. Unfortunately, those running work at home scams will do the same. These tax papers will require either a social security number or an EIN. Using an EIN will protect you from identity theft. You can apply for an EIN through the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html.

Besides identity theft, there are a few telltale signs of a work at home scam. Do not accept a job stuffing envelopes or cashing checks. Generally when you accept a work at home job stuffing envelopes, all you are doing is scamming others to do the same. How exactly? You will pay for the “supplies” to stuff envelopes. When you receive these supplies you will essentially be taught how to post the same scam advertisements asking others to send you money for their supplies. You’ll stuff that same scam information in envelopes and mail them to these unsuspecting folks.

Cashing checks usually involves depositing illegal checks into your bank account and sending the money to the so-called employer. This leads to bounced checks in your account, and sometimes prison time for you!

If you proceed with caution, thoroughly check out a company’s background, and frequent online work at home communities, you can avoid becoming a victim of a work at home scam. Even better, you may be on your way to a successful career right from your home office.