© Rick Lohmeyer, 2011 301-404-2630
Work at Home Scams
Two main types of work at home scams: 1, having
you work from home stuffing envelopes, craft
assembly, email processing, etc. and 2. “Helping”
you start a home-based business, as a mystery
shopper, network marketer, financial assistant. All
are work at home scams. Some can get you
arrested and convicted of mail fraud.
Work at Home Scams:
•
Assume that a work at home offer is a scam
•
Envelope stuffing goes back to the 1930’s
•
Never agree to cash a check and send a part
of it to someone else - always a fraud and
illegal too
•
Do not call 1-900 numbers for any reason
•
Employment and hiring scams have now
become nearly as common as work at home
scams.
•
You will not learn about legitimate work from
home plans through emails or websites
Don’t let dreams of easy
money close your eyes to
reality - just about all work at
home plans are fraudulent.
Protect Yourself from Work at Home Scams
•
Some work at home scams will involve you in money laundering, exposing you to jail
time and fines and ruining your life. Any scheme that requires you to accept funds, then
send funds out to another party, less your cut, is a scam or money laundering.
•
The most common work at home and employment scams are:
o
Craft Assembly
o
Medical Billing
o
Email Processing
o
"A List of Companies Looking for Homeworkers!"
o
"Just Call This 1-900 Number For More Information..."
o
Typing At Home
o
"Turn Your Computer Into a Money-Making Machine!"
o
Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)
o
Chain Letters/Emails ("Make Money Fast")
o
Envelope Stuffing
•
Contact the company. Try to find out the company name and contact information. If
there is only an email address, they are likely not a legitimate business.
•
Ask for an interview. Ask yourself what kind of company would hire someone based on
only an email exchange.
•
Check company location. Is the company overseas, or have no location specified?
•
Google name or details. An Internet search could give you revealing information
about the company or let you know how their scam operates.
•
Check posting frequency. Many scammers use an automated spamming program to post
jobs repeatedly and throughout different cities.
•
If you do pay, pay by credit card. This one may sound counter-intuitive, but liability for
online credit card purchases is usually limited to $50, if you are dissatisfied and report
the transaction. Some credit card issuers will even waive the $50 deductible.
•
Be wary of inflated claims of product effectiveness.
•
Be cautious of exaggerated claims of possible earnings or profits.
•
Beware when money is required up front for instructions or products.
•
Be leery when the job posting claims "no experience necessary".
•
Do not give your social security number to your prospective employer.
•
Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.
•
Be wary when replying to unsolicited emails for work-at-home employment.
•
Research the company to ensure they are authentic.
•
Contact the Better Business Bureau to determine the legitimacy of the company.
•
Be cautious when the job posting claims "no experience necessary".
•
Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.
•
Be cautious if you are asked to ship packages to an "overseas home office."
•
Be leery if the individual states that his country will not allow direct business shipments
from the United States.
•
Be wary if the "ship to" address is yours but the name on the package is not.
•
Never provide your personal information to strangers in a chatroom.
•
Don't accept packages that you didn't order.
•
If you receive packages that you didn't order, either refuse them upon delivery or contact
the company where the package is from.
Online Fraud
