With more parents wanting to stay at home with their children, and more elderly people needing extra money to supplement their retirement income, work at home scams are on the rise, too.
The sad thing is the people being scammed don’t have the money to lose, but scammers con them out of it, making the situation worse.
You can avoid scams if you know what to look for and how to protect yourself from potential scammers. Here are a few tips to keep you safe and prevent you from losing money at a time when you need it most.
If it’s too Good to Be True…
You’ve probably heard it said before that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. This is very true of home-based jobs and businesses.
People who don’t understand that working from home actually means you have to do some work, fall for scams that offer good pay for very little effort or work.
You should also avoid opportunities that:
Say no experience needed
Say there is no risk involved
Want you to join today!
Uses high-pressure sales tactics
These are all red flags of a home-based business scam.
Always Take Your Time
If a home-based business opportunity interests you, take your time to research the company and read all disclaimers. The fine print usually has a lot to say.
If it’s a legitimate company, there is no rush. You can decide to take the opportunity when you are ready and feel secure in doing so.
Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints or if the company is approved by the BBB.
Always Ask Questions
Don’t get yourself into any business opportunity or pay money to a company if you aren’t sure how you’re supposed to make money.
There are many questions you need to ask:
What service will you provide or what task will you perform
Does the company pay a set salary or commission?
What’s your first payday?
Who pays you?
What supplies are included in the costs?
How much will everything cost all together?
If the company cannot or will not answer these questions to your satisfaction, then don’t get involved.
Always Be Cautious
You can never be too cautious when deciding if a work at home opportunity is legit. There are several extra precautions you can take:
Get everything in writing
Ask to talk to people in the business in person:
promoters, trainers, etc. Ask for recommendations from others in the business If you really want to be cautious, have an attorney look over the business documents or ask for help from a business advisor.
It’s never good to jump into a home-based business unless you have thoroughly checked it out and feel comfortable doing so.