So you want to work from home, chances are you will come across a lot of scams. Recently I came across one, when I applied for what looked like a genuine requirement for an Admin Assistant. I got a reply saying they like my resume (I had not sent in one) and would like to schedule for an interview on yahoo messenger. The interview had the tone of a regular interview; lots of genuine job related questions were asked. So what was the scam part? Well, they wanted me to buy some software to do the job. They would reimburse me via check for the cost of the software and a bonus. I was to cash in the check and send the balance to a “Shipping Agent”. Yeah Right ! So the Check processing scam has taken on a new look.
How to spot a scam
- The pay is too good for the job.
- The Ad is very vague about the job.
- Any job asking you to pay a fee for training manuals etc. Genuine employers never ask you to pay any fees. (Some genuine companies require a background check and will ask you to pay for it, but they will be upfront about this.)
- Any job that requires you to process a check. Run for your life! You could get in serious legal trouble. Here is more information on this scam.
- Re-packaging and shipping jobs. The employer sends you a batch of equipment and you are supposed to pack and ship these to customers. These are most likely stolen goods and you will be charged criminally, even if you were not aware they are stolen.
- Envelope Stuffing Jobs. There are no jobs where a company will pay you to stuff envelopes.
- Any work/business promising you huge amounts of money instantly.
- Always ask the company to provide you details about the job and itself. Genuine companies will almost always let you know what the job requirements are and what you will be doing.
- Do not send in your personal details unless you are sure the company is legitimate. (If the ad asks you to send in your resume, but does not have company details, always send in a brief resume with no personal details and ask for more information.)
- Always do your research. A simple Google search will give you lot of information on the company. If you are not able find anything, be cautious in sending your resume.
- NEVER EVER pay for a list of companies that hire telecommute workers.
In short be very aware of who you are dealing with, check and recheck till you are satisfied and go with your gut feeling. That being said, I would also like to stress that there are lot of genuine jobs available out there. You just have to weed through the junk to get to them.
If you have come across a scam that you do not see listed here, do let me know. Thanks.
