How to Identify Work from Home Scams

Although the internet has been wonderful in bringing information to our fingertips within a matter of seconds, it also has made it very difficult to sort through and identify what is real and what is not.  It is not always easy to identify work from home scams, and not everything that you hear called a scam, really is a scam.  Here are some tips to help you identify if what you come across are work from home scams or not:

• If it is a company listed with the www.dsa.org, it is not a scam.  These are legal companies, and although you may find lots of disgruntled reports, this does not mean that they are bad companies.  Just remember this: “Sandra” may make an attempt to roller blade and not succeed, however she does not call this a scam.  However, if “Sandra” tries a home business and does not succeed, then she calls it a scam, and she writes all over the internet about how “X” company is  a scam.   The point I’m trying to make is that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, and be sure you look at both sides of a situation.  Don’t just look for the bad comments, but also be sure to look for the positive reports.  Please note that some of the businesses listed with the DSA have higher standards than others.
• Avoid envelope stuffing offers.  They are scams.
• Call the Better Business Bureau in person to get information.
• Do a Google Search.  As explained in the first point, look for both sides to the story, not just one side.  If all you can find is negative reports, then it could be a scam.
• If there is pressure to join something and you do not get the answers to your questions, be careful.
• With legitimate companies that you are applying to for a typing job, or administrative position for example, you should expect to get asked for a resume and references.  This is like any other job that you would be applying for.  However, note that if you are considering starting a home-based business (on the DSA list for example), that you will not need to supply this information as this is not necessary and you will get training as you learn your business.  Just because you are not asked to provide this information for one of the companies on the DSA list, does not mean that it is a scam.