The Internet has made it easier than ever to work from home. From travel agents and customer service representatives to computer programmers and even nurses, more and more employees are kissing the office goodbye and working from the comfort of their own homes.
From Fortune 500 companies to newly formed startups, companies are discovering that hiring home workers is good for business and the bottom line. While there are plenty of legitimate ways to earn money from home, there are also plenty of scam artists out to dash your dreams and steal your funds. If you spot any of these 5 red flags, you are probably looking at a scam.
Red Flag #1 — Vague Job Descriptions
When you apply for a traditional position, the job description contains a complete list of the required qualifications and daily duties. You should expect no less with a work at home job.
Watch out for vague job descriptions and general language. If you do not have a clear idea of what the job entails, you may be looking at a scam.
Red Flag #2 — Unrealistic Promises
You would not expect untold riches for no work at a traditional job, and you should not expect it when you work at home. If a would-be employer promises that you can make lots of money for little work, you can bet the job is a scam.
Take the time to research the pay scale for the work at home jobs you are looking at. If an administrative assistant makes $15-20 an hour in the real world, a promise of $50 per hour for a similar work at home job is simply unrealistic.
Red Flag #3 — Lack of Contact Information
Check the contact information carefully on any job site you visit. Try calling the phone number listed and make sure a real person answers, or at least returns your call. Send an inquiry by email to make sure the address is valid. Many scam artists list invalid contact information on their websites, making it nearly impossible for victims to follow up when they have been taken.
Red Flag #4 — High Pressure Tactics
In the real world, you have to sell yourself to the employer – not the other way around. Red flags should start flying if a company tries to hard sell you or pressures you to take the job.
You should also be wary if the employer pressures you to make an investment or buy a product to get started. These are classic signs of a work at home scam, and sure signs that you should take your job search elsewhere.
Red Flag #5 — Poor Online Reviews
Before you accept any work at home job offer, you need to check the company out carefully. You would not work for a real world employer without knowing what you are getting into, and that due diligence is even more important when you will be working remotely.
If the only information you can find about the company is negative, that should be a big red flag. A few disgruntled ex-employees or unhappy customers are to be expected, but if no one has anything good to say you might want to move on.