It's Not A Real Job! How Fraudulent Businesses Prey On The Unemployed

Many dream of being able to work at home. The lure of completing your work day without a boss nearby and being able to control your own schedule is strong. Scammers know this, however, and use this information to commit consumer fraud.

Work-at-Home Scams

Since telecommuting is, however, real, avoiding all work-at-home postings could keep you from attaining your dream job. Your option, then, is to be informed and willing to put time into research. Contact your prospective employer and ask a few specific questions. If the business is legitimate, you should have no problem receiving answers. Ask about:

1.How and when you will be paid
2.Exactly what job duties you'll be performing
3.If you'll be required to supply some of the materials and incur out-of-pocket costs
4.Current employees, including contact information for someone willing to answer your questions
5.The business itself: where the main office is located, how long the business has been operating, and even licensing information

In general, a legitimate business will be more than happy to provide this information. It's also important to note that while some work-at-home jobs do come with a slight startup cost, the higher the financial commitment you are expected to make before you begin earning money, the more at-risk you are of becoming a consumer fraud statistic.

Start Your Own Business Online

This scam is tricky, because it appeals to your independence as well as making a lot of sense on paper. What you need to realize here is that most advertisements purporting to allow you to start your own business are really just attempts to sell information that can be readily found for free.

Any time someone offers to teach you how to make money online, this should be considered a red flag. As with the above telecommuting scams, you should be suspicious of any offer that requires you to pay first in order to make money. Investing in starting a business is something to be done after careful planning and when assets are already available. It is not generally a viable option for the unemployed in need of income.

Consumer Fraud Masquerading as a Staffing Service or Job Listing Board

Valid, aboveboard staffing services and job boards make their money from employers, not employees. This is a long-standing system. In the case of staffing services, they will generally help you find a job and then receive a percentage-based portion of your wage until and unless your position becomes permanent. This is all handled on the back end between the staffing service and the employer, requiring no financial investment from the job seeker.

Job boards earn their profits from employers, as well. Businesses pay to be listed on these boards. While some high-level jobs and specific industries may have legitimate job boards requiring a nominal fee, this is not the norm. Additionally, most businesses post job listings in multiple locations, so you are unlikely to find a position on a paid-membership board that could not also be located through one of the many free services available.

Understand the Major Warning Signs

To avoid job-related consumer fraud, simply keep in mind that having to pay in order to earn money is rare. Additionally, never hesitate to ask questions of a prospective employer. Most legitimate hiring managers are happy to provide any information you request, and may even look on your inquiry as evidence of your intelligence and interest in the job. If, on the other hand, your questions are met with hesitation, consider the fact that what you thought was an employment prospect may in fact be a scam.