Work from home scams are all over the internet. Scams trying to sell you pipe dreams, secrets or systems that will allegedly make you a few hundred dollars per day or weeks such as Rebate Processing, Envelope Stuffing, Typing/Data Entry, Google Money Scams, etc. But, by far the worst kinds are the home business offers that tell you how you can make thousands of dollars for a small up-front investment and little work. Many of these scams will even use the brand or identity of legitimate companies to lure you into a sense of security. Google Money Tree, who was just shut down by the Federal Trade Commission, is one example of this.
As the owner of a work at home website MyWealthyLifeBegins.com that helps people avoid work at home scams, I know a lot about these. So I’ve decided to update you with the latest work from home scams revealed. The first thing to remember is that scams tend to repeat themselves with slight variations, kind of like infomercials. This is how these scam companies stay in business. They will run a scam until people, and sometimes the government, starts to catch on. Then they will start another slight variation of the same scam under a different company name. When you are constantly looking for these companies like I do you begin to see a pattern. Don’t let a different website name, job description, or company name confuse you; if it sounds like one of the scams listed below, it’s a scam. For example, Google Money Tree is a known scam, so if another company appears exhibiting many of the same traits described in the Google Money Tree scam; it’s probably a variation of the same scam.
Top 10 Work from Home Scams Revealed
Note: These scams are not ranked by dollars lost or people scammed. In fact, there’s nothing scientific about the list. It’s just the ten home-based business scams I find the most disturbing.
#10. Craft Assembly Scam
This scam encourages you to assemble toys, dolls, or other craft projects at home with the promise of high per-piece rates. All you have to do is pay a fee up-front for the starter kit… which includes instructions and parts.
Sounds good? Well, once you finish assembling your first batch of crafts, you’ll be told by the company that they “don’t meet our specifications.”
In fact, even if you were a robot and did it perfectly, it would be impossible for you to meet their specifications. The scammer company is making money selling the starter kits — not selling the assembled product. So, you’re left with a set of assembled crafts… and no one to sell them to.
#9. Medical Billing Scam
In this scam, you pay 0-0 for everything (supposedly) you need to start your own medical billing service at home. You’re promised state-of-the-art medical billing software, as well as a list of potential clients in your area.
What you’re not told is that most medical clinics process their own bills, or outsource the processing to firms, not individuals. Your software may not meet their specifications, and often the lists of “potential clients” are outdated or just plain wrong.
As usual, trying to get a refund from the medical billing company is like trying to get blood from a stone.
#8. Email Processing Scam
This is a twist on the classic “envelope stuffing scam” (see #1 below). For a low price (?) you can become a “highly-paid” email processor working “from the comfort of your own home.”
Now… what do you suppose an email processor does? If you have visions of forwarding or editing emails, forget it. What you get for your money are instructions on spamming the same ad you responded to in newsgroups and Web forums!
Think about it — many offer to pay you per email processed — would any legitimate company pay that?
#7. “A List of Companies Looking for Home Workers!” Scam
In this one, you pay a small fee for a list of companies looking for home workers just like you.
The only problem is that the list is usually a generic list of companies, companies that don’t take home workers, or companies that may have accepted home workers long, long ago. Don’t expect to get your money back with this one.
#6. “Just Call This 1-900 Number For More Information…” Scam
No need to spend too much time (or money) on this one. 1-900 numbers cost money to call, and that’s how the scammers make their profit.
Save your money — don’t call a 1-900 number for more information about a supposed work-at-home job.
#5. Typing At Home Scam
If you use the Internet a lot, then odds are that you’re probably a good typist. How better to capitalize on it than making money by typing at home?
Here’s how it works: After sending the fee to the scammer for “more information,” you receive a disk and printed information that tells you to place home typist ads and sell copies of the disk to the suckers who reply to you. Like #8, this scam tries to turn you into a scammer!
#4. “Turn Your Computer Into a Money-Making Machine!” Scam
Well, this one’s at least half-true. To be completely true, it should read: “Turn your computer into a money-making machine… for spammers!”
This is much the same spam as #5, above. Once you pay your money, you’ll be sent instructions on how to place ads and pull in suckers to “turn their computers into money-making machines.”
#3. Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Scam
If you’ve heard of network marketing companies like Amway, then you know that there are legitimate MLM businesses based on agents selling products or services.
One big problem with MLMs, though, is when the pyramid and the ladder-climbing become more important than selling the actual product or service. Many of these companies push you hard to recruit your friends and family members.
If the MLM business opportunity is mostly about finding new recruits rather than selling legitimate products or services, beware: The Federal Trade Commission may consider it to be a pyramid scheme… and not only can you lose all your money, but you can be charged with fraud, too!
#2. Chain Letters/Emails (“Make Money Fast”) Scam
If you’ve been on the Internet for any length of time, you’ve probably received or at least seen these chain emails. They promise that all you have to do is send the email along with some money by mail to the top names on the list, then add your name to the bottom… and one day you’ll be a millionaire.
Actually, the only thing that might happen to you one day is to be prosecuted for fraud. This is a classic pyramid scheme, and most times the names in the chain emails are manipulated to make sure only the people at the top of the list (the true scammers) make any money.
#1. Envelope Stuffing Scam
This is oldest work-at-home scam in the book. It’s been around since the U.S. Depression of the 1920s and 1930s, and it’s moved onto the Internet like a cockroach you just can’t eliminate.
There are several variations, but here’s a sample: Much like #5 and #4 above, you are promised to be paid -2 for every envelope you stuff. All you have to do is send money and you’re guaranteed “up to 1,000 envelopes a week that you can stuff… with postage and address already affixed!”
When you send your money, you get a short manual with flyer templates you’re supposed to put up around town, advertising the same work-from-home scheme.
And the pre-addressed, pre-paid envelopes? Well, when people see those flyers, it says that all they have to do is send you .00 in a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope. Then you stuff that envelope with another flyer and send it to them.
Ingenious, perhaps… but certainly illegal and unethical.
…and the list goes on and on…
These 10 are just the tip of the iceberg, but are probably the most common.
Want To Know if A Company Is A Scam?
Here’s a simple tip, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is. Be very wary of companies promising you can make large amounts of money for an up-front investment and very little work. If your instincts are making you feel uneasy about a company or opportunity, don’t do it. Instincts are your best defense; they are the gift God gave us to sense danger so we could avoid being eaten by a tiger. Instincts are usually right when it comes to work at home scams as well. Listen to them!
So, is There a Legitimate way to Make Money from Home?
Well, yes, many companies have positions that allow their workers to work from home. So, if you want to work from home as an employee search for these types of jobs and companies. However, if you are thinking about working for yourself in a home based business, unfortunately there are not really that many legitimate opportunities.
The Best Home Business Opportunity
In my opinion, the most legitimate work from home business is Internet affiliate marketing. The on-line e-commerce market is exploding, with annual projected sales for 2010 of 2 Billion according to the US Census Bureau. People are buying more and more on-line! So, who are these people buying from? Amazon is projected for Billion in sales at 2010 year end. Other large on-line e-commerce companies include Dell Computer, eBay, Buy.com and Costco.com. However, a large volume of on-line sales come from small businesses.
So what does all this have to do with you and me? Well, many of these big and small companies will allow you to sell their products through an Internet affiliate program. In fact, Amazon generates about 40% of its total revenues through its affiliate marketers. Small home based Internet affiliate marketing businesses run by people just like you and me! There are literally thousands of companies with affiliate programs out there with tens of thousands of legitimate products for you to sell. Many of these companies pay 25% to 75% of the total sale in commissions.
For more information and to get a FREE course on how you can become an Internet affiliate marketer, go to:
My site and the FREE course will take you step-by-step through the process of becoming an Internet affiliate marketer at absolutely no cost to you. Go through it at your own pace and then you can decide if Internet affiliate marketing is right for you. Without spending a dime up front!
Don’t wait! Take advantage of this great free course and find out more about on-line affiliate marketing. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Bob Walker has worked as a web marketing manager and web designer, and as a SEO, PPC and social network marketing specialist. He is currently the owner of My Wealthy Life Begins, a company that specializing in Internet affiliate marketing, web design, web marketing, article writing, PPC, SEO, social network marketing and work from home jobs.
Bob is a former reporter, writer and editor for the Saddleback College Lariet. He is a regular contributor to www,mywealthylifebegins.com/blog and other affiliate marketing websites and blogs. Bob is also a regular contributor to www.myhealthylifebegins.com/blog and other health and fitness related websites and blogs.
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