Work From Home Scams: Warning Signs You Should Be Aware Of

No one wants to be victimized by online scams but still, a lot of unsuspecting individuals are being lured to the trap.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is aware of this rampant cyber crime. Through its website, the government agency provided a detailed description of how work-at-home businesses can spot illegal activities online.

According to the Commission, the following are the questions you have to ask whenever a certain entity is offering you a job.

1. What tasks will I have to perform? Are any other steps involved?

2. Will I be paid a salary, or will I be paid on commission?

3. What is the basis for your claims about my likely earnings? Do you survey everyone who purchased the program? What documents can you show me to prove your claims are true before I give you any money? Note: If a seller makes a claim about how much money a person can earn, the seller also has to give you an earnings claim statement with more specifics.

4. Who will pay me?

5. When will I get my first paycheck?

6. What is the total cost of this work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment, and membership fees? What will I get for my money?

If the company cannot provide a straight answer to the questions above, then be warned. Most likely, you might end up losing money instead of earning cash.

Always remember that success cannot be achieved overnight. While it could be easy for some, the rest of us have to work hard in order to live comfortably.

The FTC also warned about companies who ask you to pay a specific amount for "training purposes." There have been records of victims who end up in debt because they were fooled to believe that they'll earn thousands of dollars if they sign up.

Also, be very cautious of Multilevel marketing. It's all the rage again, but, not all companies who engage in this kind of business should be trusted. Check if the company fits the description of a pyramiding scheme. 

The FTC explained: "MLMs that survive on recruiting new participants rather than retail sales are pyramid schemes. Pyramid schemes are illegal, and the vast majority of participants lose money."