Ways to make sure that work-at-home job isn’t a scam

Advertisements for work-at-home jobs can be found everywhere. And, while they boast big money, flexible hours and no experience necessary, many of these opportunities are run by scammers trying to make a living off your hard-earned money.

Many work-at-home scams recruit people to be mystery shoppers. They’re hired to test companies’ services by cashing counterfeit checks, wiring portions of funds back to senders and keeping the rest as salary.

In some schemes, con artists, posing as employers, will trick people into providing personal information, such as bank account and Social Security numbers, as part of the application process. Scammers use the information to steal identities.

Other scams involve people performing tasks, such as processing payments, transferring funds or reshipping products. In reality, scammers are using people to cash phony checks, transfer illegally-obtained funds for criminals or receive stolen merchandise and ship it to criminals.

If you’re considering a work-at-home offer, check companies out with your Better Business Bureau. Visit www.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301. In addition:

• Get all details, earnings claims and cancellation and refund policies, in writing.

• Find out exactly what you have to do, what the total cost is and who will pay you.

• Get references from at least 10 people who’ve been successful.

• Don’t feel pressured to make a decision immediately.

• Beware if you’re asked for money upfront. Once money is sent, you get little, if anything, in return.

• Look out for overstated claims of effectiveness, exaggerated claims of potential earnings and claims of inside information and no experience necessary.

Knowledge is your best defense against scams and you can add to your arsenal by attending the Miami Valley Community Problem Oriented Policing 2011 Conference from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Stebbins High School, 1900 Harshman Road, Riverside. This free conference will focus on teaching you strategies to identify and stop crime before it happens and minimize your chances of becoming a crime victim.

John North is president and CEO of the Dayton Better Business Bureau.

Source http://www.daytondailynews.com