It’s the ultimate isn’t it?

Achieve a better work life balance by working from home!

Supplement your income with a little work from home!

With the onset of the recession and the tightening of purse strings, not forgetting the age old problem women face when limited work out of home options are available, the scammers are out in force.

Work From Home With Google is the perfect example of ‘if it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!

Preying on the financially, or time vulnerable – these organisations promise the world in return for a ‘small’ investment. When you come across such ‘work from home’ promises – how can you protect yourself from your fingers getting burned?

• Check out the company. This is where the internet really is your friend. If you can’t find a company or business name, then walk right away, if you can and you Google them (no pun intended) whatever your search comes up with – good or bad – will satiate your instinct.
• Ask important questions. If you have the opportunity to speak or email with a real live human being (unlikely) make sure you have all the important answers. How much will you be paid and when. Where is the contract etc etc.
• Be wary of at-home offers from overseas businesses. If businesses are registered abroad, then this COULD be a ruse in order to avoid the rules and laws of the land you are based in. again, your research should bring you to the right conclusions.
• Protect your personal information. Basic stuff, but if somebody is suggesting that they are going to put money in your bank account, you could be tempted to provide them with personal details you normally wouldn’t dream off. Only divulge such information when you are hired and have a contract. Nobody needs your social security of financial details before this.
• See the signs!. Warning beacons should be flaring if you are being alerted to a job through an unsolicited e-mail message (i.e., spam!); if the job description is vague; or learning that the position involves depositing monies into an account (theirs or yours).
• Watch out for the usual suspects. Some widespread scams ask you to: stuff envelopes; do data entry or process claims or rebates after you’ve paid money out of pocket first; do assembly work after you’ve bought supplies to make crafts; recruit others to join the business; repackage and ship items to overseas addresses; or make copies of a chain letter and send it along after you’ve paid for a mailing list and labels.
• Know where to turn if you really and truly want to work from home. There are of course , many legitimate ways to work from home. You may be able to work from home if you become a freelancer or an independent contractor in your field. It’s also possible to find a position with a legitimate company that will let you work from home.