Work from home scams are everywhere today and knowing how to identify and avoid them can make your job search for work at home jobs easier and more successful. Listed below are the most important factors to watch out for so you can maneuver around the wrong jobs and find the best positions available.
Red Flags
Red flags can be almost anything, but you can usually spot scams by how the jobs are posted. Jobs that are posted over and over again with eye-catching job titles are usually a big red flag. Descriptions of jobs that claim all you have to do is find information or enter something in a database or a position that does not require much experience are most likely jobs that are sending out misinformation. Most scam artists know that putting down the right keywords such as “data entry”, “typist” or “assembly” will attract the attention of remote job seekers. When candidates apply for these jobs, they are sent details that were not included in the original job description and usually require the applicant to do the same thing that made the job seeker find the job in the first place or sell something in order to get paid. Please pay attention to these critical red flags that can be seen even before you click on the job looking for additional details.
Fee-Based Jobs
Jobs requiring fees are the most obvious scams. No position should require you to pay a fee first in order to get started. While it is true that some jobs may require you to purchase a certain software or buy specific equipment, you should never be required to pay an upfront fee of any kind to start the job. Any expenses incurred by an employer when they hire you can be redeemed or deducted from your salary at a later date so there is no reason to send or exchange any money to begin
Personal Information
Many people are complaining about being asked for personal details such as your social security number or bank account number for payment. Employers do need your social security number to complete the tax forms at the end of the year but they do not need it until you start getting paid which also confirms that the job and the company are legitimate. You can send all your personal details after the first paycheck if the employer requires this information for taxes or their records. Bank and financial information is rarely required if ever so you should never provide this type of information to anyone for any reason. More and more people are falling victim to scam artists that ask for this information to “deposit” payments or for verification to only find out later that their bank accounts have been emptied or they were involved in fraudulent activity that caused them financial harm. Never give out personal details especially financial information until you are sure the person and company you are dealing with is authentic.
To avoid being scammed always remember to obtain references from old and current employees that the company has hired. Most employers will be happy to provide this information to you if they are reputable and have nothing to hide, says Marie Surles (CEO and President of HEA-Employment.com, one of the most popular online job sources for legitimate work at home job openings.)
Getting the full contact details for a job is very simple today. Job seekers can visit the company’s site or do a search for the company on a search engine to make sure they do not have any claims or complaints concerning employment. Always remain alert for scams because a lot of people are looking to make a quick buck and do not care who they hurt to get it.
Author Bio: Marie Surles is the President of HEA-Employment.com. The company was started in 1997 to provide assistance to job seekers and telecommuters who want to work remotely in their own homes by offering legitimate work-at-home job listings, professional resume services and telecommuting resources for virtual assistants.