Working at home can be great for moms or dads that want to be closer to their families while still making a living, however many virtual job seekers run into work-at-home scams and fraudulent schemes. The warning signs below are the most important to look for.
Upfront Fees
Employers are the ones hiring the applicant. The applicant is not looking to make a purchase and therefore should not have to pay any fees to start the job. Employers will let you know if you need to get any software or equipment for the job. Certain jobs require special software and equipment that most job seekers don’t already have on hand. Since most workers work on-site, most software and equipment comes with the job. Remember you should not have pay someone to get a job.
Request for Social Security Number
You should never give out your social security number unless it is to complete a W-2 Tax form for the company. Social security numbers are necessary to begin work. If you do decide to give the company this information, I would suggest checking with the BBB (www.bbb.org) about the employer to make sure they are reputable. Check and see how long they have been in business and how many employees currently work for them.
Request for Bank Account Information
Your bank account details are not required to receive payment for a job. There are many different methods companies can use to pay their employees now such as PayPal (www.paypal.com) or via mail by check or money order so providing bank account details are unnecessary. Do not give out any bank account details for any reason whatsoever. A lot of people are scammed this way and lose a lot of money.
Remember the signs above and be very very careful when applying for work-at-home jobs. It can be a mine field out these with disreputable people everywhere looking to take advantage of innocent people.