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7 Signs that a Work from Home Job is a Scam

avoiding work at home scams

Tips on How to Avoid Work at Home JOB Scams

A Work at Home Job is Different Than a Work at Home Business or Opportunity

Knowing the Difference Will Help You From Being Scammed

They are plastered all over the internet.  Infomercials invite you to join them.  You might get dozens of emails each day boasting their benefits.  Work from home jobs are a dime a dozen these days, but only a few of them are legitimate opportunities that offer real financial benefits.  So how can you tell which jobs are worth trying and which are best left alone?  Here at MoneyMakingMommy.com I want to do whatever I can to help you avoid falling for a scam when you’re desperately looking for a job online. Look for these 7 signs that a work from home job is a scam and you will always know when it’s better to walk away.

1.    The work at home “employers” don’t ask for a resume.

How many real world jobs invite applicants to simply email or call to join?  None!  In fact, with unemployment at an all-time high, most employers simply give a P.O. box or fax number where you can send a resume to apply.  If landing a job is as simple as filling out a five line form online, the job is a scam and you should walk away.

2.    The work at home employers don’t require any previous experience or relevant skills.

To be successful in any job setting, you need the experience or at least some predefined skills.  If you are never asked questions in regards to your education, experience, or work history, the job is probably a scam.  Real employers are looking for top notch employees and will use this information to find the best applicants out of the bunch.

3.    The work at home employers use the terms “telecommute” and “no experience necessary” together.

If you are going to telecommute for a job, you will need the experience to get it done without constant supervision.  An entry level job requires training, which is difficult to get when you are working virtually.

4.    The work at home employers give no specifics about the position.

When a supposed employer invites you to apply to make money from home, but never tells you what you will be doing to make the money, it is always a scam.  Legitimate jobs always tell applicants up front what the position will be, the skills that are required, and other important details.

5.    The work at home employers promise a big salary right off the bat.

When you browse the classified section in a newspaper and look at local job opportunities, how often do you see salary listed?  Very rarely!  This is proof that legitimate jobs rarely advertise big salaries up front when recruiting a very generalized group of people.  Legitimate telecommuting jobs generally determine salary based on experience or they discuss details of pay once you have been accepted for the position.

6.    The work at home employers ask for money.

How many job interviews have you paid for?  If you are looking in the right places, the answer will be none!  Unfortunately, many work from home scams ask people to pay money in exchange for a list of employers or a kit which gives information that can land you a “guaranteed” work from home job.  This is a scam!

7.    They advertise the job as “work from home”.

Most legitimate work from home jobs will use words like “telecommute” or “virtual” to describe the operations setup.  When you are weeding out scams, avoid ads that use the phrase “work from home” and look for specific jobs such as “technical writer” or “virtual assistant”.

If you use these 7 signs of work from home scams to guide you in your search, you can find jobs that offer a real opportunity to make money at home.  It’s important to remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”  Use a dose of common sense and take some time to look at job opportunities with objectivity and your scrutiny will pay off in big rewards in the long run.

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    • Tagged as: 7 signs of a scam

    • KatelynS411

      I have also found many opportunities where they do not ask for a resume or experience, but they do usually tell you what the job actually is. Dollars4diapers is right that these positions don’t usually pay much, but every little bit helps!

      • http://www.moneymakingmommy.com Money Making Mommy

        I used to just ignore small paying programs or jobs. But after a while, I thought… well, just add all these money making ways/ideas together and see what happens. Thank God I came to that realization because now it rivals my former income at the radio station I worked for – no joke. They paid me $21,000 a year. That’s it. And I had years of experience and a 4 year degree in Radio-TV-Film. I loved the job, the owners – but honestly?? I was doing the entire morning show ON MY OWN. I was getting my own show prep, pulling my own music. After daycare expenses and driving all the way to Biltmore Forest from where I live – I was netting $100 a week! OH – and they offered NO benefits or insurance. Everyone thinks being on the air in radio is so awesome and glamorous. Nope. Especially now. You’re a glorified button pusher. You’re told what to say, what to play. There are some…. very few – that garner a REAL career in radio. But the average joe doing that gig…. it’s not fun and it pays horrible.
        I’d rather be at home making money on my own terms!

    • Buttery

      I see the number 4 trick used all the time. It is both frustrating and enticing to read about a job that sounds really good…except you don’t know what the actual job is. It can be very tempting to believe they are telling the job details for a good reason. But experience has shown me that those jobs are never worth pursuing. 

    • dollars4diapers

      There are plenty of jobs where you can work at home and don’t have to have a resume.  They’re just not contracted positions or careers that will really bring home the bacon.