3 Keys to Avoiding Work-from-Home Scams

The internet is rife with scammers preying on the elderly, stay-at-home moms, the unemployed, and... well, pretty much anyone!

We've heard a lot of stories from students who've dealt with work-at-home scams. If you don't see 'em coming, they can really burn you! There are so many work-from-home scams -- and scammers -- that it's downright hard to see the good stuff hiding in the gigantic sea of garbage.

Here are the ones that really get under my skin:

• "Email processing" -- it puts a new spin on envelope stuffing. You pay $25 to learn how to post the same ad you responded to and get other people to pay you $25. It's ridiculous. When I see this posted by someone I know, I always jump to the comments immediately to let them know what a crock it is. Call me crazy, but I'm just being a good friend.
• "Home typing" -- another "selling nothing" scam. You pay money and receive a disk and a set of instructions telling you to create similar ads to get people to pay you for the same instructions!!
• “Just Call This 1-900 Number For More Information…” -- this one is the worst! There is no real opportunity. The 1-900 numbers make their money by getting you -- and keeping you -- on the phone!

So other than the obviousness of the above three known work-from-home scams, how can you know something's a scam? How can you separate the facts from the crap? Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Key #1: Make sure they don't make lofty promises.

It’s often a sure sign of a scam when a program guarantees you’ll make money by purchasing their program. With my program, while I do guarantee you’ll have all the tools, resources, practice, and support you’ll need to work as a transcriptionist, I will never, ever put a blanket guarantee you’ll earn money simply by taking the course. That's the key. Taking a course -- any course, for that matter -- will never automagically turn you into an overnight money-making success. I'm not a wizard. Building a career working from home is bona fide hard work, and anyone promising you the opposite of that is probably trying to get your money in the slickest way possible. Stay away.

Key #2: Look for a real person, then make contact with them.

If you're considering a work-from-home program or opportunity of any sort, whether it's an eBook, a course, or even some kind of franchise, make sure you get to know the person behind the product. Before purchasing, always send an email or make a call (if possible) to the person in charge. I actually ask people to email me in our free mini-course, and I get tons of emails each day from people who are just floored by this. But to me, it's part of the job (my favorite part, actually!). My door is open, and anyone trying to sell you something as pivotal as an online course should always be available to help. If you don't get an answer, there is the possibility your email went to Spam. Look the person up on Facebook, find them on LinkedIn, whatever you need to do, but get in touch with them. They should make contacting them very easy, too -- if it's hard or impossible to find a contact form, that's not a good sign. If you email several times with no response, that's likewise not a good sign of a professional person behind the snazzy website.

Key #3: Read the warnings -- and there should be honest warnings.

Working at home isn't for everyone. It's hard work. If you're on a site that tells you working from home is the ticket to everlasting life or freedom, get off that site! Scammers prey on people by painting their product to be the perfect picture of the easy way out; they want you to believe it's the magic pill. On the other hand, if you find a site that's up front with what they offer, includes actual warnings and "disqualifiers" (i.e. "You know you're not a good fit for this if..." or "You actually have to work to be successful" statements), and clearly isn't trying to hide anything, you've likely landed on something worthwhile. Verify you aren't being promised the moon (Key #1), and check to see if your emails will get answered (Key #2) -- then move forward if you feel good about it. 

Tying It All Together

Internet scams are everywhere, but there are worthwhile opportunities, too. Knowing what to look for to determine whether something is a scam is critical to avoiding heartbreak and wasted cash -- and it's super helpful in identifying legitimate work-at-home information as well.

Your Turn!

Have you been conned out of money by a work-at-home scammer? Do you have additional tips on avoiding work-from-home scams? Share in the comments below!

Looking for legitimate, all-inclusive training for general transcription?

Transcribe Anywhere has it. But don't enroll in the full program just yet -- take our free mini-course first. That will help us get to know each other a little better, and it'll help you ensure you're making the right decision.