Work at home business scams are becoming more prevalent these days because of the increased popularity of home based jobs. It is sad to see people falling into the trap to such Cons and usually these Cons are pointed at working from home moms, the elderly and also disabled people. If you are looking for a work at home career, then you must know how to determine these scams and avoid becoming a victim.
Here are some examples of some work at home business scams:
Scam #1: Envelope Stuffing
This is the classic con which many of us has come across at least once in the past. You see an advertisement or a junk mail announcing that you can gain $1-$2 for every envelope you stuff. Sounds like you can earn money easily, right?? Think again. Most of the time, you need to pay a start-up fee of somewhere $30 or more to join the envelope stuffing program. When you receive the start-up package, you realize that the instruction tells you to spread the word about this envelope stuffing business, then you will get paid. The trick is that they want you to help in earning the start-up fees by sending out the same junk mail you received in the first place. The trick is to get your start-up fee (your money!) first before you realize how this home based business scam really works.
Scam #2 : Processing Medical Bills
This home business scam requires you to pay anywhere from $300 to $900 for the tools you need to start your own medical billing service at home. They will promise you some advanced billing software as well as a list of would be clients in your neighborhood. Don’t you think that most medical institutions would process their own medical bills or outsource the processing to a legitimate company, instead of individuals with no experience or knowledge whatsoever? When the package arrives (if it ever does!), you will find that the software is not up-to-date or does not work at all and the list of customers is just plain wrong. Chances are you will never be able to get a refund..
Scam #3 : Craft Assembly
In this home based business scam, you are told you will be given an extremely huge amount of money for every toy, doll, jewelry or other craft item you assemble at home. In order to start, first you are required to pay a start up fee to receive a starter pack which includes instructions and parts. When you are done assembling the product, you are told by the company that they do not meet their specifications therefore you will not get paid for it. Actually you will never be able to reach their expectations because the scam gets money by selling the starter packs. At the end of the day, you are left with a bunch of unwanted products cluttering up your home.
Scam #4 : Data Entry
There are numerous advertisements and postings for data entry opportunities on the Internet and even on online employment sites. All you need to do is just pay $10 to purchase a training package and they would send you all the training materials. You should also see that the job scope is normally very blurry and no prior experience is required. The “job description” is usually that you will need to mail out advertisements and brochures similar to the one you received to other unsuspecting victims. Once they pay up the $10, then you will get half of the money and the person who recruited you will receive half as well.
Scam #5 : Email Processing
This scam is actually similar to the classic envelope stuffing scam stated above. Typically you will be required to pay an upfront fee of about let’s say $49.95 to receive an instruction manual and an email distribution list. The instructions will inform you how to process the emails and you will supposedly get about $25 for each email processed! Seems like the ideal work at home opportunity, doesn’t it?? Wrong! The instructions they send you are actually on how to spam other people’s emails with the same advertisement which motivated you to pay $49.95 in the first place. Then when another unsuspecting person (like yourself) takes the bait and pays $49.95, the spam company will (maybe) pay you your $25.
Ask yourself, is that the kind of work at home job you want to invest your precious time doing? Is it ethical? Is it legal? You are actually associating yourself with a con if you join such work at Home business scams, which disguise themselves as genuine opportunities. One thing working from home moms should know is that there is no shortcut to success. Yes, sometimes with luck you can get there speedier than others but most of the time, it takes lots of effort and then some.
Stella Parks
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/home-business-scam-watch-out-for-these-latest-scams-532052.html
Has anyone had an alarm sales person come to their door lately? It may be a scam…Read on.?
There is some people going around saying their from Honeywell and they’re selling alarm systems. I’ve heard that some people have been burgalarized almost right after this phony sales person comes to their homes. One of my dads friends was burgalarized last night. He had the phony sales person come up to his door yesterday, and he was burgalarized last night.
I’d watch for a beat up late model van with a trailer.
People wearing light blue polo shirts.
They don’t have business cards, or any identification. I’d watch for these people.
Lock your back doors and windows becasue that’s how they get in. Of course lock your entire house.
If you live near the airport and you just had new windows installed by the FAA look out. These phonys are looking specifically into these homes.
That’s how my parents house was almost hit. When he came up to the door he said "since you have new windows, you should consider new alarm systems"
Watch out.
I had someone come to my house about alarms. I told them well im good, I said"I have an alarm system, rottweilers, and a Marine Marksman" of course i was in my cami pants I have a flag in front of my place I told the guy i f’n believe in the double tap method he says what ? I said u shoot someone 2 times center mass. God I love Texas. They couldnt get out of there fast enough. I heard of a few people that do that i know someone they said they have a digital camera when they answer the door they take their picture and tell them its for protection and start askin them for ID and all this stuff people leave him alone too I bet. Good luck
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They just had a special on NBC local news about this problem in the Stone Oak area.
I live near the airport and there are always people coming by to sell something or another. I need to get one of those signs that say: No soliciting.
I do have a security system, with a sign in the yard and all the windows in addition to two cameras in the front as well as a camera in the back and a camera just inside the house should they actually get into the house. It is monitored by me and if I call the security company, they have access as well to go back and see what happened. It costs about as much as any other good insurance, but it really helps your peace of mind.
So far, since I have installed cameras, I don’t have the problems of the soliciting. I also installed an iron gate leading to my home with a padlock. And, I have three very protective dogs in my backyard. And, as the marine said, you make sure they are aware that you are not afraid to shoot if necessary. In Texas, you shoot someone who breaks and enters in your home and it’s self defense. But there are a lot of nuts out there looking for drug money and what not.
I am not paranoid, but both my parents and I have had homes broken into, plus I had a car vandalized as have several neighbors in my area before I put up my cameras. (I hit quite a range including several neighbors homes with my cameras).
I recall as a teen that I was supposed to be at home when we had our home burgarlarized, but at the last minute I spent the night at a friends’ as her parents didn’t feel comfortable my being at home alone. Since I have teens of my own at home, and I don’t want to be a prisoner to my home, I take security very seriously.
You can never be 100% secure even if someone is always home at one time or another, but you can be as safe as you can and deter those bad guys.
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A while back my mom had some guy watch her from the street for ten minutes and then follow her up to the door and try to sell her an alarm system.
The easiest thing to do if a solicitor comes to your door is tell them you already have one. If they want to come in just say you are getting ready to take a shower and if they leave their card by the door you’ll call them later. It gets them off your door.
As far as letting them in – you’d be nuts in today’s day & age.
If you happen to really be interested in a security system – call the company yourself. Even more importantly – ALWAYS ASK for ID from a company rep you don’t have an appointment with. They’ll happily stay outside while you verify them (heck they get paid to stand there!)
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Wow, thanks for the info. Before this scam started there was this one where people would go around neighborhoods and were trying to "test for hard water". Lots of thiefs used this excuse to gain entry into your house, scope it out and clean you dry. Thanks for the warning.
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