Work-at-Home SCAMs...and how to avoid them!

Summary of Category:

Everyone thinks it would be great to work at home! Especially if there are needs that may keep you there; retirement, care-giving, etc. But these are just another way people will attempt to separate us from our money. The same warnings apply when we receive these offers; if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is!

The first red flag should be the need to send money to get materials, instructions or just detailed more information. No legitimate business will require “up-front” money just to further explain their business. When you work for some one, they pay you, not the other way round.

Beware of “testimonials” of other “successful” owners or stories of fabulous earnings with little work. Just ask a few simple questions:

1. If this business is so successful, why are they using ‘blind’ mailings?
2. Is there any way to actually speak to or meet any of the current users of the plan?
3. Have you ever heard of the company?
4. Have you ever heard of the type of “business” mentioned? Does the mailing even mention the exact type of work you’ll be doing?
5. Have you ever heard of anyone who has bought into the offering?

A second red flag will be the lack of details about the business. Instead, there will be vague references. The message will probably concentrate on how much money you can make, how little time and effort will be required and how fast you can start the money rolling in.

Here are a few “opportunities” I’ve seen and some details I’ve discovered:

OK! Enough negativity! How about something you might actually do and earn money at it?.

Urban Gardening is a popular trend but it doesn’t have to be only in an ‘urban’ setting. Here’s a link to some info that could be started as a ‘work-at-home’ project and lead to a wonderful new career. It all depends on you!

• Urban Farming Becomes Serious Business
• Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a very detailed business plan

The only factual and correct information from T. J. Rohleder is an explanation of what the term Beta testing means. Unfortunately, it has no application for the “get-rich-quick” scheme he is offering

Nor should you be fooled by the “book” included in the mailing. 20 pages does not a book make. In fact, if you read his “Letter of Notification” you will have already read the “book.” The “book” reminds me of a seventh grader attempting to fool a teacher by double-spacing the lines and using a large font size to inflate the number of pages delivered! Except this attempt is also trying to entice you to spend money on absolutely useless items. And you won’t actually even own the items after paying for them!

It is strange to see this called a “home-business” until you realize that it is actually a multi-level marketing scheme that you can run out of your home. Plus, the people you get to join will actually be working in some ones home (unless they, too, decide to use their ability to simply sell this “opportunity” to even more people).

Of course, like all MLM schemes, they depend on an infinite number of people selling “positions” to an infinite number of people who sell to and infinite number of people who sell... Oops, we somehow ran out of buyers!!

Dry-Tech seems to be one of the most persistent marketers around. Once you get on their mailing list, expect to get something from them about every six months. Often exactly the same mailing you got last time. But it makes no difference, there’s nothing new in their offerings. It is always the same carpet cleaning service. They don’t seem to realize this kind of service is already offered by several people in most areas of the country.

Taking advantage of all the news about foreclosures and housing problems, this scheme wants you to find specific houses in your area. This plan is one of the more expensive I’ve come across. The large post card mailing never mentions that fee, of course. You are provided a link to a web site, however, that will show that cost, if you scroll far enough down the page...

Be advised that using the link will automatically record the fact that you have visited (part of the link actually includes your name) and there will be information stored on your computer in a file that can be read by the company. You will also be asked for an email address which is valuable for selling to other marketers, naturally. Should you decide to visit their site, I suggest you enter a generic first and last name and not your actual email address.

“$5.20 for every inquiry envelope you process.”

Sound too good to be true? Of course it is! Mail Marketing has been automated and mechanized for decades. It isn’t done by hand, period.

The only people making money with this scheme are the owners of “National Homeworkers Association.” Just Google their name and see how they are rated by the Better Business Bureau.

If you read the text on the card, you“learn absolutely nothing about what is involved with this SCAM. That“s a common theme in many SCAMs; don“t provide any information without getting more information from the recipient (you)! At least get the recipient to call or reply and better yet, get some money immediately, if possible!