So far the economy is still pretty iffy so it’s no wonder that people are heavy on the hunt for money making opportunities. As you can imagine, the search for work-at-home opportunities has increased too. Of course that means you’ll need to be careful of work-at-home scams looking to take advantage of people just looking for a way to make an honest income.
If you’re determined to find a work-at-home job, you’ll need to protect yourself from online predators:
Do Your Research
Google the person or company to see what type of information is available. Look for complaints as well as signs that the person or company is legitimate. Type the company name with words like “scams” or “complaints” as well. Check the Better Business Bureau as well.
Protect Your Personal Information
Most jobs ask for an applicant’s full name, address, social security, date of birth, bank account info for dirt deposit, etc., but when you’re dealing with offers online you have to be extra careful.
Know Which Jobs to Skip
Remember the infamous envelope stuffing opportunity? How about payment processing jobs? When you see opportunities like these listed on Craig’s List and other sites, just skip them. Avoid jobs that ask YOU for money to get started.
There ARE legitimate work-at-home opportunities available, but you have to be careful because responding to the wrong offer can put you at risk for financial loss or identity theft. Check out Fraud.org for even more tips on protecting yourself from work-at-home scams.

photo credit: Henrique Vicente