Scams - How Can I Tell Which Jobs Are For Real?
Article submitted by http://www.Allfreelancework.com - 1000s of
freelance jobs
The internet and newspapers are filled with scams. In fact,
sometimes it is hard for me to even market AllFreelance.com -
because many people see "Work at Home" and they instantly think
that I am trying to sell them a "scam job". This article will
outline how to tell which jobs are scams before you invest your
time and heart into any venture.
Have you ever seen something like this in the classified ads
section?
$5000/$6000 A Week From Home Work from home, work part-time or
Full-time. Your Choice. No Experience Necessary. SASE to PO Box
1455, etc.
It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Lets face it, who
makes this much money in one week other than doctors and
lawyers? If it sounds too good to be true, than it IS! Another
thing that you might take notice of with the above job listing
is "SASE to PO Box 1455". The reason the job poster wants you to
send an envelope is because he is going to probably send to you
more information about the job, mainly an order form so you can
buy the supplies to begin working. NEVER send money to anyone
offering you a job. Another rule of thumb is to never apply for
a job that you have to send a self-addressed envelope without
mention of having to send your resume too.
Here are a few examples of Scam Jobs:
1. Envelope Stuffing - The envelope stuffing scam has been
around for as long as I can remember. The way this job works is
that the job seeker will see an ad in the newspaper for
something like this: "Make 100s of Dollars Stuffing Envelopes
from Your Home". This person will send a self-addressed envelope
with $5 - $30 to the individual who posted the job. In return
the job poster will send to the job seeker information on how
he/she can also post these ads and make money. It is all a big
scam, there wasn't ever any "actual" envelope stuffing position
open. The individual who started this envelope stuffing scam in
the first place gets about 95% of whatever profits are made from
this "ad posting". This "scammer" might even refuse to pay you
any money at all because you didn't adhere to strict guidelines
(even if you did).
2. Assembly of Crafts - In this scam, you will need to purchase
hundreds of dollars in supplies in order to start your craft
business. You will need to spend countless hours assembling
crafts by hands. In most cases you will not get paid for what
you have submitted. In many instances, craftworkers will receive
back a letter saying that the crafts didn't meet their quality
standards. In fact these fraudulent craft operators never
intended to pay the money. All that was intended was to sell to
you the machinery for your home craft business.
3. MLM / Pyramid Schemes - (doesn't apply to mlms that acutally
sell a product like Quixtar and Agway) MLM and Pyramid schemes
are like chain letters. Chain letters are letters that you send
out to a set number of people. These people are supposed to also
send the letter out to a set number of people, so on, and so on.
Pyramid schemes are based on chain letters. This is how they
work. You pay to get into a pyramid / mlm scheme. You are then
in someone's downline. this means all of the money that you make
adds into this person's profits, as well as your own. The way
that you make money is to build your downline by recruiting
others into the scheme. These people need to do the same, and so
on and so on. The problem is that you sell "nothing", you sell
"commissions" only. This is illegal. Plus profits that are
claimed to add up from this is not true.
4. Medical Business Opportunities - In the classified ads you
may see a job listing for Medical Claims / Billing Processing.
The marketing materials say that you can earn substantial
incomes working either part-time or full-time from your own
home. They also claim that you don't need to find clients, their
salespeople will do the selling for you. This is rarely true.
The price for the software, training and technical support
usually goes up to $8000. The FTC claims that the references
that are given on start of this business opportunities are
"shills" - individuals hired to give great references. So be
careful.
"The Federal Trade Commission suggests that consumers follow the
following steps before buying into any business opportunity:
Get all earnings claims in writing.
Interview references provided by the promoter of the business
opportunity.
Study the business opportunity's franchise disclosure document.
Ask the Attorney General's office, state or county consumer
protection agency and Better Business Bureau in the area in
which the business opportunity promoter is based and where you
live whether the promoter has a history of unresolved
complaints.
If the business opportunity involves selling products from
well-known companies, call the legal department of the company
whose merchandise is being promoted. Find out whether the
business opportunity and its promoter are affiliated with the
company.
Consult an attorney, accountant or other business advisor before
you put any money down or sign any papers. " (FTC)
If you have already been entrapped in a scheme and you want to
complain to higher authorities, complain to your state's
attorney general, local Better Business Bureau, local post
office, or a local consumer protection offices. Scams are
illegal. You can do your part to save others from being scammed
by these scammers.
The most important precautionary measure is -
1.DON'T MAIL MONEY TO ANY EMPLOYER - IT IS MOST LIKELY A SCAM.
2. DON'T SEND A SASE ENVELOPE UNLESS SENDING A RESUME AND
PORTFOLIO
Article submitted by http://www.Allfreelancework.com - 1000s of
freelance jobs