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Scams
- how can I tell which jobs are not for real?
by Rachel Goldstein owner of 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 Amway)
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
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- 1000s of freelance jobs, articles, and resources.
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