Search for a job that you can do from your computer at home and you'll find thousands and thousands of listings online, ranging from stuffing envelopes to mystery shopping and product sales. Unfortunately, most of the supposed jobs are moneymakers for the entrepreneurs and conglomerates that own the websites. Most charge a range of fees for information and instructions. According to the Federal Trade Commission however, you should never pay someone to go to work; legitimate companies pay your for work, not the other way around.
Step 1
Verify the veracity of the claims by first making sure there is sufficient contact information about the company, including phone numbers and a street address available. Send an inquiry to the company with your concerns or questions and wait for a reply before signing up for the job.
Step 2
Read all the fine print on the website before signing up. According to OnGuard Online, legitimate employers should tell you upfront how much you will make, when you can expect to paid and in what form the payment will come.
Step 3
Make a list of the skills or services that you could provide through the Internet and look for companies that may require your services. According to the Consumers Guide to Making Money Online, there are a number of services you can sell online including product sales, your writing skills and consulting services. You reduce the risk of being scammed by making the first contact to a potential employer.
Step 4
Use legitimate job search engines to find online work. According to the Better Business Bureau, those who advertise with the Public Employment Service are bona fide employers looking to hire. Access to the various jobs available, including online positions, is safe through the U.S. Department of Labor.
Step 5
Search for consumers and workers who may be using a certain company for legitimate jobs or who have been scammed by Internet job schemes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can look for others who've had experience with a specific company by going to a search engine and typing in the name of the company followed by the word "complaints."
Tips and Warnings
- Check out the business with the Better Business Bureau or your state's attorney general office if you have any doubts about the company's legitimacy.
- Check your credit report if you've provided personal information to a website that you thought could give you with work and you haven't heard back from them. Job scam sites can use your personal information, such as bank routing numbers and Social Security numbers, to rob you.
Things You'll Need
- Contact information
- Contract
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