Working from home is a convenient way to bring in extra income. However, there are many scams out there.
Scammers advertise for work at home positions in an attempt to acquire personal information such as social security numbers and bank account numbers. Then they end up using this information to steal the person’s identity resulting in a very unpleasant situation for the candidate.
However, if you know what to look out for, you can easily avoid these work at home scams. Here are some things to be aware of.
Email Addresses
Most legitimate companies will provide an email address that has their company name in it. If their email address is linked to a Gmail or Yahoo account, this could be a red flag.
Interview Process
Today, many people are taking the interview process online. Video conferencing is a popular way to conduct an interview.
However, if the person you are interviewing for is hiring you through online chat or another method where you can’t speak to them face to face, you may want to run in the other direction!
Look at the Job Description
Sometimes the job description can be a dead giveaway. Look out for jobs that seem too good to be true. For instance, if they are offering high compensation for work that does not require a high skill set, take this as a warning sign.
Ads that don’t include a lot of information regarding what workers will be doing, benefits and other details are also suspect.
Research the Company
Thanks to the internet, you can research most companies in advance to find out if they are legit. If you are having trouble finding a web site or social media page for the company you are applying to, they may not be a ‘real company’.
Of course, if the company name is not included in the ad at all, it may not even be worth a second glance.
Ask the Right Questions
If you are asked to interview for a job, whether in person or via video conference, and you are still having a funny feeling that the company may not be legit, there are a few key questions you can ask that will help you get to the bottom of things.
Asking about details of the job is a good way to start. Some other telling questions could be: What are the company’s revenue streams? Or Where is the home office or corporate headquarters located? Scammers will be unable to answer these questions or will hesitate significantly when trying to come up with an answer.
On the other hand, if you ask a legit company these questions, not only will you get a solid answer, you’ll get brownie points for showing an interest.
Never Shell Out Money or Personal Info
Occasionally a company will charge you a fee to cover a background check, but other than that, legitimate companies should never ask you for money for your training or anything else. If a company is asking you for money, it may be a scam.
In any case, you should never shell out any money to a company or give them any personal information such as your social security or bank account number unless you are 100% sure they are above board.
Working at home is a great way to earn income and it eliminates the time and cost associated with commuting. However, there are a lot of scammers out there waiting to prey on victims who are desperate for work. Don’t be one of these victims. Look out for red flags so you can find the opportunities that are right for you!
