Guidelines for Avoiding Work-at-Home Scams:

• Anything that sounds too good to be true always is!  Don't go against your own judgement!
• Legitimate employers do not ask for money up front.  Never pay a fee for mystery shopper employment, taste tester jobs, or to participate in market research.  These third-party companies are charging you a fee for compiling a list of legitimate employers.  There is no need to pay a third-party...do your own homework!  Need a little help?  No worries, I've compiled a free guide to market research and mystery shopper employment to make things simple for you!  Be sure to go to my Market Research  and Mystery Shopper sections for the details.
• The internet is chock full of work at home scams.  Be wary of so-called "opportunities" for envelope stuffers and product assemblers.  The offers may seem appealing, but most likely the promoters aren't offering real jobs.  They ask you for money up front and then the information they provide you with is how to place your own ad in a paper or magazine just like the one you answered.
• Before taking an at-home position... do your homework!  Find out all about the company owner or President and research the company with the Better Business Bureau.
• If a position offers enormous pay, says no experience is necessary, and gives you no job description...let me ask you this, do you know of any legitimate employers who do this?  Don't waste your time!
• Beware of pyramid schemes.  Be skeptical of sales positions that focus more on recruiting new members than on selling a product or service.

Written by:  Nanci Sparrow