If you are unhappy with your current job, or are no longer able to make the commute to and from work, you may want to consider trying to work from home. While very few people are able to work from home, there are now possibilities out there for the average person. With email, web cameras, online meetings and a wide array of jobs that are done completely on a computer, there are more options than ever if a person wishes to work from home. Yet there are also some things to be wary of, and while these scams exist, there are also good opportunities to be found with a little effort.

1. CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES

If you have enough gusto and creativity, you could do just about anything from home. Are you looking to start your own business or perform in a system someone else has developed? Do you want to work from a computer or something more hands-on? What tools and resources do you have at home? Do you have any skills or are you willing to learn skills to enable you to stay at home, such as carpentry or massage therapy? The big question is what kinds of opportunities exist out in the world that you can take advantage of?

You most likely need something to start bringing in money immediately, which means you are going to have to be working for someone else via phone, Internet, or mail. This is where it can get tricky. There are many work at home scams on the Internet today, especially when you examine things like multi-level marketing businesses, false envelope stuffing opportunities, pyramid schemes and just regular fraudulent businesses. While you have to be careful about finding something that isn't going to end up costing you money, or being illegal, you can still find a job where you can work at home if you know what to look for and understand work at home systems.

2. WORK AT HOME SYSTEMS

Before computers there were envelope stuffing businesses, at-home-assembly systems and of course multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes own your own business. Some people have made a lot of money with these systems; otherwise they never would have taken off. They are also systems which can very easily turn into scams where you invest money and get no return whatsoever. Has anyone heard of Herbalife, Amway, Quixstar or Mangosteen?

Some people have made good livings with these seemingly tried and true businesses, but so many have failed, leaving them with tons of useless products and debt.

To read more about the fake businesses online, check out these fine articles:

Work-at-Home Scams

Work at Home Scams - Disapproved Programs!

Scams 101 Index

Better Business Bureau

There are legitimate businesses out there, however, and these businesses want you and your computer to work for them because they understand that due to high-speed Internet connections and social demands, there is a population of people who either have to stay home to care for a family, or simply want to work from home and can accomplish what their company needs without going to some centralized office building.

You can find data entry of many kinds, including legal or medical clerical work, independent contracting, word processing, accounting, invoicing, auditing, graphic design for business cards or brochures, advertising, market research, writing press releases, copywriting, editing, proofreading, web content, resumes, writing speeches or if you are multi-lingual, translation. Any computer savvy readers could land at-home information technology jobs such as database development, system administration, technical support, application development, security, web design, search engine optimization, or programming.

Some legitimate sources can be found online at sites like:

DemandStudios.com

Monster.com

work-at-home.org

sologig.com

Finding the specifics is up to you, but sites like worldwideworkathome.com and other work-at-home mega sites might help to become more acquainted with the modern work-at-home job market. As we said before, this is a very risky market where you must be very careful with whom you trust, so here are some tips to prevent getting scammed by an immoral company.

3. DON'T JUMP INTO ANYTHING

Before you agree to anything, get all the details about what your money is getting you before you drop a dime. Many of these scams try to sell you a 'proven' system, which means you give them money and they send you a booklet on how to start taking other peoples' money the way they just took yours. Furthermore, know how to get your money back if you aren't satisfied. Though most good work at home opportunities shouldn't charge you any money at all, or should have a refund policy for any supplies you buy on your own.

Listen to their sales technique.

Are they selling you a useful product you think you can sell to someone else, or are they trying to sell you the hype about how much money you can make? The more they try to appeal to your greed, the less likely they are legitimate. If they are pressuring you to make a decision right away, that is another sign that they are trying to scam you.

Research the market the company is claiming as a niche.

They may try to convince you that your area is in desperate need for a certain service that you have the opportunity to monopolize. Be ready to ask for specific questions about this market, including prospective customers and demand.

Talk to current employees.

Get a hold of some people working with the system and ask them about the company and how well the system runs. Make sure to talk to more than one person, and that they don't all say the same things. Also, don't trust emails, just get phone numbers and speak to people in person.

Check any legal requirements for the position.

You can't just go out and start selling insurance to people on your own; you must have a license. The position that is too good to be true might need legal certification that is a lengthy and painstaking process. There are also scams out there trying to get you to set up false bank accounts for money laundering. Any email trying to get you to set up a new bank account or talking about transferring money overseas should be reported.

Despite how many scammers there are out there, there are also organizations trying to nab them. Do your research and call the NFIC hotline at 1-800-876-7060 if you find anything that looks fishy. You can also contact your local State Attorney General or the local Better Business Bureau if you find a company that is running a scam.

4. COVER ALL YOUR BASES

After you've finished researching and you have finally found something you want to do, there are still other factors you should consider. Some companies offer lots of benefits including health insurance, tuition reimbursement, retirement funds and more. Your lifestyle is your choice and working from home takes a lot of responsibility out of the hands of the employer and gives it to you.

Resources

World Wide Work at Home

NFIC Hotline 1-800-876-7060

fraud.org/tips/internet/workathome.htm

wahor.org

www.friendsinbusiness.com/scams/catalog.shtml