Which Stuff-Envelopes-at-Home Jobs are Legitimate?

Envelope stuffing is an old work-at-home opportunity with a normal posting promising a nice sum for simple manual labor. However, the Federal Trade Commission warns against these jobs, stating they're nothing but a front for fraud. For those who believe in the existence of legitimate envelope stuffing work, there are precautions to take before working with a particular firm.

Features

The usual envelope stuffing scam progresses in a fashion that is familiar to scambusters and federal agents alike. A company places an ad looking for stuffers. According to the FTC, the ad copy may read like this: "$550 to $3,000 weekly. Ten dollars for each circular you mail...Free Postage...Free Circulars...No Newspaper Ads...No Magazine Ads...No Bulletin Board Ads! Paychecks mailed to you every week! Advance paycheck forms included in your package!!" After inquiring about the post, the job hunter is then told to place the ad in more local newspapers with his own funds; the victim only recovers money if people answer the ad, which is highly unlikely. There is never any actual envelope stuffing.

Identifying Good Jobs From Bad

There is practically no chance that these schemes result in legitimate work. As Brett Krkosska of Home Biz Tools writes, "The problem with envelope stuffing offers is that these folks often make you think they are offering a job, when in fact they are not." These places seldom have the markers of true employers-phone numbers, address or any sort of employee taxation setup. If these things are absent, the job opportunity is worthless. Envelope stuffing jobs almost universally lack these attributes.

Other Markers of Legitimacy

If you're still interested in envelope stuffing for profit, heed the warnings of the FTC. Ask who is paying salaries, and when to expect payment. Get specifics on the compensation: Is it commission-based, hourly or salary? Finally, ask about associated costs, fees and other charges. Another step to take is to check records with the Consumer Protection Agency and Better Business Bureau. These steps will clarify a company's worthiness and help you make an educated decision.

Considerations

The old saying goes, "If something is too good to be true, it probably is." Envelope stuffing is no different. Don't let the illusion of easy profit make you spend valuable cash. Think about the fact that it costs pennies to pay a print shop to coordinate a mailing; most companies simply wouldn't pay home contractors for such a task. Even guaranteed offers are usually bogus with a threshold of 50 to 250 stuffed envelopes before any sort of cash gets returned.

Expert Insight

Scam information clearinghouse Spam Laws says, "The money you do end up making, if any, is not easy or quick like the scammers promised. It's a waste of your time and effort." The FTC actively chases and closes down these scam businesses, with 77 successful cases in 17 states. For the most part, the envelope-stuffing business is a waste of time, with no realistic or doable work.

References

• Home Biz Tools: Stuffing Envelopes
• FTC: Take This Scheme and Shove It
• Spam Laws: Envelope Stuffing Scam