How to Spot an Internet Job Scam
The Web now makes it possible for people to work from the comfort of their own homes. The virtual work industry is booming and new work-at-home opportunities develop all the time. However, unscrupulous people see the boom in Web-based work as an opportunity to make a quick buck by defrauding honest, job-seeking people.
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Instructions
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Read for details. Legitimate companies include all pertinent information in online ads, including a full job description, application details, company contact information and possibly the position's salary. Scam artists usually include few details or make wild claims about the moneymaking potential of the job.
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Research before applying. It is likely that other people fell victim to the Internet job scam, so a Web search of the company name and the word "scam" will bring up any online posts about previous scam victims. It is also possible to find out that the job is not a scam after all.
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Check out scam lists. The Better Business Bureau and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission keep records on various scams reported to them to help prevent other people from falling victim to con artists.
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Ask the company for references from past employees. A legitimate company will likely offer the names and contact information of past employees. Stop contact with a company if requests for references are refused.
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Use common sense. As of publication date, the country's economic hardship means that many people are out of work and scam artists are preying on those desperate for money. No legitimate job offer promises of money without real work. Companies that ask people to wire money or pay a fee up front, offer jobs through email, or promise huge pay for little work are scams.
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Tips & Warnings
Never give out financial information or your social security number while applying for a Web job. It is illegal to ask for that information and legitimate companies will only ask for your personal details for payment and tax purposes after you are employed.
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