How to Spot a Work at Home Scam?

Numerous people have become caught up in investing in every business packet and fly-by-night scams only to no avail. Business scams are very hard to prove in small claims court though, so take precaution.

Some Sound Advice

• One major clue that a business opportunity you are interested in is not valid is if you do not notice any contact data listed on any page of the website. There should at the very least be an e-mail, but it would be especially helpful if there was a working phone number that you could call.
• Another major identifier of a business scam is if you try to contact customer service for help. If they don’t answer you with a reasonable time (maybe a few days unless they auto-reply you stating that they are on vacation or out of the office).
• Lofty claims of getting rich very quickly are a common characteristic of a business scam. It’s not that it is possible to make say millions of dollars in a day or a week, but usually it requires a much higher investment.
• The references or testimonials posted on a website page advertising a business opportunity are not verifiable. This is a very common scam technique, and even legitimate businesses use this sneaky tactic to lure you in. One way to verify a testimonial is to Google the first name and location being used. It helps if there is a photo or video testimonial because at least these are more believable, but not always.
• A very common way that fraudulent business promoters fool people is by phony associations. For instance, sometimes a scam business opportunity capture page on it may have a Better Business Bureau seal copied and pasted on the bottom of it. Either that or a VeriSign or other validator may be replicated illegally. If the logo is not clickable to a specific company profile it is a fake.
• Scam business promoters often use pressure sales tactics. You know you are being pressured if you at any point feel “rushed.” For instance, you are told you can receive a larger discount if you purchase a complete business kit you know nothing about if you purchase it by a specific date.
• If you are told you can make thousands or millions of dollars with no effort on your part beware. This is one of the most common ways that con artists will lure people in. They feed on the souls of tired, hungry, and broke people who are looking for an easy way out.