==== ==== For the best related tips and more specific news try the best related websites: http://bit.ly/IjjeYb ==== ====
Too frequently we hear cases on the news reporting another con artist has successfully scammed an unwitting victim. Usually the story focuses on the criminal who has stolen credit card numbers to commit Internet fraud or hacked into an email address to access personal information; however one of the most common scams involves home based businesses. A home-based business sounds ideal. Is it possible these opportunities can be real? This is when using your know how becomes important. First of all, use common sense. Any home based business that requires you to pay money up front for supplies is a con man's way to steal your money. You may receive materials to start your exciting new company, but usually you will receive a kit selling a bogus product or general information that you could have discovered for free with a little research. Second, be aware that listings for scams appear valid. They appear in the classified sections of newspapers, so you must know how to check out the company and check out a hoax. One way to is to read Internet scambuster websites. These sites, which usually end in .org or .gov provide invaluable information regarding urban legends and cushy at-home careers. Some of the most common work at home scams involve the following: 1. Mystery shopping. For a "membership fee" you become part of a network of mystery shoppers. You receive lists of companies to review and can expect reimbursement when you submit completed articles. In fact, there are mystery shopping jobs available that are on the up-and-up, but these don't require you to pay dues. 2. Stuffing envelopes and email processing. Do you really think that a company is going to pay you top dollar to do a job that is completed in their own mail room? Any company that is wealthy enough to afford to pay someone to stuff envelopes already has a machine on site to complete that task. Email processing is just a modern twist on the same concept. Again, money is required up front, and you get nothing in return. 3. Data entry. Think you can earn big money purchasing medical billing software and working on data entry for the local doctor's office? The truth is that medical offices use their own processing systems or send the highly confidential and complicated materials to a respected firm. 4. Multi-level marketing. This is the classic pyramid scheme. You are recruited to sell a product and your recruiter earns a cut from all of your sales. You then work to sell your product and recruit others, thereby gaining position to the top of the pyramid. Unfortunately, if you get involved in this, the FTC could even charge you with fraud!
The bottom line is that you have to know how to check out a hoax, or what may be a con. Take the time to do your homework before you invest any of your time or hard-earned cash into something that sounds to good to be true.
Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about How to Check Out a Hoax, please visit Home Business Scam Blog for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington
==== ==== For the best related tips and more specific news try the best related websites: http://bit.ly/IjjeYb ==== ====