Since the dawn of time (ok, perhaps a bit more recently than that) the prospect of working from home has been very attractive. No commuting through rush-hour traffic; being able to spend time with the kids; not having a boss to answer to. There are many reasons most of us would like to be able to work exclusively from home.

As one might expect, with so much demand for work-at-home opportunities, there is a complementary opportunity out there – to sell work-at-home opportunities to those who are willing to pay for it. And, further, as one might expect, such a high-demand market attracts both ethical and unethical people.

If you’re going to pursue looking for a work-at-home opportunity, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first, and most important point is that there are people who are going to try to take advantage of you and steal your money. While looking for these opportunities, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Don’t be fooled by glitz.

   Just because someone has a fancy, professional looking web site doesn’t mean the company is legitimate. A web site can be created and up and running in just a few days, only to take in as much money as possible for a short period of time before being discarded as the scammer moves on to greener pastures.

2. Familiarize yourself with known scams.

   You are not the first person to be targeted by fraud. The chances are close to 100% that any scam that might be perpetrated against you has been tried on many other people. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/, keeps track of many types of scams. Check out their web site and familiarize yourself with their known scams so you won't get caught unaware.

3. Get to know whom you plan to do business with.

   Make a personal contact with the person or organization you're looking to do business with. Especially over the Internet where people are looking to scam a lot of people for a little money, scammers want to maintain their anonymity. This doesn't mean everyone who tries to remain anonymous is looking to scam you. However, if you're already suspicious, or if you want an extra bit of confidence, setting up a personal relationship with a known contact can help.

   You should also research them with organizations that track scammers. Check with local organizations where the company operates. Check with other organizations such as the BBBOnline, NetCheck, WebChamber.com, etc. While a negative rating or listing is a good reason to avoid an organization, no listing with any of these organizations may also be bad.

4. Question that which appears too good to be true.

   It has been said that, "there ain't no free lunch." If you're being offered something for nothing, or if the deal simply sounds, "too good to be true," this alone may be sufficient reason to avoid it "like the plague."

5. Protect your Information.

   In the heat of an exciting opportunity, remember to protect yourself and your information. Be wary of downloading programs. Just because you paid for it doesn’t mean it’s not infected. Don’t provide information they don’t need – like your Drivers License or Social Security number.

6. Beware of illegal "Multi-Level Marketing" scams

   While many MLM businesses are quite legitimate, some are no more than chain letters, getting you to recruit as many people as possible without any concern for actually running a business and selling products. The main problem with chain letters is that you’re asking for money without providing anything in return. This is illegal. (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/chainalrt.htm)

   Avoid MLM plans that require too much up-front inventory purchase. These are often thinly-veiled chain letters.

   Look out for those opportunities that claim it takes little or no effort to be successful. A true MLM opportunity requires sales, recruiting, and management of your down-line in order to be successful.

   A true MLM requires the selling of products and/or services. Be suspicious of "miracles" and make sure you’ve done your homework and you believe in what you’re selling.

7. Don’t pay for "nothing".

   No, this isn’t a double negative. What this means is to make sure you know what you’re paying for. You shouldn’t have to pay for information about a "secret method for making money." An offer like this is most likely an offer to take your money in return for a "secret" like, "Buy low and sell high."

   Only when you have a clear understanding of what you’re buying, and when you have confidence that the offer, business, and opportunity are all legitimate should you consider parting with your hard-earned money.

8. Make sure you understand the offer.

   Be sure to ask the basics, and don’t settle for vague answers. Find out what you will be doing; how and when you will be paid; and what you will have to put up for supplies, equipment, and other startup costs.

   You should not be surprised by future obligations. If you will be expected to pay for services and/or supplies down the road, you should be aware of this from the beginning.

9. Know your rights.

   Can you get a refund if you’re dissatisfied? Some businesses will state that they don’t offer refunds and if you cancel payment via your credit card they will prosecute you for fraud. It is clearly illegal to pay for something with your credit card then dispute the charges only to get something for free. It isn’t illegal to dispute charges when you’ve been scammed. Get to know the various watchdog organizations. The Federal Trade Commission is a great resource at http://www.ftc.gov/.

10. Report Fraud!

    "The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the online complaint form. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad." (Quoted from the FTC Web Site at http://www.ftc.gov/.)

The point isn't so much that you need to follow these tips every time you do any business over the Internet, but rather that when you're in a situation requiring an additional level of trust, following some of this advice may get you just what you need.

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