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Work at Home Schemes

Be cautious about work at home advertisements, especially those that promise large profits within a short time period. Home employment schemes are one of the oldest and most widespread kind of consumer fraud. Often consumers are asked to spend their own money, pay membership fees and/or to make regular payments for continued instruction or materials; and just as often the same consumers are not paid for their work.

Here are some questions you might ask a potential employer. Answers should be freely given, direct and easy to understand.

  • What tasks will I be required to perform?
  • Who will provide training?
  • Who will review/accept my work?
  • Who will pay me?
  • How often will I be paid?
  • When will I get my first paycheck?
  • What will the work-at-home program cost me?
  • How will I recover my costs?

The answers to such questions, and any others that you may think of, may enable you to decide whether a work-at-home program has any potential. Taking the opportunity to ask questions may save you a tremendous amount of time and money. If you have already spent money in a work-at-home program that you now have reason to believe is not legitimate, ask the program for your money back. Advise the program that you will contact consumer protection officials if you are not satisfied. The following organizations may be able to assist you:

You may also contact the advertising manager of the publication that ran the work-at-home advertisement. After learning of your problems with the program, the manager may stop running the advertisement.

We hope this information is both useful and helpful in providing you guidance for evaluating work-at-home program opportunities.

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