{"id":177,"date":"2009-08-19T12:51:33","date_gmt":"2009-08-19T12:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jobshuk.com\/yoni67\/2009\/08\/19\/considering-working-from-home-make-sure-it-s-legit\/"},"modified":"2009-08-19T12:51:33","modified_gmt":"2009-08-19T12:51:33","slug":"considering-working-from-home-make-sure-it-s-legit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobshuk.com\/yoni67\/2009\/08\/19\/considering-working-from-home-make-sure-it-s-legit\/","title":{"rendered":"Considering Working From Home? Make Sure It’s “Legit”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It was not so long ago that I found some information on a writing job which was being offered online. The pay sounded great and I definitely had the credentials, qualifications and experience deemed necessary to perform the work. As the old saying goes, "I bit hook, line and sinker." Now, I consider myself to be fairly well-educated, somewhat worldly and in possession of an average amount of common sense. Did it help me? <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

The person with whom I maintained email contact, and with whom I had an initial phone conversation, sounded nice enough. Little did I know that after I sent in the first batch of completed work (comprised of about 15 hours of intense effort), I would never hear from the person again. Nor could I have known that every attempt to contact the "company" would end in failure as my phone calls went unanswered and my emails all bounced back. I never received a dime for my efforts! <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

I would like to mention that the "company" in question was not, I repeat NOT<\/u> found on this particular job-networking site. <\/span>As far as my dealings and interactions with clients on Job Shuk<\/i> are concerned, I have found, much to my happiness, a 100% honesty rate. <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

Back to the story…I was naïve; that is a point which is beyond debate. I was trusting, and to a point, I remain so. In the back of my mind, I continue to believe that most human beings are inherently good, honest, moral and ethical. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

But I also keep in the back of my mind statistics which I have read recently, including one from CNN, which stated that nearly 60% of "work-from-home" jobs are scams. This is what should cause one to mix into his or her trusting nature a "healthy dose" of skepticism! As the unemployment rate continues to rise, and people become more and more desperate for a paycheck, the number of "predators" and "scammers" continues to grow. They never stop seeking out their next opportunistic target!<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite this, it is important to remember that if 60% are scams, 40% are legitimate! That means that 40% of the individuals or companies who offer you work from home are honest in their intentions, ethical in their business practices and perhaps most importantly, fully intend to pay you! <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

So what are the scams which are out there? Among them are the following (which I found from a cursory glance on the web) to name but a few: <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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1)<\/font>      <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those who accept work performed and "disappear" without paying <\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

2)<\/font>      <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those which ask for large payments up front for "supplies" <\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

3)<\/font>      <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those which charge money for a "pre-hire competency exam" <\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

4)<\/font>      <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those which ask you to recruit others and offer you commission based on this-this is a typical "pyramid-scheme" <\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

5)   Those who agree to a certain set of conditions, including pay, only to change to a completely new set of conditions after work has commenced<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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The above represent just a few of the many scams which can be found out there. Want to see more? Just Google "work from home scams." <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission<\/i>, on its website <\/font>www.ftc.gov<\/font><\/a> offers the following tips for those who are considering working from home. It is important to keep in mind that all of the information found below, whether it pertains to checking out a company or filing a complaint, can be obtained and\/or accessed by those working in <\/country-region><\/place>Israel<\/b>:<\/font><\/p>\n

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Questions to ask: <\/u><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n