They are everywhere- scammers posting misleading offers and targeting prospective home workers. Unfortunately people are often prejudiced indefinitely about working from home and are left to believe that the possibility of working at home does not exist. This simply is not true. There are many ways to earn a living from home. Many people do it every day. They have just learned how to find legitimate ways to earn a living at home. In this article, I will explain how to spot work at home scams and how to do effective searches for work at home.

Legitimate Employers Do Not Have To Sell You The Job

Perhaps one of the best ways to spot work at home scams is to carefully review the way the job post or advertisement is formatted and worded. If you are required to pay a fee to learn how to work at home, if you are promised excessive income for little work or if the poster or advertiser is trying too hard to convince you that this is a great opportunity, then it is probably a scam. Legitimate work at home will make sense. The employer or business opportunity will not be presented in a way that leaves you to wonder. Real home jobs will be much like jobs outside of the home. You will be required to work, either as an independent contractor or employee, doing common work done at any other job. Some popular ways people earn a living from home are:

1.) Writing
2.) Telemarketing
3.) Customer Service Phone Work
4.) Accounting and Bookkeeping
5.) Virtual Assisting
6.) Proofreading and Editing
7.) Freelancing
8.) Teaching and/or Tutoring

There are also ways to work at home by starting your own business. Some common home businesses included:

1.) Direct Sales (Examples: Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy Candles)
2.) Online Stores (Your own product and website, Ebay, Amazon)
3.) Starting Your Own Service Business (Delivery, Cleaning, Child Care)

Work At Home Opportunities That May Require Money
The only time you can expect to pay a fee for legitimate work at home is with certain business opportunities or background checks. Most direct selling requires you to purchase a starter kit. Even with these situations, research the company carefully to make sure they are well-reviewed. It can help to check with the Better Business Bureau. You must use your best judgment and avoid being easily swayed. Keep in mind, scam artists are good at what they do. They earn money by convincing you to spend money.

Finding Work At Home

There are many ways to find authentic work at home jobs or business opportunities, but it is important to realize that often times these positions may be mixed in with not-so-legitimate opportunities. For example, it is very possible to find real work at home on popular websites like Craigslist or job banks like Indeed, Monster or Career Builder, but scammers use these websites too. So, with the information provided above, it is up to you, the job seeker, to filter through the real from the fake. Search with terms such as “freelance,” “remote,” “remote employment,” “virtual assistance” and “telecommute” can also bring up good work at home leads.

If you are desperate for a way to work at home, there are ways to make a good living. The type of work you can find depends on your skills, your professional experience and education is sometimes a factor. You must also determine whether you are best suited for a home business or a home job. Many people often do both. Just remember that any genuine opportunity will be realistic and clear. With some research and good judgment, you can find the perfect type of work at home to suit you.

About The Author: Traci Dillard-Bell is a home worker and owner of All Stay At Home Job Bank http://allstayathome.com

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