Examples of Work-from-Home Scams
Work at home data entry, like almost ALL work-from-home schemes that you see advertised in the back of women's magazines, entrepreneur magazines, most internet websites and classified advertisements... are scams. Others may be legal but simply worthless.
If someone claims they are willing to pay you $20 per "application processed" you would have to wonder who is paying them or how complicated are the "applications". And what does it mean to "process" an application?
With software that can process forms and folks in India willing to work so cheaply, the price alone tells us this is a scam!
Here is a complaint and the email submitted by a visitor:
From: Mary, February 21, 2008:
They NEVER sent me any info after I emailed several times and sent the $15.00
Email from the company offering the work at home data entry position:
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your inquiry about the work at home data entry position. I received your information and I know you will like what this is all about, providing long-lasting income from the comfort and privacy of your own home. We are all about customer service satisfaction. Here is the description of what you would be doing:
The Data Entry position requires that you have a reliable computer with internet access, a valid e-mail account, basic internet knowledge, and minimal typing skills. You must also be able to conduct yourself in a professional manner. This includes having excellent grammar and spelling when communicating with clients via e-mail.
In addition to the above requirements, you MUST be able to follow instructions closely and completely.
All contact is via E-mail, so you will not be required to call anyone at any time. This allows you to work whichever hours are most convenient for you (days, nights or weekends). You will be processing applications, as well as filling out forms (this tends to be tedious at times, but good money, so please be sure that you have the patience to do so before proceeding). This is why we expect you to have basic internet knowledge, though the training provided will give you step-by-step instructions on how to perform these tasks properly. There are no "down-times" with this position, so you will have a constant flow of work to complete.
You will be paid $20 for each application fully completed. The amount of money you make each week is entirely up to you, and how much time and effort you are willing to put forth with this position. The average person makes $400 -$600 each week, some make even more depending on how many hours you wish to devote.
Once you have been hired by our company you are considered an Independent Contractor. This means that your taxes will not be taken out; therefore, you will not be provided with any tax forms. THIS IS ENTIRELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. The training provided will go more in depth about what to do with your taxes.
You will receive your pay through Paypal. When an application is completed, $20 will be credited to your Paypal account, which can be withdrawn into your bank account at your leisure. You can read about the security policies at www.paypal.com.
There is a one-time non- refundable fee of $15.00 for the training materials. This includes all processing fees and training costs, as well as to ensure that only that only serious applicants apply. We have tried to keep our start up fee as low as possible, some companies charge start up fees up to $30 to $50.
Think about it, employers take hundreds of thousands of dollars out of your check over time. I only deduct $15.00 up front and nothing else.
Once you have paid the start up fee by sending $15.00 to Dollarsign_D@yahoo.com via paypal, we will mail the training materials to you, and you may begin working as soon as you finish studying your training materials. Most applicants typically complete the training within an hour or less. However, you can do this at your own leisure. Keep in mind that the sooner you get through the training materials, the sooner you will start making money.
The training materials give you step-by-step instructions on how YOU get started. When you receive your training materials you may begin working that same day. Once you have processed your first order you will have made your money back for the cost of the training materials. You will receive your training materials through your E-mail..
If you are serious, and are willing to put forth some time and effort, then I look very forward to hearing from you again.
Example 2, received February 28, 2008:
I recently saw an ad for a job posting for data entry clerks, and i applied.
The only thing, is that I got a reply asking me to send money to them for my training materials, I thought that it was very fishy, so i replied back asking them how much it was for the training materials. They said 50$.
I got one last email after i asked them if this was a scam, and they proved it was by having all the incorrect calculations in their email.
I have attached the email below.
-----------------------------------------------
Hi
You are aware that many companies and government Agencies are turning to online data storage from the previous paper form of storing data in too filling cabinets in offices.
To make the information easily available to their clients they are converting to online databases.
Our staffs here in are busy converting the paper work into Word documents that will be send to you to copy and paste data into an online database that will be provided to you.
All work will be delivered to your email address no selling no recruiting.
Once you complete a single application which takes between 2-3 hours you earn $50 instantly which will be send to your online (paypal) account instantly.
The more application you complete in a day the more you earn if you complete 10 Applications in a day you earn $50 x 10 = $500 in a day and send to your online account. In month you will be able to earn $500 x 30 = $1500. Remember you only earn when you work and this job has no limit of money you can earn it all depends on you and your efforts.
The cost of the training materials and processing fee is $50.00 paid once.
To gain access to the training materials you can go to http://www.paypal.com, and then click on "Send Money", and send the fee to: lisagenza@gmail.com
You may pay by credit card, debit card, or E-check through these sites. If you send the payment by credit or debit card, you will receive your training materials immediately upon receipt of an email from one of these sites showing payment has been made.
If payment is made with an E-check, the information will be sent when the check clears (usually takes 3-4 business days). When you read through the training materials, you will be able to START working the same day.
After we have received your $50.00 training/processing fee, we will email your training materials so you can get started straight away.
We will be here vian email to help you for as long as you might need us.
Sincerely,
Mr Bruno
Human Resources
"Spencer Frank" <spencerank@gmail.com>-----thats who the email address is.
And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive. We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!
For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.