| Work at home jobs are plentiful on the Internet. Many | | | | Agreement or Contract. These contracts protect both |
| of them are legitimate, but there are some scams | | | | the contractor and the client. The contract should |
| mixed in with the legitimate opportunities. Distinguishing | | | | specify the payment arrangements as well as |
| a legitimate work from home opportunity from a work | | | | confidentiality agreements, if applicable. A nondisclosure |
| at home scam can be difficult. There are, however, a | | | | agreement is also standard practice. There is no need |
| few telltale signs to look out for when sifting through | | | | for a company to know your account information, |
| the programs. Here are some tips to help. | | | | unless direct deposit is your preferred form of |
| A legitimate work at home company will have its full | | | | payment. This is very risky, however. |
| contact information posted on the website, including the | | | | Some work from home opportunities require an initial |
| physical address, phone number and email address. | | | | investment or deposit to get started. They may also |
| Sometimes, it isn't enough to see this information on | | | | require a monthly fee. If you encounter this while trying |
| the website. Work at home scams will list incorrect | | | | to find a work from home opportunity, consider the |
| information. Call the phone number on the website. | | | | value of the products and/or services received. Many |
| Make sure you can speak to a human instead of | | | | work at home scams will either seem like a very good |
| being routed around to all automated information. | | | | value or seem too costly for the products or services |
| If you can get through to a human on the phone, the | | | | you get. |
| next thing to consider is the company's payment | | | | A work at home scam doesn't necessarily involve not |
| method. PayPal is the best way to get paid since you | | | | getting paid for your work. Some work at home |
| don't have to give the company your bank account | | | | scams will pay you for your service but not a fair |
| information or wait on a paper check through the mail. | | | | wage. An example of this is filling out a survey that |
| Some companies that pay through direct deposit offer | | | | takes two hours that only pays $3. That means you |
| payment onto a prepaid credit card. This is also an | | | | are only making $1.50 an hour. You can easily find the |
| acceptable alternative. Avoid paper checks and | | | | fair wage for your type of work online. |
| money orders from unknown companies, as these are | | | | One way to find legitimate work from home |
| easy to counterfeit. | | | | opportunities is to talk to friends who work from home. |
| Consider the information the company is requesting as | | | | Your friends will be honest with you regarding the |
| required for you to begin work. The Internal Revenue | | | | opportunity. Another way to find legitimate work at |
| Service requires independent contract employees to | | | | home jobs is to find companies in your area that hire |
| provide a form W-9 to employers so the income can | | | | independent contractors. Many retail businesses use |
| be reported to the IRS. Some companies may not ask | | | | direct mailing advertising campaigns. Some of these |
| for this information up front. But they should have a | | | | companies may be interested in using an independent |
| notice that you will be required to submit the form | | | | envelope stuffer. |
| once you earn a certain amount of money per 12 | | | | Once you find legitimate work at home opportunities, |
| consecutive months. This amount should be $500 or | | | | consistently meeting deadlines with quality products or |
| less. Certain work from home business opportunities | | | | services will keep your clients happy. This is the |
| will require workers to sign an Independent Contractor | | | | beginning of a profitable work at home career. |