by Lucinda Davis

Created on: September 26, 2009

The first thing you want to do before trying a new work-at-home business is to research the company. You can do a background check for free on businesses by searching the Better Business Bureau database for complaints and contacting the Federal Trade Commission. Both agencies have easily accessible online websites. Another way to research a company is to search for online reviews. Often if someone is very angry about being ripped off they will post something on a forum or they might blog about it.

Being jobless could have you seeking online jobs or work-at-home jobs and this is the worst possible time to get ripped off. Look before you leap.

There are work-at-home jobs available but don't fall for the get rich quick schemes. It takes hard work to earn money, if it didn't then everyone would be doing it. If the company promises satisfaction guaraneteed don't assume it's true. Their word is only as good as their reputation. Remember to check them out because a company can go out of business and dissappear leaving you hanging with no refund whatsoever.

You shouldn't be asked to pay for materials to work from home. Such as these jobs to assemble products at home. Often people will pay money for a list of work at home jobs. Then you select one of these companies and are asked to pay money to them. They'll request money for a starter kit and then still be required to purchase materials to assemble the product.

Stuffing envelopes at home is one of the oldest scams in the world. They will charge you for information on how to make money stuffing envelopes. Then they tell you how to scam other people with get rich quick information.

Watch out of pyramid marketing schemes. The people at the top make all of the money while you do all of the work and spend all of your money. Many familiar companies promote this type of income which you generally never see results.

Read the fine print. I had stumbled onto a website that looked like a news article from CNN. It went on to say how you could make money with Google and their "Google Money Tree Kit". Well beware! They are in no way affiliated with Google. If you sign up they will charge your credit card a small fee at first but in doing this you allow them to charge you a monthly fee that is outrageous. Fortuanately I could tell this was a scam just by looking at the site.

There are ways to make money at home but you should never have to spend money to get a job. Keep in mind you are looking for a job because you need money, so don't give these crooks your last dime.

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