As more people join the race to find remote work, concern about scams is mounting, and for good reason. One in 60-70 online jobs is a scam! Avoiding remote work scams can be a daunting task, so in this article, you’ll learn what to look for and places to find legitimate online jobs.
If you’re looking for more resources about obtaining remote work, click here to watch my FREE Remote Work Training and learn my simple four-step process for finding the right remote work opportunities for you.
Recognizing Remote Work Scams
The Remote Work Job Seems Too Good to be True
Work-from-home scam ads are commonly written with the intent to give the reader a sense of relief or “luck” that they have found the perfect job that promises the world.
Many scammers impersonate actual hiring managers to bleed personal and financial information from their victims. They often succeed by preying on the emotions of the jobless who have a strong desire to make money online. You’ll need to tune in to a good old fashioned “gut check” as you read the description. If the job seems “too good to be true,” then it’s probably a “work-from-home scam.”
Remote Work Jobs Promising Low Effort and High Income
If the job posting seems to require very little work or a low number of hours for a high wage, it’s probably a scam. Scammers use what is known as “phishing” tactics to collect data such as a home address, social security number, bank account information, phone number, or date of birth from their applicants. They do this, again, by appealing to emotion.
They take advantage of people in tough positions. For example, a data-entry job that advertises two-hours of work at $100 per hour is, you guessed it – probably a scam! That’s not to say those with high-level expertise in a niche field won’t find remote work that isn’t a scam, but jobs of this nature generally do not exist.
Remote Work Jobs That Ask for Up-Front Payment
If you’ve found a remote work job that requires an upfront financial investment, you’re most likely looking at a scam. Legitimate employers almost never ask you to “pay to apply.” One exception might be a requirement to cover minimal costs for training, and that usually comes in after you’re hired. You’ll need to use your best judgment for avoiding this scam on a case-by-case basis.
Using “Work-From-Home” or “Work-At-Home” in the Ad Title
The most common search terms for those who want to learn how to make money online are “work-from-home” and “work-at-home,” and scammers capitalize on that. This doesn’t mean that all job posts with those phrases are a scam, but as a best practice, use alternate search terms. Here are some suggested keywords to search:
- Remote Job
- Virtual Job
- Distributed Teams
- Telecommute Job
- Telework
- Flexible Schedule
- Flexible Hours
- Freelance Job
- Project-Based
- Contract-To-Hire
- Consultant
- Part-Time
Does the Company Have a Website and Email Address?
Consider it a major red flag if a job description doesn’t include the company’s website or email address. If they do include these, you still need to do some research. Many scammers create fake websites or impersonate real websites that look legitimate. In addition, pay attention to whether they use a personal email account (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.). Most companies will have a professional email address that uses their own domain.
Example #1: Work-From-Home Ad – Likely a Scam
A remote work scam ad.
Let’s dissect the Craigslist job posting above. First of all, Craiglist is a great, underrated site to find remote jobs. But there are some risks, as scammers will be lurking there.
An example of what is likely a scam, this ad includes the phrase “Work From Home” in the title. The compensation is listed as “per piece,” but does not specify a particular wage. The employer requests 25 blog posts per week, which is nearly impossible for even the fastest writers! You’ll also notice they request the first article be submitted the next day, which doesn’t give the employer time to conduct an interview or learn about the applicant’s skill set.
More than likely, this scammer will steal the writer’s work, use it for their website, and will not pay for the completed work. Another dead giveaway? The post is written with poor grammar and spelling. By promising to immediately hire the applicant, this type of scammer preys on those who need to make money fast.
Example #2: Probably Not a Work-From-Home Scam
An example of what is likely a legitimate remote work opportunity.
An example of what is probably not a work-from-home scam, this job ad tells the reader exactly what they’ll earn and what the job consists of – right in the title. The pay is reasonable and realistic, and they have a website where you can read reviews from those who have worked there. The job expectations and required hours are clear. Plus, other people have reviewed this company on job sites.
Finding Legitimate Remote Work Jobs
If you’re looking for more resources about obtaining remote work, click here to watch my FREE Remote Work Training and learn my simple four-step process for finding the right remote work opportunities for you.
Glassdoor.com
Companies offering legitimate remote work opportunities will be easy to find online and will have been reviewed by current or former employees. Glassdoor.com is one place to find reviews for free. Of course, not all companies have 100% positive reviews, but not all employees give a stellar performance on the job. So, take that with a grain of salt.
Top Remote Work Job Search Websites
If you need to make money from home and want to avoid work-from-home scams, try the job search engines listed below. Many we know have found work using these legitimate websites:
100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2020
For more ideas on where to find legitimate online jobs, check out this article from Flexjobs.com, “100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2020.”
If you’re just getting started with your remote job search, click here to read my article: 6 Steps for Finding Remote Jobs.
Conclusion
We hope this article helps you avoid remote work scams. If you’re looking for more resources about obtaining remote work, enroll here to watch my FREE course, “How to Get Remote Work to Have a Flexible Lifestyle (Without Running Out of Money)” and learn my simple four-step process for finding the right remote work opportunities for you.
