There’s a lot of money to be made in remote work positions. That’s why there are scams involving them. However, for every legitimate remote work opportunity, there’s a scam opportunity. Today we’re going to show you how to spot remote work scams – so you don’t end up on the wrong end of one.
A job that only requires your bank account information.
This is probably the most common red flag when it comes to scams. If they need your bank information, it’s likely because they want to steal your money — not pay you.
A job that requires you to spend money first.
Many work-from-home scams require you to purchase supplies or equipment before you can get started. If a company asks you for money upfront, don’t give it to them. If they’re truly looking to employ you, they will pay for the equipment and supplies.
Any job that won’t give you details about a company before you pay or apply.
If the company asks you to pay for training or certification before they’ll tell you what you’ll be doing, it’s a scam. Legitimate companies will never require money upfront in order for you to get started. A legitimate company will tell you exactly what they do to ensure you are a good fit. Scammers don’t care about that.
A job that asks for your Social Security number before you actually start work.
If a job requires you to provide your Social Security number or other personally identifying information before you’ve even been hired, then it’s a red flag that something’s not right.
An online “employer” who asks you to use your personal email or credit card for work-related payments.
Legitimate employers will pay you through a separate bank account so you don’t have to worry about losing money if the company goes under. If the account isn’t through the company, they shouldn’t be using it to pay for expenses, especially if it’s an employee’s personal account.
A “company” that asks you to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before even knowing what the job is.
This is a red flag because NDAs are generally used when you’re getting paid for access to trade secrets or confidential information, not just for applying for an advertised job. NDAs are powerful legal tools and shouldn’t be used loosely.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If a work-at-home job opportunity seems too good to be true — like a guaranteed annual salary of $80,000 — then it probably is. The same goes for any company that offers you an opportunity to make a lot of money with little or no experience.
Be wary of companies that claim they will pay your utility bills, rent, cell phone bill, and other expenses as part of your compensation package. These are usually signs that the company is a scam and not legitimate.
You may be tempted to take a leap into remote work, but be sure to use caution. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype, especially if you’ve found something that looks too good to be true, but always slow down and research thoroughly before committing to anything.
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