Work-at-Home Schemes - Fast Facts
* Be very cautious about work-at-home advertising.
* Many work-at-home schemes require you to spend your money to do the job.
* Envelope-stuffing is the most common work-at-home scheme. Promoters
usually advertise that, for a "small" fee, they will tell you how to earn
money stuffing envelopes.
* Assembly or craft work often required you to invest hundreds of dollars
in equipment or supplies or many hours of time to produce goods for a
company that has promised to buy them.
* Investigate companies you want to deal with by checking with consumer
protection agencies and the Better Business Bureau in the area where the
company is located.
In newspapers and magazines around the country you may see ads like this:
* Would you like to earn hundreds of dollars a week at home, in your
leisure time? Many people are supplementing their income in a very easy
way. Let us tell you how... An offer like this may sound very
attractive, particularly if you are unable to leave your home to work.
But, be cautious about work-at-home ads, especially ones that promise you
large profits in a short period of time. While some work-at-home plans
are legitimate, many are not. Home employment schemes are among the
oldest kinds of classified advertising fraud. What many of these ads do
not say is that you may have to work many hours without pay. There also
may be hidden costs. Many work-at-home schemes require you to spend your
own money to place ads in newspapers, make photocopies, or buy the
envelopes, paper, stamps, and other supplies or equipment needed to do
the job. The company also may demand that you pay a membership fee or
make regular payments in order to get continued instructions or
materials. Consumers deceived by these ads have lost thousands of
dollars and have wasted their time and energy.
Common Work-at-Home Schemes
Work-at-home ads may advertise these types of employment:
* Envelope-Stuffing. Work-at-home schemes come in many varieties, but the
most common type is envelope-stuffing. Promoters of these programs
usually advertise that, for a "small" fee, they will tell you how to earn
money stuffing envelopes at home. Only when it is too late do you find
out the promoter really has no employment to offer. What you are likely
to receive for your fee is a letter telling you to place that same
"envelope-stuffing" ad in newspapers or magazines, or to send the ad to
friends and relatives. The only way you will earn money is from the
people who respond to your work-at-home ad.
* Assembly or Craft Work. Assembly or craft work is another common type of
work-at-home scheme. These programs often require you to invest hundreds
of dollars in equipment or supplies or many hours of time to produce
goods for a company who has promised to buy them. For example, you might
be required to buy from the company a sewing machine, a sign-making
machine, or materials to make items such as aprons, baby shoes, or
plastic signs. However, in fraudulent schemes, after you have purchased
the supplies or equipment and performed the required tasks, the company
does not pay you for your efforts. Many consumers, for example, have had
companies refuse to pay for their work because it did not meet "quality
standards." Unfortunately, no work is ever "up to standard." Thus you
are left with relatively expensive equipment and supplies, and no income.
In reality, those who produce goods in response to such ads must usually
find their own customers.
Precautions Against Fraudulent Schemes
If a work-at-home program is legitimate, its sponsor should readily tell you
--in writing and for free -- what is involved. Here are some questions you
might ask a potential employer:
* What tasks will I be required to perform? (Ask the program sponsor to
list every step of the job.)
* Will I be paid on salary or commission?
* Who will pay me?
* When will I get my first paycheck?
* What is the total cost of the work-at-home program, including supplies,
equipment, and membership fees? What will I get for my money? The
answers to these questions may enable you to detect whether a work-at-
home scheme is legitimate and to guard against the loss of your money and
time. You also might wish to investigate the company's reputation by
checking with the consumer protection agency and the Better Business
Bureau in the area where the company is located. These organizations can
tell you if they have received any complaints about the work-at-home
program that interests you.
Where To Complain
If you already have spent your money and time in a work-at-home program that
you now have reason to believe may not be legitimate, contact the company
and ask for your money back. Let the company know that you plan to notify
officials about your experience. If you cannot resolve the dispute with the
company, here are some organizations that may be able to assist you:
* The Attorney General's office in your state or in the state where the
company is located. That office will be able to advise you if you are
protected by any state law that may regulate work-at-home programs.
* Your local consumer protection offices.
* Your local Better Business Bureau.
* Your local Postmaster. The U.S. Postal Service investigates fraudulent
mail practices.
* The advertising manager of the publication that ran the ad you answered.
The advertising manager may be interested to learn about the problems you
have had with the company.
* The Federal Trade Commission. While the FTC cannot help resolve
individual disputes, the agency can take action if there is evidence of a
pattern of deceptive or unfair practices.
* National Fraud Information Center 9:00AM to 5:30PM Eastern Time Zone
Monday through Friday at Telephone (U.S. and Canada) (800) 876-7060 out
side of U.S. or Canada call (202) 835-0159. The Center will forward your
complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Log on the WebSite at http://www.fraud.org, or call 1-800-876-7060.
If you spot obviously illegal operations on the E-Ways, please
forward copies of the messages to NFIC at fraudinfo@psinet.com.
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