Tuesday, September 2, 2008

WORK AT HOME SCAMS

Stuffing Envelopes: The bottom line is this – there are machines that stuff envelopes and no legitimate company is going to pay a human being to do something a machine can do in a fraction of the time. What usually happens with the stuffing scam is, a person reads the ad, sends some $ to get started, and receives in return, a letter instructing them to place the same ad they replied to so they can scam others as they have been scammed.


Typing and Data Entry:While there is legitimate data entry work out there, you'll have to wade through cyber-acres of scams to find it. Scam ads typically claim you'll earn a certain amount for every "application" you process.As with the envelope stuffing scam, you pay a fee and are instructed to place the same ad you responded to and collect checks from those you scam. The "applications" you process come with a check and - if you decide to join the ranks of scammers - you keep the check. Hence, a payment for "processing" the application.Another common "data entry" scam involves having the applicant pay a fee for software they will "need" to complete data entry jobs. Once you purchase the software, it becomes clear that you will be fully responsible for finding the data entry jobs yourself - work will not come from the company.

Craft Assembly:"Send money for a start-up kit with all the materials you'll need, and earn money for every item you complete to our satisfaction."Sounds great for those who are crafty but, with very few exceptions, these arrangements result in the individual receiving the kit, doing the work, and having it rejected time after time. Nothing they do to improve the "quality" of their work will make a difference because the scammer does not want the finished product back, they want the money for the kits... period.

Postal Forwarding:Postal forwarding has become a huge problem - we've met several people who have not only lost their savings, but have also had brushes with the law after falling for this type of scam. In some cases, the scam involves the transport of stolen goods, in other cases, it has to do with cashing checks and forwarding money in exchange for a commission. As an example of the first type of scam, we met a men who was looking for home-based work because he had a physical disability that made it difficult to manage a "traditional" job. He saw an ad for a job that required him to receive packages of electronics (MP3 players, video recorders, DVD players, etc.), repackage them, and ship them to a designated destination in Romania. In exchange, the "hiring company" would reimburse him for shipping expenses and pay him a fee for his services.

Check and Funds Processing:In this scam, the individual agrees to process funds for someone who claims to live in a country where the government makes it nearly impossible for them to do so themselves. They agree to send you a check or checks, you deposit them into your bank account, and send them a personal check for 80% of the amount - keeping 20% as a commission.The problem - once you've cashed the check and sent a personal check back, you're notified that the checks were forged, stolen, or counterfeit. Your bank will hold you personally responsible for any money they have lost as a result of the scam. This means that individual now owes the bank the amount that they have wired to Nigeria (or Senegal, or any number of places from which these scams originate) - usually thousands of dollars. Some banks have been known to prosecute the US-based account holder for fraud, others have had their computers confiscated by federal agencies

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