Red Flags

We hear so much about good work-at-home opportunities turned bad. On Monday, we posted 5 classic WAH scams to look out for. Yesterday, ABCactionnews.com posted 5 red flags when scouting work-at-home opportunities. Good stuff. We did something similar on this in our August 2, 2008, WHY Xtra: 5 Ways to Avoid WAH scams. They are:

• Never pay money up front to an employer to get the job.
• Consult with the Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to see if the prospective company's name shows up as "unsatisfactory."
• Ask a lot of questions. Legitimate employers should be able to answer all of them.
• Use a credit card -- preferably a virtual one -- to make any purchases needed. Just in case you need to dispute the charges.
• Verify the company's contact info. Be wary of PO Boxes, but keep in mind that plenty of legitimate businesses use them.

Remember, being an educated applicant is your best defense against work-at-home scammers. Good luck!