I really don't think that all Ads placed are scams- I think a little bit of digging on the Company & about the ads will tell you whether or not they are a scam. Some ads are obvious- others aren't & that requires checking in with the better business bureau or your state attorney generals' office for more info!! Hopefully most of us who place ads aren't scammers & know better- after all we take pride in our Businesses & our Company in which we work for!!

I have two small children and have tried finding an at home job so that I can stay at home with my children. As of yet, I have not come across one work at home company that does not ask for money! I am sure that there are legit companies out there, but a big percentage are scams!! I think you just have to be careful and pay attention to what you are doing.

Very well said! I tell everyone to look up any home biz through the BBB online. Infact, I email folks the direct link so they can research our company with the BBB! I agree that any home biz requires work and when someone doesn't see results immediately or as quickly as they think they should, the start telling others it is a scam. I have seen it happen a lot! Great blog!

This actually gave me a lot to think about. I tend to label anything that asks for money to work a "scam", but hadn't thought of the dictionary definition. I guess my idea of a scam would be any "job" that expects you to pay them for working. While it may not fit the dictionary definition, I believe any offer of a job that you have to pay to obtain, really isn't offering a job. They may be offering an "opportunity", but if that is the case, labeling it as a job (with the implication that you will be employed) is misleading at best and fraudulent at worst. I don't think "buyers remorse" should figure into the job market, as any true job cannot be bought in the first place.

Wow this makes so much sense. I myself have been told to my face that my business is a scam and it really ticks me off . There is so many people who wil say it is a "scam" Or a "rip off" and post bad things but the truth is they never tried. A home business doesnt make you rich overnight! It takes consistent work and plently of sacrifice but if you work hard you will SUCCEED! I totally agree with your blog!
Thanks for sharing!

I've thought long and hard on this issue and what I believe it boils down to is, for those individuals, like myself, who want to stay at home to be with their kids and raise them during the first few important years of their lives and just need some extra funds to help with the family finances, they more then anyone need to be very careful and doubley skeptical of what they get themselves into. These "scam" companies prey on these type of unsuspecting and naive people. Hoping that some poor single mom is desperate enough to spend her last $20 for a company "demo pack", just in the hopes of earning a few bucks so that she can make next's months rent and have some food on the table for her kids next week. Only to be crushed by the blow of receiving some notification from that company stating " Sorry Ms. Smith, but due to the high volume of candidates, we were UNABLE to process your request for our "demo pack". Please accept this lovely refridgerator magnet as our consolation. Sorry no refunds available on money received. It's unfortunate that any bunch of "con artist" can post an ad with the hype of making people rich in just 2 weeks and basically steal every penny they get sent to them. I firmly believe that the only true "work from home" career is that of a parent who has choosen to be with their children and furthermore I feel that the government should rightfully hand over a substancial size paycheck every 2 weeks to these extremely over worked and under appreciated individuals.

I agree with your article. I do believe people jump to the SCAM conclusion very quickly. Yes I also do believe it is because of failure and wanting to blame someone or something for that failure. There are a lot of people who wants to start a home business and want to do it for free or with no effort. An then there are those who believe "HOME BUSINESS" means get rich quick business. Those are the ones who are quick to call a business a scam. Do not get me wrong there are definitely a lot scams, but not all home businesses are.

I glad you are talking about this topic.
I has helped me alot with some of the emails I get.Thanks again!

In my opinion, there is a big difference between a spam and a scam. Spam irritates me. But, if the spam is relevant to my business, I will give them "the benefit of the doubt" and not count them as spammers. But, if the spam is not relevant to me or my business (such as advertising hair cream for men), I will count them as spam and report them. Now, a scam, is a business to make money by using other people's money. (pyriamid scheme) Or the scam where they have found a "dormant account with 12 million dollars in it they want to share with you). Yet people still fall for this! To the person who wants to try a business with not a lot of money, feel free to look up "www.freelife.com" and join them for only $35 US (this is for a business kit). My ID Number is 704016, so if you want to sign up under me, that would be great! I have done a lot of small businesses and this is, by far, the best and least expensive to join.

When my children were very young, work at home opportunities were very limited and rare. With the onset of the Internet, door and windows and floodgates opened for masses of opportunities both legitimate and not. Overwhelming.

I found that in the cesspool of information, paying attention to the language used in the advertisements for these work at home jobs was very helpful.

1) Anything sounding too good to be true is definitely too good to be true!

2) Paying attention to the time frame claimed in the ad is a second helpful tip. As so many commenters wrote, a good business takes time before success is achieved. Anything claiming instant success or success within a few days should immediately throw up a red flag.

3) If the business requires some sales, a product should be expected and of course a stock kept. So a small fee for that is not unusual. But always examine carefully what the "start up fee" is actually for. If they don't say specifically what you are paying for, be suspicious. Ask questions. Listen to the answers. If they hedge or don't answer directly with specific details, then beware.

4) I agree with others who posted about checking with the BBB online. However, even the BBB can't keep up with the load of sorting through all those who claim to be legitimate work at home business opps. Just because a business hasn't been filed or claimed as a scam doesn't mean that it isn't.

I've been online for quite a few years now. I've seen many attempts at "phishing" other legitimate businesses. I've even had my tail feathers singed from time to time. Spammers and scammers work very hard at what they do. What a waste of energy!

Just the other day I was examining what looked to be an online mystery shopping company advertised in a legitimate mystery shopping newsletter service. In actuality, they had you sign up with an online service (even a recognized legitimate businesses), asked you to examine the website for a few weeks then report back. It's a very professional appearing website that imitates other websites used for mystery shoppers. I haven't made my conclusion yet on this one, but deep down, my gut is telling me that they are fleecing people.

One of the clues I look for is the ease with which a person can "extricate" themselves after signing up for a month's service. In this case, I was given instructions step-by-step how to unsubscribe. But the final step wasn't possible. It looked good on the surface, but putting into practice what they recommended is turning out to be difficult.

Now, because this company makes it difficult to unsubscribe, I won't call it a scam...yet. By the dictionary definition, it isn't. But if they continue to attempt to withdraw money out of my account every month after I have made repeated efforts to stop them, then they are a scam--regardless what the dictionary definition says.

It is very true that too many people are constantly looking to blame other people for their own mistakes. I wish people would truly own up to their own mistakes and try to learn from them, that is the key...learn from mistakes made! So I agree with Cindy!!

I totally agree. I currently have two work from home jobs. I always have people asking me about getting legit work from home jobs. I tell them that if a company requires you to give them money or ask you to purchase equipment, don't do it! Any legit company will not ask you for money or ask you to purchase high-dollar items to work for them.