Ways To Avoid Falling Into "Dot-Con," Work At Home Scams 

If you are one of millions of people who are looking to find a work at home business or job, then you simply must learn to spot a scam, because there are many of them out there. Online work at home scams are now frequently referred to as "Dot Cons" after the term "Dot Coms". When you are desperately seeking a work at home opportunity, many people tend to "buy" (literally and figuratively) into an opportunity without doing much research, if any. If this happens to you, hundreds or thousands of dollars later, you'll discover that you were a victim of a scam!

How can you distinguish a genuine work from home opportunity from a scam?  If you are just starting out, how can you judge whether a home business offer is legitimate?

Here are a few of the ways to identify a potential scam and how to avoid them:

1) Exaggerated Claims

Many work at home opportunities will claim you that you can make "thousands" in a matter of days, perhaps working just a few hours per day. Many will display their so called "proof of income" on their websites, which often turn out to be touched up pictures of fake checks or bank statements. Other display actual income, but they don't reveal how much overhead costs went into generating that income. Remember income is not profit. If you feel that the claims of easy riches are extravagant, then they probably are! Get all claims and promises in writing before you sign up or pay to join at any of these websites. Remember that if the claims are real then these companies will have no reason to deny you real proof on request. If they refuse, you can safely assume that it's a scam.

2) Read The Fine Print

Many fraudulent websites bury the fine print in tiny letters at the bottom or their webpage or on another page with a link to it that's hard to find. Make sure that you read these fine print paragraphs or pages for any clauses that can come back to haunt you if ever you try to get your money back. Click on all the links that provide more information and make sure you read them completely. Do not simply assume that the website is legitimate. Assume that it's a fake and let it prove to you that it's honest.

3) Look For Privacy Information

Many websites collect your personal information like your name and email address. Make sure that these sites tell you exactly what they intend to do with the information that you provide. If they don't tell you what they will do with it, it's time to move onto another website because the chances are that your personal information might be shared - or worse - sold to others. Never volunteer information such as your social security number or credit card information unless you are absolutely sure of what the website will do with it.

4) Look For Business Name, And Contact Details

Legitimate businesses and websites will always display their business name, address and other contact information clearly on their websites. If you do not see any contact information, then be very skeptical about that site. Shady websites won't display this information since they don't want you to contact them. Do you really want to do business with such a website? Check the business with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any outstanding complaints.

5) Know Exactly What You Will Be Getting Before You Buy

Many websites refuse to tell you precisely what they will provide you with until you pay for it. This is unacceptable. You, as a consumer, need to know in advance what you are getting before you buy. I'm not talking about knowing the exact details of a work at home job, but you should at least get some idea of what to expect after you pay the fee or buy the product.

6) Refund Policies and Guarantees

Some websites clearly provide refund policies. You should be able to return the goods or ask for your money back within reasonable terms. Many legitimate websites will let you get your money back as long as you ask for it within 30 days. But some plainly state that you simply will not receive a refund. Be wary of these types of businesses. This is a major reason for you not to do business with this type of company.

In the end it is up to you to use common sense when looking for an online work at home job or business. Think of it as looking to buy a new car or a house. Use the same attitude, even though the price tag is much smaller. Remember that the risk involved is almost the same since you are investing your hard earned money or lifetime savings. Make certain that you aren't the next victim of "Dot Con" scams.