The US unemployment numbers were released earlier this week and they remained high, at almost 10% and higher in some locales.  Indicative of large numbers of the population continue to find employment.  Often times an attractive situation isn’t geographically near and relocation isn’t an option for a myriad of reasons. For others, the expense of childcare or transportation makes an available position not economically feasible.  For many, nirvana is defined as a position which will allow one “to work from home.” We all know someone who is in this boat.  Our efforts to assist are always appreciated. 

Know, there are those who flooding us with opportunities, opportunities which unfortunately are finding their way into our inboxes.  To the credit of my internet service provider, as well as the anti-spam and anti-phish software running on my machines, the large majority of what I am about to share was labled as “suspect.”  But just in case your email isn’t filtered as nicely as my own, I thought I would share some job opportunities which you should run, not walk, away from.

From January 12-31 I received no fewer than 22 separate emails offering opportunities to earn from home.  Here are a number of their subject lines”
  — “Earn Good Cash for 60-min A Day Job”
  — “Data Entry Position Paying $300+ a day!”
  — “You could make 24,000 in 24 hours”
  — “Congratulations…YOU have a COMMISSION CHECK;” 

  — “The $40,000 monthly Income Information You Have Requested;”
  — “2 people needed immediately….YOU can earn $131,000 in the next 14 to 15 weeks!”


So what’s the deal? According to the email all one has to do is follow their simple instructions and the cash will begin flowing to you:
 
1) JOIN and step 2) get started MARKETING and ADVERTISING your own website and step 3) signup 4 people….that’s it……just imagine as YOU and your 4 people signup 4 people each and so on YOUR will CHECK will grow and grow and YOU can earn $1,000, $3,000, $20,000 or even $72,000 every month…..now that YOU understand the power, the duplication and the simplicity of signing up just 4 people and earning $1,000, $3,000, $20,000 or even $72,000 every month…what are YOU waiting for click my website link below and PLACE YOUR ORDER right now…”
Interestingly, many of the different emails contained the same shortened URL, with surprisingly similar results.  Provide your name and email and we’ll send you all the details you need to sign-up.  One such program and certification course only costs $197 to obtain.  That’s right, you pay $197 and they send you a packet.  Clearly someone will make money in this exchange.  
 
Let me offer this advice.  Be cautious to opportunities which show up in your inbox.  Make sure they are legitimate before you provide any information, including your name or email.  If you have to pay to get into the oppotunity, that is your signal to engage in a due diligence.  The adage “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” is absolutely applicable.  
 
Please don’t take my word, here’s what others have to say:
Federal Trade Commission: 
          Work-at-Home Schemes
          Be part of one of America’s Fastest Growing Industries!
          Earn thousand of dollars a month – from your home – Processing Medical Billing Claims.
            You can find ads like this everywhere – from the street light and telephone pole on your corner to your newspaper and PC. While you may find these ads appealing, especially if you can’t work outside your home, proceed with caution. Not all work-at-home opportunities deliver on their promises. 
            Many ads omit the fact that you may have to work many hours without pay. Or they don’t disclose all the costs you will have to pay. Countless work-at-home schemes require you to spend your own money to place newspaper ads; make photocopies; or buy the envelopes, paper, stamps, and other supplies or equipment you need to do the job. The companies sponsoring the ads also may demand that you pay for instructions or “tutorial” software. Consumers deceived by these ads have lost thousands of dollars, in addition to their time and energy.

 
Attorney General of Ohio offers these tips to protect yourself:
   To protect yourself, look for these signs of a scam

      •Companies that contact you out of the blue to offer you a job.
      •A bad business reputation (or no reputation at all).
      •Companies that are not registered with the Ohio Secretary of State.
      •Jobs to evaluate wire transferring services, such as MoneyGram and Western Union.
      •Requests for wire transfers or upfront payments.
      •Requests for your personal information and account numbers.
      •Firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs.
   Tips to avoid scams
      •Always initiate transactions yourself. Don’t trust companies that contact you unexpectedly.
      •Check a company’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau and search complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
      •Make sure the company is registered with the Secretary of State. To do business in Ohio, most companies must register with the Ohio Secretary of State.
      •Contact current and former employees to ask about their experiences with the company.
      •Guard your Social Security number and bank account numbers. 

— Better Business Bureau:
The BBB’s complete advice piece has identified the following categories as the most common scams:
       •Assembly Work at Home
       •Chain Letters.
       •Envelope Stuffing.
       •Multi-Level Marketing
       •Online Business
       •Processing Medical Insurance Claims
  
Are there organizations which are doing something about this?  Yes.  Please allow me to commend to your attention the good works of Phish Bucket, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting job seekers from fraudulent job offers. They offer a data base of fraudulent offers and a Job Tank of “Phish Free Jobs.”   Their mission statement says it all: “PhishBucket.org is a clearinghouse of suspicious employment-related email offers, the vast majority of which are reported to us by job seekers and other concerned folks. All of the job offers posted here are considered to be suspicious or outright fraudulent in nature. We track and investigate these offers to help job seekers identify the good ones from the bad. We cooperate with law enforcement by providing all the information at our disposal to help shut down phishing operations that target your livelihood. We also provide news and alerts about job scams, as well as relevant online safety and career-related resources

 
In closing, be cautious in your job search.  Use resources available to you to research and determine the legitimacy of any opportunity which comes your way.   Rest assured, there are legitimate positions which allow you to work at home for legitimate employers who embrace the mobile worker, how do I know?  I work from home for a Fortune 50.
Thank you for your time.
All the best,
Christopher
Links:
Federal Trade Commission: Work at Home Schemes
Attorney General of Ohio:  Work from home offers usually scams
Better Business Bureau:  Modern Twist to Old Scams
Phish Bucket Organization:   Home Page  (Twitter:  @PhishBucket)
Please also visit: www.burgessct.com