21 Work-From-Home Job Scams and How to Spot Them

Working from home is the new dream. No commute. Flexible hours. Pajamas all day. Sounds perfect, right? Well, not so fast. Scammers know this appeal too. They’re out there, waiting to prey on eager job seekers. So how do you identify a work from home scams? That is where we step in.

 This article will expose 21 common work-from-home scams. You’ll learn how to spot them a mile away. We’ll show you the red flags to watch for. You’ll be a pro at identifying fake job offers by the end. You’ll be better equipped to find legitimate remote work. Knowledge is power and we’re about to arm you with plenty of it.

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1. Data Entry Scams

Data entry jobs seem simple enough. Type information into forms. Easy, right? Not always. Many data entry work-from-home job offers are scams. They promise high pay for little work. Here’s what to watch for:

Red Flags:

• Upfront fees for training or software

• Promises of unrealistic earnings

• Vague job descriptions

• Requests for personal information early on

Legitimate data entry jobs do exist. But they rarely pay well. Be cautious of any offer that sounds too good to be true. Real companies won’t ask you to pay for the privilege of working for them.

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2. Envelope Stuffing Scams

This is one of the classic work-from-home scams that still tricks people today. The pitch: earn money stuffing envelopes at home. It sounds easy and mindless. But it’s not real work. Here’s how it usually goes:

• You pay a fee to join the program

• You receive materials to mail out

• These materials recruit more people into the scam

• You only make money if others join

Real envelope-stuffing jobs are incredibly rare now. Most companies use machines for this task. Be very skeptical of such offers. They’re almost always pyramid schemes in disguise.

3. Online Survey Scams

Getting paid for your opinion sounds great. Some survey sites are legitimate. But many are scams. Here’s what to look out for:

• Promises of high pay per survey

• Requests for payment to access surveys

• Surveys that ask for sensitive personal info

• Sites that never seem to have surveys available

Legitimate survey sites do exist. But they won’t make you rich. Be wary of any that promise big money. Real survey work is sporadic and low-paying. It’s pocket change, not a career.

4. Mystery Shopping Scams

Mystery shopping can be a real job. But scammers have latched onto it. They create fake opportunities to trick you. Here’s how to spot them:

• You’re asked to pay for certification

• The company sends you a large check to cash

• You’re told to wire money back to them

• The check bounces, leaving you responsible

Real mystery shopping doesn’t require upfront payments. Be cautious of any that do. Legitimate companies pay you, not the other way around.

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5. Medical Billing Scams

Healthcare is booming. So are medical billing scams. They promise easy money working from home. But they’re usually fake. Watch for these signs:

• High upfront costs for software or training

• Promises of a list of willing clients

• Guarantees of earning potential

• Pressure to decide quickly

Legitimate medical billing requires training and certification. It’s rarely done from home by individuals. Be skeptical of any offer that makes it sound too easy.

6. Craft Assembly Scams

Like crafts? Beware of assembly job scams. They promise to pay for making items at home. But there’s a catch. Here’s how they work:

• You pay for supplies or a starter kit

• You assemble the items as directed

• The company rejects your work as “not up to standards”

• You’re left with worthless crafts and no pay

Legitimate craft jobs are rare. Most companies use factories. Don’t fall for promises of easy money-making crafts at home.

7. Virtual Assistant Scams

Virtual assistant jobs are real. But scammers create fake ones too. They’re after your info. Here’s what to watch for:

• Job offers that come out of nowhere

• Requests for sensitive information up front

• Poorly written job descriptions

• Interviews conducted only via text

Real virtual assistant jobs require skills and experience. Be wary of any that seem too easy to get.

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8. Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid schemes often disguise themselves as work-from-home opportunities. They focus on recruitment, not actual work. Red flags include:

• Emphasis on recruiting others

• Promises of passive income

• Requirement to buy products upfront

• Vague descriptions of the actual work involved

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Legitimate jobs pay you for your work, not for recruiting others.

9. Reshipping Scams

Reshipping scams promises easy money. They ask you to receive and reship packages. But it’s all illegal. Here’s the scam:

• You’re hired as a “shipping manager”

• You receive goods bought with stolen credit cards

• You reship the items to the scammers

• You’re left holding the bag when it’s discovered

No legitimate job will ask you to receive and reship packages from home. It’s always a scam.

10. Writing Scams

Writing jobs can be great work-from-home gigs. But scammers create fake ones too. Watch out for:

• Upfront fees for writing tools or training

• Promises of unrealistic pay rates

• Requirements to write free “samples” that are used

• Vague job descriptions with no company information

Real writing jobs pay you for your work. They don’t charge you to start. Be cautious of any that do.

11. Fake Job Listings

Scammers sometimes create entirely fake job listings. They’re after your info. Red flags include:

• Jobs that sound too good to be true

• Requests for sensitive information in applications

• Use of generic email addresses (e.g., Gmail) for communication

• Pressure to provide information quickly

Always research companies before applying. Be wary of jobs with little online presence.

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12. Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Schemes

MLMs often present themselves as work-from-home opportunities. But most people lose money. Watch for:

• Promises of easy money

• Focus on recruitment over product sales

• Requirements to buy inventory

• Cult-like devotion to the company

Legitimate jobs don’t require you to recruit others or buy products. Be very cautious of MLM pitches.

13. Tech Support Scams

Fake tech support jobs are on the rise. They’re often covered for illegal activities. Red flags include:

• Job offers that come out of the blue

• Requests to use your personal computer for work

• Tasks that involve transferring money or gift cards

• Vague descriptions of the company and its clients

Real tech support jobs require skills and experience. So, be wary of any that seem too easy to get.

14. Translation Scams

Translation can be legitimate work-from-home work. But scammers create fake jobs too. Watch for:

• Requests for upfront payments for software or training

• Promises of unrealistically high pay rates

• Requirements to translate large amounts for free as a “test”

• Use of machine translation tools instead of human skills

Legitimate translation jobs require fluency and often specialized knowledge. Be cautious of any that don’t.

READ ALSO: How to Successfully land a remote job on LinkedIn

15. Data Mining Scams

Data mining scams promise easy money for online research. But they’re after your info. Red flags:

• Vague job descriptions

• Requests for sensitive personal information

• Promises of high pay for simple tasks

• No information about the company or its clients

Real data mining requires specialized skills. Be skeptical of any offer that makes it sound simple.

16. Investment Scams

Some work-from-home scams are investment fraud. They promise high returns for little work. Watch out for:

• Guarantees of high returns

• Pressure to invest quickly

• Claims of “insider information”

• Requests to wire money or use cryptocurrency

Remember, legitimate investments come with risks. There is no such thing as guaranteed high returns.

17. Affiliate Marketing Scams

Affiliate marketing can be legitimate. But scammers create fake programs too. They often require upfront payments. Red flags:

• High upfront costs for training or tools

• Promises of unrealistic earnings

• Pressure to recruit others

• Lack of information about the products you’ll be marketing

Real affiliate marketing takes time and effort. Be wary of any program promising quick, easy money.

READ ALSO: Best Tips on How to Manage Work from Home Effectively

18. Social Media Management Scams

Social media jobs are real. But scammers create fake ones too. They’re often after account access. Watch for:

• Requests for your personal social media login info

• Promises of high pay for simple posting tasks

• Requirements to pay for training or tools

• Vague company information

Legitimate social media jobs require skills and experience. Be cautious of any that seem too easy to get.

19. Tutoring and Teaching Scams

Online tutoring can be great work. But scammers create fake opportunities too. Red flags include:

• Requests for upfront payments

• Promises of very high hourly rates

• Requirements to tutor for free as a “test”

• Lack of proper screening or qualifications checks

Real online tutoring jobs usually require education and experience. Be wary of any that don’t.

20. Customer Service Scams

Work-from-home customer service jobs exist. But scammers create fake ones too. They’re often phishing attempts. Watch for:

• Requests for sensitive personal information up front

• Job offers that come out of nowhere

• Use of generic email addresses for communication

• Lack of proper interview process

Legitimate customer service jobs require skills and often equipment. Be cautious of any that seem too easy to get.

21. Transcription Scams

Transcription can be real work-from-home work. But scammers create fake jobs here too. Red flags:

• Requirements to pay for software or equipment

• Promises of very high pay rates

• Requests to do large amounts of free work as a “test”

• Vague company information

Real transcription jobs often require experience and sometimes certification. Be wary of any that don’t.

Conclusion

Work-from-home job scams are everywhere. But now you’re armed with knowledge. You know the red flags to watch for. Remember these key points:

• Legitimate jobs don’t require upfront payments

• Be wary of job offers that come out of nowhere

• Research companies thoroughly before applying

• Never give out sensitive personal information to unverified sources

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Stay vigilant in your job search. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t let the allure of working from home cloud your judgment. There are real remote jobs out there. They might take more effort to find. But they’re worth the search.