You see them all over the internet: ads for online jobs promising to help you make a nice income working from home. You want something that’s flexible, you tell yourself, so why not give it a try? “It can be hard to ignore these ads when they seem to pop up everywhere you look. Online work is one of the most popular side gigs right now—and with good reason. The digital economy has opened up tons of new opportunities for people looking to make some extra money from home. But that doesn’t mean all online jobs are as great as they seem. In fact, there are some serious red flags you need to know about before you take the plunge into this type of work…
Know the difference between online job scams and legit opportunities.
Most online job scams involve you sending money—or handing over personal information—to make money. That’s not how any of this works. Legitimate online jobs are ones in which you are paid by the company hiring you to complete a specific task. If you’re getting an invitation to work “from home,” there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Some online job scams will try to lure you in with a promise of easy work and big payoffs. Others might try to make you feel like you’re being helpful or civic-minded by taking on a task. Be wary of any online job that involves you sending anyone money upfront, or any job that asks you to send out emails on behalf of a company or cause. It’s very rare that any of these situations will end well for you.
Always be aware of up-front costs.
Lots of online jobs require you to purchase equipment or supplies upfront. However, be aware that some companies will charge you to work for them—and then not pay you. If you have to spend money upfront, do your best to track your expenses. That way, if you don’t get paid, you can at least attempt to get your money back. In some cases, the company will reimburse you for the initial expense—but only if you ask. Be sure to clarify up front whether this is the case before you ever purchase anything. If you can’t get the company to reimburse you, consider keeping track of your expenses as a tax write-off.
Be wary of job listings that only pay in cash.
Lots of online job listings will only pay in cash. That’s not necessarily a red flag—unless there’s no information about the company or the work you’ll be doing. If you see a listing that offers a large amount of money but only pays in cash, be sure to ask why they don’t use a more common form of payment. If they refuse to answer, or if there’s no information about the company available online, it’s best to avoid working with them. Cash-only jobs can be a red flag for potential identity theft—especially if you’re not required to show any identification. While cash jobs are legal, they do tend to be more common among illegitimate work-at-home opportunities. Always be suspicious of any job that offers to pay you only in cash.
Research the company carefully before you sign up.
When you sign up for work at a legitimate online job, you’ll likely be asked to fill out a short form with some basic details about yourself. Be sure to take the time to research the company before you do so. Before you add any online job to your resume or link to it in your portfolio, you need to know that the company is real. That means checking to see if the company’s name is real and if it has an actual website. It also means looking up the company to see if it has a good reputation. If you’re worried that the company has a bad reputation, there are other ways to research it and make sure it’s legitimate. You can also ask your friends if they’ve heard of the company. If you can’t find any information about a company, you should be suspicious.
Don’t trust ads or email invitations promising jobs and income.
Lots of ads and emails promising great, easy money are scams. They’re designed to lure you in with promises of earning lots of cash quickly and easily. However, they’re almost always designed to get you to hand over personal information or pay a fee upfront—and then not deliver on the promise. If you ever receive an invitation from someone offering you work or a special opportunity, be very cautious. Read everything carefully before you hand over any personal information. Avoid giving out your bank account information or credit card numbers whenever possible. Be particularly wary if the email doesn’t come from someone you know—and if it promises a large amount of money with little effort or work.
Conclusion
Online jobs can be a great source of extra income—when you find the right opportunities. Be sure to avoid the red flags listed above, and you’ll be able to find a good opportunity and earn a consistent income with little effort—and without risking your identity or your bank account. Keep these red flags in mind, and you can be sure to avoid falling for any online job scams. You can then use those saved resources to explore effective, legitimate ways to make money from home.
