Home-based business and work-at-home opportunity scams rank very high on the list of the top types of Internet fraud. As the recession bites even harder than ever these types of scams are becoming more widespread and comprehensive. So I do understand why people are cautious about home based business opportunities, especially ones to earn an extra income via the internet. It’s not all bad news though, there are LOTS of legitimate businesses that can help you start your own home based/work from home business.
Before the Internet became so popular people looking to earn extra cash would join companies like Kleezeze, Betterware, Avon or party plan companies like The Body Shop, Virgin Vie and Phoenix Cards etc. Even now these companies still offer a way of earning an extra income; indeed you can earn a full time income from them if you put the time and effort in.
Of course putting brochures through doors and collecting order/payments and making deliveries is very time consuming and not everyone is suited to organising and hosting parties where a lot of self-confidence and an outgoing personality really helps.
Before the internet other earn extra money from home opportunities could be found in weekly papers like ‘Daltons Weekly’ and ‘Exchange and Mart’ where the business opportunities section was full of ‘get rich quick’ schemes like envelope stuffing, mystery shopping, craft assembly (you are supplied with parts to complete craft projects at home with the promise of high per-piece rates but you never “meet their specifications”). Of course there was always a fee involved to receive the information then you would find out that it was a scam.
Of course there were schemes to earn extra money as a horse racing tipster or even placing bets on horses. Another scam was the chain letters dressed up like a business opportunity, you know the sort of thing, send £xyz for this ‘overnight success’ business idea which actually ends up you repeating the same advert for people to send you money.
Now lots of these scams have moved onto the internet and have become more elaborate. There are plenty of advertisements for ‘email processors’ which, after paying a large sum of money, you find out it’s nothing more than the online version of the ‘envelope stuffing’ scam. Or home typing work which actually turns out that you have to send out lots of letters to people looking for just the work you are doing and turning you into ‘the scammer’.
In recent years even dropshipping has come under suspicion as a ‘scam’. There certainly have been a few companies whose underhand tactics have brought the dropshipping business into disrepute, simply Google Dropshipping scam for some interesting reading!
How do you spot a scam opportunity?
Research is the key, questions you should ask include; how long has the company been operating? Is there an actual product or service to offer? What are the set up costs? Are there contact details, phone number, address, email details? Is there an actual address you can visit and not a P.O box? Can you ask them questions and do you get a reply when you do ask a question? Have you researched reviews on the company? All these things you need to do before you make your decision.
Thankfully Mystic Charms delivers and has many happy sellers earning extra income from home.