Work-at-Home Schemes

 

PHISHING
Phishing scams are cleverly hidden attempts to get your account information. These emails are sent with legitimate looking header information, company logos and formatting and often claim that there is an urgent need for you to login to your account. Any time you receive one of these emails, please be sure to check the destination URL on the link contained within BEFORE attempting to login or submit any information. These emails are cleverly disguised to appear as though they were sent by a legitimate company, however the links contained within lead the recipient to a false website. These false sites are usually identical (or very similar) to the site the recipient thinks they are traveling to. Once the recipient has logged in, the site owner (scammer/phisher) has their login information and can use it to their advantage. Sometimes the sites will contain fields to be completed, often requesting that the victim update their banking information or other sensitive information.

 

 

Questions to Ask
Legitimate work-at-home program sponsors should tell you - in writing - what's involved in the program they are selling. Here are some questions you might ask a promoter:

• What tasks will I have to perform? (Ask the program sponsor to list every step of the job.)
• Will I be paid a salary or will my pay be based on commission?
• Who will pay me?
• When will I get my first paycheck?
• What is the total cost of the work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment and membership fees? What will I get for my money?

The answers to these questions may help you determine whether a work-at-home program is appropriate for your circumstances, and whether it is legitimate.

You also might want to check out the company with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau, not only where the company is located, but also where you live. These organizations can tell you whether they have received complaints about the work-at-home program that interests you. But be wary: the absence of complaints doesn't necessarily mean the company is legitimate. Unscrupulous companies may settle complaints, change their names or move to avoid detection

Where to Complain
If you have spent money and time on a work-at-home program and now believe the program may not be legitimate, contact the company and ask for a refund. Let company representatives know that you plan to notify officials about your experience. If you can't resolve the dispute with the company, file a complaint with these organizations:

• The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraud and deception. Call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or log on to www.ftc.gov.
• The Attorney General's office in your state or the state where the company is located. The office will be able to tell you whether you're protected by any state law that may regulate work-at-home programs.
• Your local consumer protection offices.
• Your local Better Business Bureau.
• Your local postmaster. The U.S. Postal Service investigates fraudulent mail practices.
• The advertising manager of the publication that ran the ad. The manager may be interested to learn about the problems you've had with the company