When applying for an internet job, a few things might come into your mind, including "Is this a scam?" or "Will this company actually pay me?" Thankfully, there is an organization to help us check the reliability of most companies.
The BBB or Better Business Bureau is a great organization that you will probably use multiple times when looking for an online job. This organization keeps records of claims against companies, so you can easily tell if the company you are considering in in good standing. To use the BBB, go to:
For U.S. based companies:
http://www.us.bbb.org
For Canadian based companies:
http://www.ccbbb.ca/
Next, type in the name of the company you are interested in, and click search.
Once you have found the correct business, click the link on their name.
If the company is in the database, the site will tell you the companies rating, in addition to the number of complaints filed against the company and how many of those complaints have been resolved.
This could save you a lot of time and effort in the long run, so please check before applying.
Another possibility is to do a Google search on the name of your company and the word complaints next to it.
Example:
(Company name) complaints
If you find an overwhelming amount of bad feedback, stay away from the company.
Let's face it. Who wants to spend hours working and not even get paid?
Saturday
Beware of Scams
Before you go on the search for a work at home job, please read what to watch out for, or you could lose money instead of make it.
Here are a few of the biggest scams:
1. Data Entry- If a website says that it is paying big bucks for data entry, think before signing up. Currently, there isn't a big business for people entering data, so most legitimate websites do not pay for this. I put this one at the top of the list, not only because it is hardly known about, but also because I have been scammed by many of these companies.
2. Envelope Stuffing- You probably have heard these scams before, but for those who haven't, it basically says that a website will pay you a lot of money for stuffing their envelopes. These are almost always scams.
3. Up Front Cash- 99% of all legitimate websites DO NOT ask you to pay money up front. They should be paying you, not the other way around!
Note: Some legitimate companies will ask you to pay money for a background check, which is perfectly reasonable, since you could be handling their customers personal information.
You might also be required to pay for training. I tend to avoid these companies though.
Know another scam??
Email Me!
Here are a few of the biggest scams:
1. Data Entry- If a website says that it is paying big bucks for data entry, think before signing up. Currently, there isn't a big business for people entering data, so most legitimate websites do not pay for this. I put this one at the top of the list, not only because it is hardly known about, but also because I have been scammed by many of these companies.
2. Envelope Stuffing- You probably have heard these scams before, but for those who haven't, it basically says that a website will pay you a lot of money for stuffing their envelopes. These are almost always scams.
3. Up Front Cash- 99% of all legitimate websites DO NOT ask you to pay money up front. They should be paying you, not the other way around!
Note: Some legitimate companies will ask you to pay money for a background check, which is perfectly reasonable, since you could be handling their customers personal information.
You might also be required to pay for training. I tend to avoid these companies though.
Know another scam??
Email Me!
What the Heck is an EIN???
So you are applying to a work at home company, when suddenly you see that you will have to give out your Social Security Number. I had the exact same problem when I was applying for work at home jobs, as I didn't want to have my identity stolen. Luckily, I found a way around it. Most companies will allow you to enter an EIN as a substitute for your Social.
So what is an EIN, and how can I apply for one?
An Employee Identification Number (also known as an EIN, TIN, Tax Identification Number, FEIN or Federal Employee Identification Number) is:
"The corporate equivalent to a Social Security Number, although it is issued to anyone, including individuals, who have to pay withholding taxes on employees."-Wikipedia
The IRS will use your EIN to identify you as a tax payer, and to see how much you owe them. You will not usually be taxed if your Work at Home income is less than $600.
To get an EIN, visit the IRS's webpage here:
https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
So what is an EIN, and how can I apply for one?
An Employee Identification Number (also known as an EIN, TIN, Tax Identification Number, FEIN or Federal Employee Identification Number) is:
"The corporate equivalent to a Social Security Number, although it is issued to anyone, including individuals, who have to pay withholding taxes on employees."-Wikipedia
The IRS will use your EIN to identify you as a tax payer, and to see how much you owe them. You will not usually be taxed if your Work at Home income is less than $600.
To get an EIN, visit the IRS's webpage here:
https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
Popular Myths About Working at Home
In this post, I will discuss some of the popular myths and misconceptions about working online:
1. All work at home jobs are scams. False
It would be nice to say that about 1 in every 10 work at home websites are actually legitimate, but its more like 1 in every 50. The trick is to find that one that actually pays. (I'll list some that I personally use on another page.)
2. You can get rich quickly from the comfort of your home. False!!!
Whenever you see sites saying something similar to this, alarm bells should start ringing in your head, since these are 100% scams that are only out to get your money. Avoid these like the plague!! (If there is an exception, I haven't heard it, and I doubt I ever will.)
3. Working from home gives you plenty of time to relax and requires hardly any work. False
Like any job, working from your home can be difficult and challenging at times, sometimes even more than a real job. Working from home requires discipline, since you will not have a boss who who oversees you. It is extremely important to not get sidetracked and start browsing the internet. I recommend setting up a schedule on what times you will work, and stick to it. Some people love home jobs since they can wake up and work in their pajamas, without even spending gas money, while other people absolutely hate working from home jobs. This is something you will have to decide for yourself.
With most online jobs, the companies aren't forced to pay you minimum wage, so don't expect to immediately have a solid income. There are some companies I use that will actually pay you about the same as a real job, and I will get to them in a while.
1. All work at home jobs are scams. False
It would be nice to say that about 1 in every 10 work at home websites are actually legitimate, but its more like 1 in every 50. The trick is to find that one that actually pays. (I'll list some that I personally use on another page.)
2. You can get rich quickly from the comfort of your home. False!!!
Whenever you see sites saying something similar to this, alarm bells should start ringing in your head, since these are 100% scams that are only out to get your money. Avoid these like the plague!! (If there is an exception, I haven't heard it, and I doubt I ever will.)
3. Working from home gives you plenty of time to relax and requires hardly any work. False
Like any job, working from your home can be difficult and challenging at times, sometimes even more than a real job. Working from home requires discipline, since you will not have a boss who who oversees you. It is extremely important to not get sidetracked and start browsing the internet. I recommend setting up a schedule on what times you will work, and stick to it. Some people love home jobs since they can wake up and work in their pajamas, without even spending gas money, while other people absolutely hate working from home jobs. This is something you will have to decide for yourself.
With most online jobs, the companies aren't forced to pay you minimum wage, so don't expect to immediately have a solid income. There are some companies I use that will actually pay you about the same as a real job, and I will get to them in a while.
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