Weeding Out Illegitimate Work-at-Home Opportunities

Be on the lookout for these red flags!

Bowling Green, KY. (July 29, 2019) - You’ve been looking for a work-from-home job forever — and you finally found it (or at least you think you did). It offers great pay and perfect hours, a fit made in heaven… right? However, before you rush to give out your personal information, make sure you don’t see any of these red flags.

• Steer clear of companies promising high pay for basic entry-level admin work, especially when they emphasize “No Experience Necessary!” This often appears in data entry scams.


• If you are contacted by a company you did not apply to, it could be a red flag. Be cautious when posting your résumé online… Scammers collect résumés from sites like Career Builder and Indeed and use them to find victims.


• Legitimate employment ads should not contain typos or bad grammar.


• Job offers should never require upfront payment or be accompanied by additional fees (membership fees, additional kits or systems, books, etc.).


• If an employer requests financial information (credit card info or bank account numbers) when you apply — that is a big red flag! Legitimate employers don’t ask job applicants for this info, but identity thieves might.


• Be aware — scammers always try to conceal their identity. If the “employer” wants to interview you via text, request a video or telephone interview. If they refuse, back away from their offer.


• Be cautious if your contact has a non-corporate email address. Legitimate employers typically have corporate email accounts.


• If your new employer sends you a check and asks you to deposit it, use some of the money to set up your office, keep some for yourself, then wire the rest back to them… that’s a huge red flag! When the check bounces, you’re on the hook with your bank for all the funds you withdrew, and the money you wired back to them is gone forever.


• If you’re not feeling comfortable about the job offer and your intuition is setting off alarms, go with your instinct. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Let your intuition be your guide!

Legitimate work-from-home jobs are out there. If you are interested in learning more about our training program and placement assistance with legitimate work-at-home companies, register at www.digitalworksjobs.com.  Best wishes with all of your future remote endeavors!

Tammy Spring is the Operations Manager for Digital Works. She is responsible for providing day-to-day oversight of Connected Nation’s Digital Works program, including a wide range of training, mentoring, and supervisory activities. These activities provide guidance for job placement and career growth.