Happy Holidays All. I hope you've been spending quality time with your family. I definitely have. But I pulled away a little time to get some work done. So 2009 is quickly coming to an end. I would dare to say that is the year that everyone wants to forget. Obviously the economy had a great deal to do with this sentiment. While most folks were cutting back, scammers were hard at work if you can call it that! Apparently misery and despair is like Christmas for con artists. So in the spirit of letting go of the past and looking forward to a better new year, I've compiled a list of the top 5 work from home scams of 2009. There is a saying that goes the past often repeats itself. This is particularly true with scams. Con artists may change some of the bells and whistles but they tend to have the same patterns. So study this list so you avoid crap like it in 2010.
1. Google Money Scams
This is basically a scam where shady marketers were misrepresenting affiliate marketing as some type of easy job with Google. Ridiculous promises of easy money working for Google, low shipping costs with hidden exorbitant fees were also common with this scam. It caused a lot of uproar for Google because people assumed that Google was behind it. But eventually they couldn't ignore all the bad publicity associated with the confusion and pulled such misleading ads and websites from their search engine. Later they delivered the final blow and sued some of the biggest names associated with this scam. But con artists are persistent bunch. They have already adapted and are playing on other known search engine's such as Yahoo and Bing. So if you see some Bing work at home opportunity, chances are it's probably the same misleading product and Microsoft has nothing to do with it. It's like the saying goes, same crap different day. (Related articles: Google Shuts Down Money Scams, Google Money Tree Scam, FTC Busts Work From Home Scammers, Fake News Sites)
2. Fake Newspaper Article Scams
This is pretty much the same scam described above but with a twist of lime. When folks started becoming wise to the scam artist's nonsense, they had to adapt. Roaches do the same thing. So they created hundreds of fake news websites that featured so called news articles about working at home and how their shady Google work at home product was highly recommended. Often times you would see the logos of legitimate news agencies on their website with the catch phrase as seen on… The thing is these companies were never featured on the actual news programs. Many times they just happen to be sponsors when those shows aired. And those so called news articles were all fake and simply very deceptive advertisements designed to hoodwink you into buying any of the garbage Google Make Money products. They've modified some of these fake news articles to promote some other work at home offer. But at the end of the day if they're still using such deceptive practices to get you into their program, what does it really say about their opportunity? (Related articles: Fake News Sites)
3. Check Cashing/Wire Transfer Scams
This is basically a variation of the Nigerian email scams. Con artists would basically post a fake job listing often time which was very elaborate and may even use a legitimate company's name or job description. Or they may search legitimate job site for resumes so they can find new victims . No matter how they packaged the job, eventually they would mention something about cashing a check or wiring money. Everything prior to that may sound as real as any job. But once the mention of cashing checks or wiring money is put into the equation all bets were off. Chances are you're probably being set up for this scam. Eventually the victim would cash the check and be told to keep a percentage of the money. Then they would be informed find by their bank that the check was fake and all their money was withdrawn from their personal accounts. Ouch! (Related articles: Fake Checks & Wire Transfer Work At Home Scams, Derby House Fabrics Bookkeeper Job Scam)
4. Package Forwarding Scams
The scam artists are often lazy but clever. When they see something works, they adjust it to scam even more people. Since the fake check scam worked so well, they modified the principle of a fake job listing. Instead of wiping your checking account clean, they're using you so that they can get stolen consumer products to their homes. Basically the scammers would post a job for a shipping assistant or something to that effect. Your so-called job was to receive consumer products open the contents, "ensure" everything was in order, then forward the package to another address which was a P.O. Box address. Next thing you know you're getting a knock on your door from the postal inspector and being accused of theft or possession of stolen goods. Basically the scam artist has stolen someone's credit card information.Then they've purchased a whole bunch of stuff with it. But instead of shipping it to their home where they'll be caught. They send the product to you and have you ship it to a P.O. Box which is not traceable. They get a whole bunch of free stuff and you get hosed. Sometimes the scam artists will actually send you some money to do this. This leads you to believe that this "job" is legitimate. However it's not. They can afford to send a few bucks your way because they'll probably sell the stolen items for a great price to some unsuspecting customer. (Related articles: Package Forwarding)
5. Forced Continuity / Hidden Negative Option Scams
Most of the so called Google work at home opportunity employed the "marketing technique" I'm about to discuss. It worked so well that it spread to various other work at home related products. So how does it work? Basically you pay a small shipping fee for a given work at home kit, dvd, ebook, training or whatever. It's can range from $1.99 – $4.99. It's specifically designed to be insignificant so you feel you have nothing to really lose. When you fork over your credit card information, there is usually some terms and services that everyone ignores or fails to read completely. In that the sea of text is usually a line that basically signs your life away. Or at the very least it reads that you'll be signed up for other nonsensical services that will probably be priced anywhere from $39.99 to $99.99 within 7 days. By the way, it's not a full 7 days. They usually count the second you sign up as the first day. So $1.99 turns out to be 8 times that because you failed to read the fine print. ” ?” ?Honestly it's a shady practice but a big reason that it works is because we fail to read things. So we're a big part of the problem. I see it happen all the time on this blog. People ask me how can I find a work at home job. It's a ridiculous question because there are links all over the site linking to a solution. I now ignore those comments because it's clear folks aren't reading and that's a recipe for disaster. On my site the most you may lose for failing to read is your feelings and some great ways to make money. Outside my site you may end up losing up to $100 bucks or more. So the lesson here is R.I.F. (Reading is fundamental) By the way some companies do very legitimate trial offers where they're very clear as to what will happen after the period is over. They don't bury it in the fine print. They'll even email you a few days in advance to let you know you're about to be charged the higher fee. That's the way it should be done. These companies are confident enough in their products where they don't feel they need to trick you into staying on. So keep this in mind. I don't want everyone now thinking that all companies that charge these low trial fees are all scams. They're not. (Related articles: Google Money Tree Scam)
Conclusion
So there you have it, my top 5 work at home scams of 2009. Please note this list was not really compiled by any scientific methods. It should be interesting what 2010 brings in the way of scams. However if you follow the simple steps in my work at home scams video, you'll probably be able to avoid most of them. I didn't fall for any of this year's scams and that's purely because I followed the steps in my scam video. So feel free to watch that work at home scams video when you have that question "Is company x a scam?". It's a simple question to answer if you watch that video. (Hint, hint.)” ?” ?
At the end of the day let the past be the past. Don't harp on all the mistakes or negative things that happened this past year. Instead, why not learn from them? If you were laid off from your job in 2009 then in 2010 work on getting some new career skills or starting your own business. If some jerk dumped you in 09, thank him or her. Now in 2010 find someone that will appreciate and love you the way you deserve. If someone you loved went to be with the Lord in 09, remember them in 2010 by appreciating every moment of life and spending more quality time with the loved ones that are still here. If you experienced any set backs, be thankful for them. Now you know what not to do in 2010. Take responsibility of your life. Don't wait on "bailouts" or for someone else to improve your life. You control your life and what it can be. Don't complain about things that didn't work out. Pick yourself up, dust your shoulders off and keep coming back for more. You can never lose if you don't give up on yourself. You have to be your biggest cheerleader. Don't wait for affirmation or approval from others, motivate yourself because at the end of the day you're in control!
The New Year is time for a fresh start. Actually every day is an opportunity for a new start. Keep that in mind in 2010. If you didn't like how your life turned out this past year then don't repeat the same steps! It's that simple. Try something different that you didn't do in 09. Otherwise you're bound to repeat the past. See you in 2010. I believe it's going to be your best year yet! But do you believe that?
No Biggie Becky. I still appreciate that you were trying to warn me. But it is what it is. I just hope people actually read the body of my work and make a determination based on that.
Hey Eddy!
First, love the site! I’ve shared it with many friends and family members. My favorites are MTurk and Opinion Outpost. Unlike most sites, Opinion Outpost only has a minimum cash out of 5.00, so you don’t feel like it’s taking forever to work your rewards up! I’ve made 250.00 on MTurk so far, just doing it on the side when I have time.
I wanted to alert you of a few scams WITHIN MTurk. First of all, there are several HITs that ask you to go to one site, fill out a form, and then continue to http://www.whatismyip.com. I’m not sure if everyone is as skeptical about giving out their IP as I am, but I avoid them. Also, as with most things in life, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. There are 4 and 5 dollar hits that once you accept them and do them, they won’t let you submit. The posters rig it to where you are unable to Submit after you have done the task. You do it thinking you’ll get paid top dollar for not much work, but then are unable to Submit for payment.
@Cayla L:
One more I forgot!
There are some HITs that pay well and seem simple. They ask you to simply “download a picture and tell what is in it”. Sometimes it will ask you to name the fruit, or copy the number. It takes you to an external site, and you are asked to download a weird file. I haven’t actually downloaded the external file, but my computer pulls it up as red.
Just remember with MTurk. Most HITs don’t pay well. If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is! No one is going to pay you .50 cents to tell you what fruit is in 1 picture.
Overall, I LOVE MTurk and highly recommend it to people with some time on their hands. I made 25.00 just TODAY because I ran across some fairly simple, but well paying, HITs.
Thanks again for all your hard work.
Cayla
Hi Cayla,
Thanks for sharing your experience with MTurk and your tips. I’m sure it will help folks! But you may want to post it on the Mturks article:
http://www.workathomenoscams.com/2008/07/29/work-at-home-with-amazoncom/ so that when folks are reading about that opportunity, they’ll have your tips right there.
At the end of the day Mturks is just like the major job sites where you always need to be on your toes for fake jobs that sound too good to be true.
It’s a matter of applying the common sense we all use offline. But this needs to be applied more vigilantly online. Most of the times your instincts kick in when something doesn’t sound right. If you follow that then you can avoid any scam no matter how well it tries to disguise itself. That being said I’m surprised that Amazon doesn’t have a better way to report some of these shady companies offering bad hits.
Thank you Eddy for all the wonderful information that you always have here for all of us. In deed it’s great to know that we have such a site as yours. Also, I just like to wish you and ALL your family the best that life has to offer. Keep up the good work that your doing! By the way, since I’ve been working through the steps at WA, I have not yet made a dime. It may because I’m having trouble with my keyword use. Guess it’s just going to take more time than I thought. Still having high hopes tho. GB everyone here in this NEW YEAR!!
Note: Want’s your thought about using webs dot com to do all the work? Just something that I’ve been thinking about lately.
Happy New Year, Eddy!
Thanks for another great article. I discovered your site while forced out of work due to illness. Thanks to Workathomenoscams.com, I was able to get a great education on all the Good Things available; and…. No Scams…because…. I watched The Video.
Again, Thanks and best wishes for a Prosperous New Year!
Bev
Eddy, I too like so many others hope that 2010 will be a better year then 2009. I unfortunately just celebrated being unemployed for over a year now with no real prospects in hand so I am really looking forward to the big work-at-home announcement you eluded too this year. I realize that you’re still working on it and I wish you the best in getting it completed soon because I feel lots of folks like myself can benefit from it.
I hope that you and your family have a wonderful upcoming year of 2010.
Thanks again for all that you do to help us.
P.S. – Yes, even though I live in Kansas now, Texas does do it up big and I am proud to say I lived in the Great State of Texas for almost 20 years. You can take the man out of Texas but you can’t take Texas out of the man. Texas Proud
Randall,
Just keep pushing forward. Every friday we post new leads here and every day at my other site ( http://www.workathomecareers.com ). You can find something as others have. It’s just a matter of continuing to plug away. My new project will just provide you with more leads, but it’s nothing that radical that is going to change your life. It’s just an added supplement to what I already do here every friday. So keep that in mind. So here’s to a wonderful 2010 for you and your family.
By the way I totally understand your sentiments about Texas. I feel the same way about the Bronx where I spent most of my life and Brooklyn where I spent my early years. It’s amazing how a location can have such an impact on your life. So I can totally relate.
Bev,
It’s great that you learned so much from the site. Sounds like you’re well on your way to making 2010 a wonderful year! Take care and have a wonderful 2010 and many more years after that!
Wait, What!? Did we forget to exchange gifts again this year? Sorry, I’ve been a bit distracted and busy.
Anyways, happy belated Christmas Big “E”. Yes, 2010 is going to be a fantastic year! You were one of the few that I shared with this year… thanks for seeing me through and being a friend. Let’s jump ahead to 2011 where we all meet up in Dallas for some meet and greets and a few drinks.
Oh and,a very good article once again.
Phil
Johnney,
Awww thanks for the best of show nomination. lol I never win any type of competition. But a fictitious award from the people that actually use my site is all I need. So thanks! 😉
Sorry to hear that you fell for a few of the forced continuity scams. But you’re right the scam artist know exactly what they’re doing and that’s basically betting on the fact that we won’t read or do our research.
In any event, thanks for your positive insight and thoughts. I totally agree with everything you said especially asking questions and viewing every day as a fresh start. Sounds like you have the perfect mindset for the year to come. As long as you put some action to it as you’ve already suggested, than 2010 will be your best year
in all areas of your life. Take care and thanks again!
Callie,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I try to ignore such unfounded nonsense or negativity now. I should post some of the emails and other comments I get from people that want to blame me for their misery. It’s amazing the things people will say online but would never say to your face if they met you in public. But it’s not that important. Now I just focus on the people that want help and are actually willing to read, take action and help themselves. I’ve quickly realized that’s the only type of people I can help. I’ll just pray for the rest. So thanks for always supporting a brother and being my biggest cheerleader! 😉
Phil,
What up man!!! Dude I’ve been so awful with my holiday shout outs this year. So my bad and no need for an apology on your end. lol I know how busy you’ve been and it’s a good thing considering the tough year you had.
My wife and I are so just not in the Holiday spirit this year. I feel like we’re in a holding pattern. Our minds are consumed with trying to raise up out of our current place and finding a bigger home so my princess has a bigger space to play.
In any event, no need for the thanks brother. You’re a good guy and just needed someone to vent with sometimes. And I was happy to be that for you. Ultimately it was you that made the moves and ended 09 in a good way. So applaud you. I KNOW 2010 is going to be a great year for you. We definitely need to try to meet up in 2011. I’ve never been to the great state of Texas but I hear you guys do it big there. lol So we’ll have to figure something out. So like your state make sure 2010 is a big year for you!
Denise,
I completely agree with the very inspirational closing. The article was actually the last thing I read before turning in very “wee hourish” this morning. Needless to say I slept very well. Wow, 2010 … will be my best year yet!
Eddy,
Dang, what’s up with the WOT rater-haters. Well, let ’em say what they want. Truth of the matter is both of your invaluable sites speak loudly for themselves, and not to mention the voices of all your loyal subscribers, visitors, followers, etc who firmly stand supportive in your corner. Keep up the GREAT work that you do!
Johnney,
Yes, I’m in total agreement that Eddy is deserving of a Best In Show today. Cheers Eddy … We applaud & appreciate YOU!!
Right On Eddy,
I got hit for a couple of those low cost trial google things in 09. Those guys sure know their stuff when it comes to marketing. I felt horrible when I realized I had been duped, I can’t imagine how hard it must be for someone who really gets taken to the cleaners. I really feel bad for them, BUT, like you said, READ THE FINE PRINT, I know I always will read “terms and conditions”
thanks for letting us know too, that not all low trial offers are scams and that their are some legitimate ones out there. I too, like many, had a difficult 09. I am determined to have a very different and positive and rewarding 2010. I wish for all to have a Safe and Happy New Years, (please be safe and use common sense when celebrating) begin everyday with joy and enthusiasm, seek the good in all things, get moving and take some action, if you don’t know something, just ask, and keep asking until you get your answer, I assure you someone knows the answer, so keep looking. Your life be brand new each and everyday if you commit to greeting each day with that thought, I am really into dogs and dog shows, and at a dog show each day of competition starts anew, if your dog didn’t win the first day, it has an equal chance to win on each of the next days even against the dogs that won the previous day because each day the playing field is leveled. So for me I am going to greet each day with the thought of knowing and the feeling of, if I do my very best today in all that I do and for all that I meet, then I have an equal chance to be Best Of Show every day. Here’s wishing you all a lot of Best of Shows in 2010.
Keep up the Great Work Eddy, I know you are helping to positively impact a lot of lives. Hey, since you constantly strive to Show us the Best of work at home opps. I think you deserve a Best In Show, today. Anyone else agree?
Johnney
This whole year, I have not been scammed. I doubt that I will ever be scammed. The reason behind this is I am generally too smart for scammers, and if I wanted to, I would be able to build an air-tight scam that no one would suspect. However, I am not like that, so I wouldn’t do such a thing. I have had extraordinary luck this year, especially with winning the $120, which I thought I wouldn’t even win. I am glad I was able to find this site and join this community of people helping others, and want to be able to help people the same that Eddy did. Thanks for your help, Eddy, not just to me, but to everyone that you have helped in your life, and may you live a long, happy life with you and your family.
James,
That’s great to hear you’ve avoided any of these scams all year long. I wish that was the case for everyone. That being said sometimes being scammed has less to do with intelligence and more to do with circumstances. When folks fall into desperation a lot of your natural instincts are ignored or suppressed because you’re just trying to stop the bleeding. Other times the scam artists masterful create an offer that may trick the smartest of people. So there are numerous factors that may play into why someone may become a victim. With that said common sense and due diligence tends to help you avoid most scams. So I agree with you to some respect.
In any event, I’m glad you found us too. I feel very blessed that I get paid to do what I love which is to help people help themselves. So thank you for the kind words. I wish the same thoughts to you and your family and all my visitors. Make it a great year James!
Thanks. Your closing was very inspirational. Have a Happy New Year.
This is for anybody who uses WOT. Web of Trust as a Firefox add-on for safe websites.
Eddy’s very helpful site has been rated “poor” or untrustworthy.
http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/workathomenoscams.com
Which anybody who has been to his site and subscribes knows is full on malarkey.
Please, if you use WOT, do Eddy and yourself a favor and give a good green rating.
Great post as usual Eddy! I’m sending a link of this to my mom because she almost was duped by the “money wiring” transfer..She will appreciate this article alot! Thanks!
Cheri,
Glad you liked the article. I hope it does help your Mom or anyone else you decide to forward it to. Knowledge is power. So the more we can share this stuff with others the better it is for everyone.
Michael,
I really appreciate your call to action. Before moving on to Google’s Chrome, I was a big firefox user and advocate. I love all the free plugins you can add. I also downloaded that WOT plugin and another web site rating plugin. Needless to say I was surprised when I read the misinformation about my sites. I then realized I couldn’t full trust such a plugin. Sometimes they’re spot on and other times like in the case of my site they’re dead wrong. That being said I figured that the truth would come out and good folks like yourself would champion the cause. So thanks for chiming in on that. I will continue to provide value and useful information and I’ll let you folks spread the word about the truth. Thanks again.
Denise,
Thanks! I’m glad my little conclusion can provide some inspiration as that was the goal. So definitely make your 2010 a happy and great year.
WOW, what a foo…guess I should have taken the time to READ other posts before giving you the heads up on your WOT rating {sheepish grin}, thanks for being gracious as always, & not pointing out that I would have known that others have had issues if I had checked it out first :).