Finding the right work-at-home job can be a daunting task, especially when there are so many to filter through. If all the listed at-home jobs were legitimate, it would be a WAHM’s dream. Unfortunately, many at-home work opportunities are scams. To protect yourself and your valuable time, being able to identify scams easily is a valuable skill to develop. While not all scams can be categorized by the two major identifiers below, these will help you avoid the bulk of work-from-home scams.

Requires Money Upfront

You should never have to pay out of your own pocket to start a job. If training is required, the company should pay for it. If a company is asking for your money upfront, report them to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and move on to another opportunity.

Pays Too Much

Next, look at the time-pay-experience ratio. If the job doesn’t require special skills, experience, or training and yet they’ll pay a couple thousand a week for minimal hours worked, chances are it’s a scam. As nice it would be to make a lot of money working from home without putting in too much time, it isn’t real. Sometimes their aim is to get your personal information or even your money, but it’s not to offer a legitimate work experience.

However, sometimes scams are a bit harder to identify than just with the two rules above. When this is the case, you can still take steps to protect yourself before you get involved, and it will only take just a few minutes to double-check. It’s worth the time.

Check With the BBB

A simple search on the BBB’s website will bring up any official complaints about a company. If there are complaints against them, you can also view if those complaints have been responded to or resolved by the company in question. This is a fantastic resource for any WAHM.

Search for Online Reviews

If a job offer is a scam, you are probably not the first one to experience it. Many at-home job scams have been logged on countless review sites. Type in the name of the company and the word “scam” in your favorite search engine and glance over the results. If there were others before you, the first page of results will be filled with reviews and complaints. If you find negative reviews, steer clear.

Ask Follow-Up Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask for the job requirements, work details, pay scale, when you’ll be paid, and when you can start work. Get the company’s website and the company’s backstory from your contact. And don’t forget to check references. All these things can bring up red flags or give you peace of mind. Protect yourself first.

What it basically comes down to is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use your best judgment when sifting through at-home job listings and offers. Keep your guard up until you’re certain of the company’s validity, and only then move forward. You’ll get better with practice, and soon you’ll be able to spot work-at-home scams as soon as you see them.