As you should already know, the Internet can be full of scammers, and even the best job posting sites (such as Odesk or Elance) have their share of this filth.
So here are a few tips on how not to get scammed when looking for work-at-home jobs:
1. Always keep all transactions and communication within the job posting site's system. For instance, if you found the job on Odesk, use Odesk's system to communicate with your buyers.
Never give out your personal email. Using the system means all your transactions are recorded within the system. That makes it easier to resolve disputes should any arise.
2. Never accept payment offers outside of the system. Job posting sites require the buyer to send the payment to the job posting site, not directly to you. The job posting site will then send you your payments via PayPal.
This is the safest method for you, so keep within it. Never accept direct payments from the buyer to your PayPal. And never accept offers to pay via Western Union, unless you are sure the buyer can be trusted. (So far, the only ones I have trusted to send me money via Western Union are Google Ads and Triond.)
3. Avoid sending "sample" work that the buyer can use. If they want to see how you write, a sample work from your portfolio should suffice. If they ask for something they can already use for their site, be aware that the risk is high they have asked hundreds of applicants for these "samples" and that way, have gotten work done for free.
4. Realize that jobs should pay you, not the other way around. If the job requires you to pay them anything so that you can work, it's 99 percent guaranteed to be a scam.
Oct 28, 2010
How Not to Get Scammed When Looking for Work-at-Home Jobs
