Homeworking schemes - advice to consumers (26/01/2012)

How can you tell a 'genuine' homeworking opportunity from the thousands of bogus offers either online, in newspapers or that come in the post through your letter box?

Advertisements promoting business and employment opportunities in your home may sound too good to be true and all too often they are.  Offers of employment or businesses opportunities all too often don't tell the full story.

 Here are some useful tips in spotting the scams:

*         Be suspicious if you have to pay a fee to receive more information. If you have to pay money over for an employment opportunity then it is more than likely a scam.

*         Beware of advertisements that make unbelievable claims about job opportunities or potential earnings. Earnings can be vastly exaggerated or sometime totally unrealistic.  Do some of your own research before you go ahead and take up on an offer.

*         Stuffing envelopes as offers - these are often a front to phoney get rich quick schemes or pyramid selling.

*         Don't be fooled by glossy newsletters or flyers.  Some desktop publishing advertising can be easily put together in a quick and professional manner at very little cost.  The offer might look good but is there any substance to what is being offered.

*         Some businesses ask you to buy materials to produce items, such as making Christmas wreaths, covering lampshade frames, making up leather purses or bags.  You may not be told that you will also have to sell these items yourself and after making them or assembling the item that no body wants it.  Other firms may offer to buy back some of the items you make as long as your workmanship is 'acceptable'.  This allows the promoter to reject some goods which are perfectly good and sell them on at a profit.

*         Beware of PO Box number addresses.  Scam businesses can hide behind PO Box number addresses and then disappear very quickly without trace.  Monies you send to PO Box number addresses could be forwarded to any address in the UK or even internationally.

*         'No investment required'; 'a large income'; 'work from home to suit your own hours', 'no experience necessary'.  These are all standard phrases which have been used in bogus home working schemes in the past.  If you see these in an advertisement in a newspaper or other publication be on your guard.

*         Remember genuine employers will not ask for money in advance before providing you with work.  There should be also a clear written contract of what you are expected to do in return for an income.
Some bogus home working schemes will specifically target people who are on low income, persons who cannot work outside their own home due to family or care commitments, limited employment experience or qualifications.  These adverts might appear to provide an answer to your income needs and allow you to earn with little or no expense, but read very carefully the offer that is being made to you, before you go ahead.  Once contacted by these dubious businesses you could become a repeat victim and open yourself up to other companies offering bogus holiday offers, services etc. Unfortunately you may also find that you have, unwittingly, become part of a scheme which by its very nature, preys on the more vulnerable in society - the poor, the housebound, the unemployed, the elderly, etc.

If you are looking for work to do at home, you should consider writing to or approaching local companies who may be able to offer this type of work.
If you do see advertisements for homeworking schemes that you think are misleading, you can refer them to the Advertising Standards Authority<http://www.asa.org.uk/>, Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6QT, Tel: 0207 492 2222 or go online at: www.asa.org.uk/<http://www.asa.org.uk/>

If you feel you may be a victim of one of these schemes, or would like further information, contact Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06 or you can write or visit Highland Trading Standards at:

Highland Trading Standards Unit, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness

Make sure you have a copy of the advertisement, any follow up literature and the nature of your complaint.

For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews

Highland Council Trading Standards Service is part of Transport, Environment and Community Service, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness