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Trading Standards Work from home and earn £30k per year!" Homeworking Schemes - Don't be caught out be offer of bogus jobs! "Work from home and earn £30k per year!" Adverts such as these promoting business or employment opportunities from your own home sound good, but may be too good to be true. Offers of employment or business opportunities all too often don't tell the full story. Once you respond to such an advertisement you could find yourself being open to all sorts of other mail and telephone scams. In the current employment climate it may be tempting to respond to such advertisements but Highland Trading Standards would urge consumers to think carefully, before they respond. Adverts may appear on websites, spam emails, fly-posters on unoccupied shop windows or lampposts, on supermarket noticeboards and even in the local or national press. How to spot a home-working scam can be tricky but here are some tips to look out for: * 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. * Exaggerated earnings. Beware of advertisements that make unbelievable claims about job opportunities or potential earnings. Earnings can be vastly exaggerated or sometime totally unrealistic. * 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. * Craftwork or hobby offers. 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. Money 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. * Beware online. You may receive 'web pop-ups' on your screen offering products and the chance to sell these products from home. They will ask for an up front fee. Don't be fooled into responding to these adverts. You could not only loose any monies you send to them but also you could become a victim of identity fraud. Remember genuine employers will not ask for money in advance before providing you with work. There should be a clear written contract of what you are expected to do in return for an income. There are usually about 300 bogus home working schemes known to be in operation at any one time. Typically the initial outlay can be from £10 - £60. More information about home-working schemes can be found at: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or by telephone on 08454 04 05 06 Alternatively consumers can visit or write to Highland Trading Standards, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF for free and confidential advice. For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews Highland Trading Standards Service is part of Transport, Environment and Community Service, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness |
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