How to Spot a Work from Home Scam
With lower stress levels, increased flexibility and a better work-life balance, working from home is becoming more popular. Unfortunately, scammers have picked up on the increased demand for work from home jobs. Ask yourself these questions to help determine if a work from home job sounds like a scam.
1. Does the Job Seem Too Good to be True?
If a job seems too good to be true, it likely is. For example, if a company is offering compensation well above the average pay for that position, it’s likely a scam. If you’re offered a position that you are significantly underqualified for, investigate the company further to determine if it’s a scam.
Want to Learn More about Working from Home?
Join us for this month’s WISE webinar on August 28: Working from Home with Ticket to Work!
2. Can You Find Information About the Company Online?
Research the company to learn more about them. Do they have a professional website? Are you able to find people who work there on LinkedIn? Do they have a social media presence?
A legitimate company will have a professional website that provides information about what the company does and their values. They also likely have a social media presence of some kind. They don’t have to be active on all platforms, but they probably have an account on at least one of the major platforms.
3. Is the Company Asking You to Spend Money?
One of the most common scams involving work from home jobs is potential employers asking you to spend your money during the application process. A legitimate company will not ask you to send them money.
One common scam is a company sending you a check to buy equipment for your job, but it is for too much money. They then ask you to send the remainder of the money to them. This is a scam – you will be out the cost of the equipment as well as the remainder of the money, as the check you cash will bounce.
Many times, these ways of asking for money are scams, but there are some employers that are legitimate who ask for paid background checks and fingerprint scans. If you need to pay for a background check, you should pay the company performing the background check directly.
4. How Does the Company Communicate?
What Do Scammers Want?
Scammers that run work from home scams want your personal information and your money.
Job applications often require forms of personally identifiable information. Scammers use this information to conduct fraudulent activity in your name.
Scammers will capitalize on your desire for employment to take your money. Someone not familiar with working from home might think what they’re asking for is normal.
A legitimate company should only contact you through phone or email during the hiring process. If a potential employer tries to contact you through other platforms such as WhatsApp, it is likely a scam.
If a hiring agent is overly eager to get in contact with you, it’s often a sign of a scam. Scam companies will often email and call numerous times. A real company will reach out and then send one follow-up email or call you if they have a hard time contacting you.
5. Did You Have an Interview?
Scam companies will often offer you a job without an interview process. A legitimate company will want every applicant to go through a thorough screening. Legitimate companies will often have you participate in multiple interviews to understand your background and how it applies to their work.
How Can Ticket to Work Help?
Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.
The Ticket Program can support you as you look for different forms of employment, including work from home and in-person jobs. Through the Ticket Program, a service provider such as an Employment Network (EN) can help you find the right position. Service providers offer both in-person and remote services and can help you find the work you’re looking for. Your Ticket Program service provider can help you spot a scam and provide tips for researching companies.
Learn More
To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.
