Though there are many legitimate work at home opportunities out there, there are also those out there with the primary idea of earning a quick buck off innocent people. It is important to learn how to determine whether someone is trying to cheat you or not, in order to prevent losing money or time on work that you will not be paid for. Below are two key factors in keeping yourself safe when looking for a way to earn money online.

Work for a Reputable Company If you apply for a job with a well known company, the chances of you being scammed are going to be very little. Research any business before you give your personal information by doing a search for them on the Better Business Bureau’s website (BBB.org). Also, do a Google search with the company name in quotations to see if anything negative has been posted about them. Skipping this step can cost you big time, in lost wages or stolen information.

Do Not Pay for a Job While on the subject of locating a legitimate work at home job, you should avoid paying for any work. Some scammers will act as an employer offering you a job, but state that you need to pay X amount of dollars before you can be given any work. The only time you should invest in a job is if you need equipment in order to perform the tasks. With transcription, for example, you may be required to purchase a foot pedal and audio player.

These are standard items that the majority of companies will require if you are going to be transcribing for them. Someone offering a data entry job that is also requiring you to pay $30 for training is probably not a reliable business. It is a good idea to learn how to spot legitimate opportunities in order to protect yourself.

You should not be afraid to take on a work at home position…just know how to be careful because there are scammers out there.