Read up on employment scams so you know what to watch out for. Google “Employment Scam”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_scams
Google the company name to see if there are reports and forum discussion
The basic rules are:
- Do not pay anything to someone offering a job
- Do not give out any personal information at all, including phone number
- Do not reply to or click on links in any unsolicited emails
A legitimate employer does not ask you to pay an upfront fee to get a job, or to buy ‘materials’ or a ‘kit’ other than in some cases a uniform where required. A legitimate job does not depend on you ‘recruiting’ or ‘signing up’ a number of other people in order to make money. (Google ‘pyramid scheme‘) Check with your local government Employment Standards or Business Standards branch.
http://www.workathometruth.com/work-at-home-not-recommended-data-entry-typing-companies.php
http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=1869d6a9-82aa-49a1-8419-40a8251fa916&art=408
Survey filling risks you handing over a lot more personal information than you should be, and this you agree to be shared with their ‘partners’ – the identity of whom you have no idea. Although you are offered payment for filling out surveys, you may find that the payment is held by the site as points or ‘survey bucks’ which you may find is difficult to get paid out in actual cash, you may be forced to take it out in overpriced merchandise, or wait many weeks for a payout cheque.
Sign-up Offers where you sign up to different programs (and/or get a bunch of your friends to sign up) to get a free computer, iPad or some other merchandise usually do not end up getting you anything. Either the requirements to get the prize are too complex to ever be met, or you and your friends have to pay to subscribe to magazines or services you don’t want or need, or the entire operation is a fraud. Many times, these schemes are more about collecting your name and information to sell to advertisers and spam operations.
Do not be tempted by offers to sell goods on eBay on a ‘drop ship’ basis – where you advertise and sell things, keep a portion of the money and send the rest to the ‘company’ who will ship to your customers. What will happen, either immediately or after a honeymoon period, is that the company will take the money and never ship the goods. YOU are the one who will be on the hook to the banks and charge card companies for the customer refunds and potential criminal charges for mail fraud. PayPal will drain your bank account and you will get a world of trouble.
Do not ever direct-deposit money to a company’s bank account or send a wire-transfer. These methods are untraceable and unstoppable, and you will not see your money again.
Do not respond to job offers or purchase offers from out of town on a local Craigslist or Kijiji ad. Local classified ads are for face to face, cash transactions only. There is only one reason for someone from out of town to contact you on your local ad, and that is to scam you.
Do not ever accept an overpayment for something and send back the ‘change’, you will be ripped off.
Do not send a deposit for rental of an apartment or house to somebody out of town. They will turn out not to be the owner or landlord, but thieves. Only give a deposit once you have been physically INSIDE the property and have been handed a key.
Do not participate in any moneymaking schemes or money laundering plans where you get a ‘cut’ for handling money or goods.
Do not send money to a company you know nothing about. Research them first.
Do not buy music, movies or software online that are steeply discounted from regular price. They will be pirated versions, and your charge card details and identity will be in the hands of the pirates.
The bottom line is: Nobody offers you money for doing little or nothing. You can’t get stuff for free or for pennies on the dollar. You won’t make money clicking on websites, and you risk your finances, privacy and identity with some of these schemes.
More info: Is this company legitimate? http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_Online_-_Is_This_Company_Legitimate%3F
http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=9c2460f1-4c8d-415a-a55d-2da54c5d4f40
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/1996/gsl/0501N01.HTM
http://www.rileyguide.com/scams.html
Resource industry employment scams: There are apparently a lot of scammers offering jobs within the oil industry, this link has some good general precautions and a list of known bad operators www.oil-offshore-marine.com/bewarejobscams.php#7
More info on Scams
BBB Scam Source: www.bbb.org/canada/scam-source/
RCMP Scam and Fraud page: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/index-eng.htm
Canadian Anti-Fraud centre: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/home-eng.html
ABC Fraud quiz: www.abcfraud.ca/
Financial and investment fraud – BC Securities Commission: www.befraudaware.ca/fraud-warning-signs?gclid=CKSr7uWFvrQCFQ_hQgodJ3IAMA