One trap beginning freelancers often fall for are fake work-at-home jobs.
These are jobs that sound a little too good to be true - and they are. They usually cost you some amount of money to learn the "system," which never actually works for anyone.
I must admit I tried a few in the past, spent some money, never made any but did learn some viable lessons.
Here are a few common work-at-home scams you may still find online:
1. Forex Trading
There are several big products out there promoting the virtues of trading forex. Thousands of products have been sold teaching forex trading from home.
Unfortunately, the reality is almost nobody trading forex at home actually makes any money. It's possible to make money for a short period of time, but over the long haul it's a money-losing proposition.
Why? In short, because you're competing against thousands of other people, many of whom have been trading for decades, with millions and sometimes billions to trade with.
2. Online Surveys
This one's also a very common scam. The basic pitch is that you can make money online by filling out surveys.
Like many of the scams out there, there is a small grain of truth in this one. It's possible to get paid in coupons, small dollar amounts or discount codes from companies for filling out surveys online. But it's not a consistent job.
If you averaged out time spent looking for surveys and taking surveys and divided it by all your earnings, you'll be looking at dollars or pennies per hour.
3. "Posting Links on Google" If you see an ad touting that you can "make money posting links on Google," run the other way.
This malicious scam will take your credit card information, send you a package of mostly useless information, then proceed to bill you continuously.
4. Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping works and is real pay, but many sites selling products promoting mystery shopping will make it sound like it pays a lot more than it does.
In reality, you won't get to shops every day. Each shop will take several hours and pays just $20 to $50, often times in meals rather than cash.
Very, very few people make a living off mystery shopping. It may be a great way to earn a few hundred dollars extra a month, but don't fall for the "You can get rich by mystery shopping!" bit.
Remember Companies that wish to hire you as a freelancer will not request upfront fees but will pay you by the job and on your own merit and performance.
I welcome any questions, sharing or comments you may have.
By Danielle Manibog
These are jobs that sound a little too good to be true - and they are. They usually cost you some amount of money to learn the "system," which never actually works for anyone.
I must admit I tried a few in the past, spent some money, never made any but did learn some viable lessons.
Here are a few common work-at-home scams you may still find online:
1. Forex Trading
There are several big products out there promoting the virtues of trading forex. Thousands of products have been sold teaching forex trading from home.
Unfortunately, the reality is almost nobody trading forex at home actually makes any money. It's possible to make money for a short period of time, but over the long haul it's a money-losing proposition.
Why? In short, because you're competing against thousands of other people, many of whom have been trading for decades, with millions and sometimes billions to trade with.
2. Online Surveys
This one's also a very common scam. The basic pitch is that you can make money online by filling out surveys.
Like many of the scams out there, there is a small grain of truth in this one. It's possible to get paid in coupons, small dollar amounts or discount codes from companies for filling out surveys online. But it's not a consistent job.
If you averaged out time spent looking for surveys and taking surveys and divided it by all your earnings, you'll be looking at dollars or pennies per hour.
3. "Posting Links on Google" If you see an ad touting that you can "make money posting links on Google," run the other way.
This malicious scam will take your credit card information, send you a package of mostly useless information, then proceed to bill you continuously.
4. Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping works and is real pay, but many sites selling products promoting mystery shopping will make it sound like it pays a lot more than it does.
In reality, you won't get to shops every day. Each shop will take several hours and pays just $20 to $50, often times in meals rather than cash.
Very, very few people make a living off mystery shopping. It may be a great way to earn a few hundred dollars extra a month, but don't fall for the "You can get rich by mystery shopping!" bit.
Remember Companies that wish to hire you as a freelancer will not request upfront fees but will pay you by the job and on your own merit and performance.
I welcome any questions, sharing or comments you may have.
By Danielle Manibog
“One of the best ways to elevate your character is to emulate
worthy role models.” ~ Epictetus
"It's all about the small things in life 'tidbits' that make us who we are"
Be the Change and Follow your Road.
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