Home Business Credit Card Scams: Beware
With the sluggish economy were now living in, the promises of success with home-based businesses seem to be everywhere. After I unwittingly became the victim of one of these scams, I decided to examine them more carefully so I might give advice to others considering the same option.
Most jobs that can be performed at home involved data entry to taking orders through your home phone line for other companies. The opportunity looks great, promises lots of money, and many even back up their claims with a guarantee. Thats what convinced me; if I wasnt satisfied Id simply get my money back.
I examined several opportunities quite thoroughly, trying to avoid the ads that simply sold software that taught me how to make money and focused on those that made me an employee and had specific instructions on pulling information from a website and enter into the forms provided. It seemed foolproof.
The one I chose had the aforementioned guarantee plus I was one of the first several callers so I received a special discount (or so I thought). What I really got was not at all what Id been promised. I knew Id been scammed as soon as I give my information (including my credit card account information). I shouldve known better.
My job was to promote credit cards. I was to get their name on hundreds of search engines and others sites like \”FaceBook\”. I had not been told that a condition of being paid included my having to apply for several credit cards. On top of that, I also had to be applied by them to get my $20 pay from my employer. Then, I was told that another requirement was that I had to make $500 first or I couldnt get the $20 per credit card.
I couldnt get paid until Id provided leads. There was always another reason why I couldnt yet get paid and no way to really get answers since they didnt provide a telephone number or online helpjust an email address that was usually ignored (or it replied with generic, automated messages that werent applicable).
I asked for the money-back guarantee multiple times. The only way I even reached them was through a phone number listed on my credit card bill (in Australia) and of course those calls werent returned either. I ended up filing a complaint through my credit card issuer and Im still waiting for it to be resolved.
Im a college graduate. Im embarrassed to have fallen for this scam. I know being desperate for a paycheck is stressful though and I was in a place where I was susceptible to the lure of easy money. I am ready and willing to work hard, I just couldnt do that through opportunities like this that are based on deception. I really want others to realize that a job probably isnt legitimate if the promises are too good to be true; research carefully before you take a chance on a work-at-home business.
