Work At Home Safari

Google Sues Over Work-At-Home Schemes

kim — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:07:17 +0000

“Internet giant Google filed a lawsuit against Pacific WebWorks and other not-yet named defendants for allegedly using the Google name and logo to promote work-at-home money-making scams.”

“Thousands of people have been tricked into sending payment information and being charged hidden fees by questionable operations,” Google said in a recent blog post.

“The Better Business Bureau has received 382 complaints about Pacific WebWorks in the last year, and 84% of them are related to billing or collection, refund or exchange, and sales practice issues.”

“The company, which rates an F on BBB’s scale of A+ to F, negleted to respond to 107 complaints filed, and did not resolve 45 of them.”

Read this entire article to learn more details.

Unsolicited Job Offers Are Probably Scams

kim — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:31:35 +0000

According to the Wall Street Journal article by Sue Shellenbarger, many unsolicted job offers are scams.

These unsolicted job offers want something from you rather than offering something of value. There are several steps you can take to ward off these work-at-home scams. According to the article, “first, do an Internet search by typing the company name, a plus sign and the word “scam” into the search box. This will quickly turn up any mentions of the vendor in the context of illicit pitches.”

Another piece of advice from the article is “check the address provided by the company, to see whether it is a physical office or a site with public mailboxes for many users.

Third, check with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org to see if complaints have been filed against this company.

These simple three steps can quickly help you determine if that unsolicted job offer is real or a scam.

7 Unusual Work-From-Home Jobs

kim — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:45:07 +0000

Payscale.com’s Carol Tice details how you can “ditch your cubicle and make money in your pajamas” due to the wonderful “advances in technology”. High-speed internet, cheaper and faster computers, and WiFi “have brought work-from-home jobs to nearly every business sector.”

Are you ready to “trade your morning car-commute for a quick stroll over to your home computer”? Then join the ranks of us who work-from-home with these seven “unusual possibilities”:

* Concierge – Videoconferencing has made this expanding career move possible. “Virtual concierges use [this] technology to ask hotel guests about their interests and provide them with sightseeing tips.” You sit at your computer and remotely talk to guests who are in front of a flat screen TV in the hotel lobby.

* Catering manager – Don’t you have to be in a kitchen or at least near one? No. A national bagel chain has a job listing on FlexJobs for a telecommuting junior catering manager. “The work involves coordinating banquet orders via phone and computer software, then traveling to job sites to oversee the actual events, with no office or commercial-kitchen time needed.”

* Online instructor — The popularity of online classes and universities created this new niche of teaching jobs you can do from home. A friend of mine was a high school English teacher for years before she had her baby and needed to stay at home. She got a job teaching English in a virtual classroom with the University of Phoenix where she and her students use videoconferencing and they turn in papers via email.

* Nonprofit executive director – Nonprofits are jumping on the work-from-home bandwagon too. They are “hiring executive directors and letting them work wherever they are. If you have a management background and a passion for a cause, you may be able to combine them into a job that lets you do good — while also doing the laundry.” In fact, it’s a win-win because a virtual office decreases expensive overhead.

* Patient champion/patient advocate — “Patient champions help ill people navigate the complexities of the healthcare system — calling doctors, obtaining copies of medical records, and accompanying patients on doctor visits.” This is another “feel good” job that provides many families the much needed help.

* Virtual juror – You may cringe at getting summoned for jury duty, but you’ll take a second look at being a virtual juror. “Virtual jurors help lawyers evaluate the strengths of their case before they take it to court. Some companies promise up to $60 a case — not bad for an hour’s work at your computer. Major players in this space include Virtual Juror and Online Verdict.

* Virtual nurse – Nurses are constantly in high demand because it is such a stressful career. Twelve-hour shifts, constantly standing on your feet, and stressful situations have made virtual nursing a booming industry. “In teletriage, nurses staff phone lines and take calls from people with health emergencies, helping them evaluate whether they need an immediate trip to the ER.

The days when you had to be a graphic designer, consultant, or freelance writer to enjoy the benefits of working from your living room couch are over. These new and booming career opportunities have opened the doors to many more work at home jobs. For full details see 7 Unusual Work-From-Home Jobs.

This is the Best Time to Hold a Meeting

kim — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:02:55 +0000

I read a story this morning that reminded me of my days working in a physical office with other colleagues. There’s an interesting tidbit about the best time to call a meeting … it’s 3pm on Tuesday. Here’s why.

“A meeting? First thing on Monday? For many office workers that’s a little early, an intrusion into time reserved for a hurried coffee, checking e-mails, steeling yourself for the working week, and, well, getting stuck into some actual work.

But by 3pm, the day is well under way, and many staff are better able to take the change of pace and focus that a meeting can bring. Begin any later, and wage earners will start to clock-watch.

A new study says 3pm on Tuesday is the best time to call a meeting as most prospective attendees will be free. The hour in question is an office diary sweet spot – representing a confluence of employee availability, motivation and willingness, say those responsible for the finding.”

No related posts.

The 7 Ways to Stay Motivated While Working at Home

kim — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:41:03 +0000

Working from home has been a dream come true for me because I get to set my own hours, be my own boss, and got rid of those business suits for good. However, it’s hard to stay disciplined and motivated, especially when the laundry’s calling my name and since I’m my own boss, I get to set the deadlines – and can extend deadlines too. Here are seven things I’ve learned to keep me motivated while working from home and living the dream.

Get into work mode

While it is tempting to laze around in pajamas all day, taking a shower, putting on my make-up, and changing into work clothes puts me into work mode and a professional frame of mind. This will increase your motivation and desire to achieve your work goals for the day.

Set appointments with friends and family

My friends and family know that between certain hours of the day, I am “at work”. That means, no dropping by or calling during that time. I ask them to treat my house like a regular business and be respectful of business hours. If I do get a personal call, I try to return their call during a scheduled break so I don’t disrupt my work flow. It’s tempting to pick up the phone to find out the latest gossip, but a ten minute interruption can actually set you back almost an hour because it takes time to move back into the work frame of mind. If there is an important personal matter that can’t wait, ask your friends and family to set an appointment so you have a beginning and most importantly, end time. It’s extremely hard to work with a child at home, but sometimes necessity outweighs convenience. Try to set a designated time to speak to your children or do household chores. This will do wonders for your sanity and workload.

Get organized

I’m fanatical about organization, especially when it comes to my work and home office. I remove my son’s toys that mysteriously got tracked into my office and any other things that do not pertain to work to ensure my office looks professional. Imagine if you were at a real office, you wouldn’t have Elmo hiding under your desk. Additionally, create a ‘To Do List’ to help prioritize daily tasks and help you plan for the week ahead. Schedule all important meetings and conference calls on your calendar. Google has many free tools like Google Calendar, a task list, and Google Reader to help you stay organized. Stay on top of organization and you will be surprised at how much time you save.

Take regular breaks

It’s important to stick to a schedule but just as important to take regular breaks. I find it all to easy to get sucked into what I’m doing and forget to eat lunch, which is not healthy – mentally and physically. A typical schedule would include two 15 minute breaks and about an hour for lunch. If you are your own boss, I won’t tell if you decide that one and a half hours for lunch is more your style. Studies show that taking breaks in a workplace actually makes employees happier, more productive, decreases stress levels and helps avoid injuries like eye strain and repetitive strain injury (RSI). [ find good exercises ]

Decrease social isolation

One of the toughest things I had to overcome with my work-at-home career is the feeling of social isolation. Take your laptop to your local library, a nearby coffee shop or park for a change of pace and mingle with the locals. Schedule lunch meetings at nearby cafes or restaurants or even a happy hour after work. Also, call your work colleagues, clients and external suppliers instead of emailing or instant messaging. One of the quickest tricks that helped me is turning on the radio. You can also increase your social circles by meeting friends online, joining your industry association, getting a gym membership or starting a new hobby such as learning a new language, how to cook, or running club.

Avoid distractions

Without a boss to look over your shoulder, it’s easy to fall into the habit of checking your Facebook or Twitter account, answering personal emails or chatting with friends via instant messenger. Similarly, it may also be tempting to watch your favourite show or get a few household chores done during the day. Try to get into the habit of working set hours with scheduled breaks. During the break, go ahead and update that Facebook status and answer personal emails.

Work standard hours

Where bosses may fear that employees are not working hard enough at home, the sad reality is that many employees who have the luxury of working from home typically work more than the standard 40 hours a week. Don’t fall into the trap of checking your work email every time you walk past your computer and keep work and home life separate. Stick to your set hours and complete your work within the time allocated. If you have a separate home office, close the door once the day is over. If you don’t have that luxury and have set up camp on the breakfast table, try to put away your papers and computer so you’re not tempted. Long hours can quickly lead to burn-out and a loss of motivation.

A successful career at home can be extremely fulfilling. There’s no doubt that it takes a lot of hard work, long hours, and staying motivated is the key. I hope these seven tips will help you work better and more efficiently.

The 4 Ways to Organize Your Office for Fall

kim — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:08:06 +0000

Did you know that a cluttered office has a direct impact on your productivity? If you work from home full-time or telecommute part-time, a messy office can have a noticeable impact on quality of your life and work. According to the Web Worker Daily article, there are 4 easy ways to organize your office for Fall.

1. Ask the right questions. Look at your desk and the piles on top of it and ask yourself … Do I actually use this? Do I really want this? And where does this really belong?

2. Use the 15-Minute Rule. Set a timer for 15 minutes and then do a blitz through your office with two large, green garbage bags in tow.

3. Learn to label. Labeling is one of the easiest changes you can make to get your office organized.

4. Manage your manuals. Free up precious storage space by removing those manuals that are rarely used from your immediate workspace and store them elsewhere.

Read the rest of the story here.

Beware of These Work From Home Scams

kim — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:39:20 +0000

Work at home scams are everywhere, preying on those looking for legitimate job opportunites. You are trying to bring in some income by doing work out of your house, while these scammers are finding ways to lure you into their scheme. Don’t fall for it. Here are some of the common scams floating around. I hope they help you avoid some of the work-at-home job traps.

#1 –

EBAY SCAM. There is a scam going around right now where an overseas company asks you to sell products on eBay using your own account, and accept payments from the buyers. Then, you subtract your “commission” and forward the rest of the money to the company and they will ship the product to the customer.

THE CON. What actually happens is the company takes the money and never ships the products. This leaves you in big trouble with eBay for taking the money and not delivering the product. It is incredibly easy for legitimate companies to get a merchant account with eBay so there is no reason why they would need you to use your own account and forward the money to them. Don’t fall for their trap.

#2 –

ASSEMBLY SCAM. Are you good with your hands and enjoy putting things together? If yes, then assemble our jewelry, toys, clothing, gadgets, etc. in your spare time and make tons of money!

THE CON. The company will ask you to pay a hefty deposit to ensure that you complete and return the work. Unfortunately, when you return the assembled products you will learn that your work did not meet their quality standards and be rejected. The zinger, the company will keep your deposit too because your work was deemed unacceptable.

#3–
MYSTERY SHOPPERS SCAM. Who doesn’t dream of getting paid to shop? This scam claims you can make big bucks rating customer service at your favorite stores. The best part is you also get to keep all the clothes you purchased.

THE CON. There are some legitimate mystery shoppers out there, but in reality they only make about $10-15 per hour (and maybe a free lunch). Many times, you’ll be asked to pay for “training”, then once you’re sent on assignment and come home with loads of new clothes, you won’t be reimbursed for the money you spent. Worst of all, these scammers are trying to acquire your Social Security number. Never give out this information unless you are absolutely sure the employer is legitimate even if they have a professional-looking website.

#4–
CHECK SCAM. I’ve seen this scam on Craigslist. Sometimes scammers will send you a paycheck and then contact you saying they overpaid you. They will ask that you mail them a personal check for the amount they overpaid you. Steer clear of any type of “job” that requires you to use your own accounts.

THE CON. A couple of weeks after you’ve sent your personal check, you will discover the paycheck they sent bounced.

#5–
STUFFING ENVELOPES SCAM. I think everyone has seen this ad: Earn extra cash stuffing envelopes! Sounds pretty easy. This scam promises to pay you big bucks for cramming paper into envelopes, all you have to do is purchase their supplies or training package.

THE CON. All you get are worthless instructions on how to stuff envelopes or con your friends into signing up too. In reality, companies have machines or some poor intern to stuff their envelopes at half the cost of what they’re claiming to pay you to do it.

#6–
BILLING PROCESSOR SCAM. This claim is advertised with the title of Medical Billing Specialist or Insurance Claims Processor.

THE CON: You’ll be asked to shell out big bucks for the required software and training. Unfortunately, most companies have their own people to process their claims and bills. If they need to outsource they send the work to large companies not work-from-home individuals with little to no experience. You’ll end up paying for the training and software, but never see a cent.

CONCLUSION. A work-from-home job is just like one outside the house, employers pay you to work, not the other way around. If you are asked to pay for training materials, charged fees, or anything like that, get away! These are most likely not legitimate work at home job opportunities. Don’t get taken advantage of during this tough economy. It only takes a few minutes to spot a scam.

How to Spot a Work at Home Scam in Minutes

kim — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:33:47 +0000

If you are like me, you probably see work from home job ads that read ”Easy Work, Great Pay”, “No Experience Necessary”, and “Make $4000/Month Working From Home”. Well, who doesn’t want to make a bunch of money doing very little? But realistically, such a thing is only true in the land of make believe. In this current economy, some of my friends and neighbors are getting laid off, seeing their retirement accounts disappear, or being forced to take unpaid vacation. I am sure you know someone in that situation too. Maybe it’s you, your spouse, or a friend. The demand for work is high yet the supply of job openings is low, so many people are turning to work at home job opportunities. Smelling the desperation, scammers are going out in full force, advertising what look like legitimate jobs, and preying on the unaware.

With all the work from home job opportunities lurking on the web, it is hard to weed out the true jobs from the scams. The first thing to remember is, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Secondly, always trust your gut. If something does not feel right, get away. Here are some additional tips to help you spot a work at home scam in minutes.

1. Don’t pay for anything. Are you being charged a fee, asked to pay for training, or required to purchase kits? If so, this is a red flag. Real jobs will pay you to work for them, not the other way around. Pay close attention to application fees, administrative fees, start-up fees, and background check fees. Most companies will cover these fees because it is the cost of running a business.

2. Don’t share your personal information. Beware if the employer asks you for your Social Security number, bank information, credit card number, driver’s license number, or birth date very early in the hiring process. If you do not have a job offer or even interviewed for the position, do not share any of this information. Once you are hired there will be appropriate times when you will share some of your personal data, for example, you will be given an IRS tax form which will ask for your Social Security number or direct deposit form where it’s OK to provide your bank account number. A company will never ask for your credit card number. You do not want to be a victim of identity theft or be charged for anything you are not aware of, so be careful.

3. Don’t be tricked by huge hourly, weekly, or monthly wages. Outrageous wages such as the ability to earn $45 an hour, up to $2000 a week, or thousands per month — are most likely scams. If they say you can make that kind of money with no previous experience required — they are definitely scams. Those wages make you see dollar signs and lure you in. Genuine jobs with that kind of money are not plastered all over the web and will require a special skill or previous job experience.

4. Don’t trust the use of logos from news organizations or shows. This one even gets me sometimes. Work at home ads and sites often feature logos from news organizations and shows such as MSNBC, ABC, CNN, or the Today Show to make themselves look trustworthy and familiar. Anyone can easily copy and paste a logo onto their ad or website, even though there is no affiliation whatsoever. Most likely, those logos are being used without permission.

5. Don’t gloss over the fine print. Like with credit card applications, you must read the fine print. I know reading all those paragraphs is boring and it doesn’t help they use the tiniest font size, but that is done on purpose to discourage you from reading the details. Many ads will tell you there is a small fee of $1-$3 to start your business, but in the fine print is where you’ll find the monthly recurring charge of $50 for this and $75 for that. They trick you into sharing your credit card information, immediately charge you for all these fees, and it’s up to you to notice it on your statement and dispute those charges. Also, envelope-stuffing schemes are notorious for deeming work submitted as unacceptable quality and refusing to pay. The clause about how unacceptable work is defined is in the fine print.

6. Don’t buy into the high pressure sales tactics. “Don’t miss this opportunity to make fast, easy money”, “The next 12 people to click …”, or “Free today only” are high pressure sales tactics designed to make you react without thinking. It’s also a way to get you to feel a sense of urgency so you don’t look too closely at the fine print or even quality of the website. (Bad grammar and typos are quick ways to spot scams.)

7. Don’t be fooled by Christian business ads. Just because a business advertises it is “Christian” is no reason to believe they are telling the truth. Con artists are not above using religion to lure you in. Same as with the use of logos, scammers are just trying to associate themselves with something worth your trust.

8. Don’t see any contact information? Then it’s probably a scam. Click on the “Contact Us”, “About”, or “Company Information” pages of the website. Can you find a business name, street address, and telephone number? Or just an email address and P.O. Box? Also, is the company located overseas? Real companies will have a real physical address and phone number that you can call. I recommend that you do. Does someone answer the phone or is it a pre-recorded message or voicemail? Those companies that dump you into a voicemail box should also raise red flags.

9. Don’t forget to ask questions. If you can locate the company’s contact information, call and ask questions. Sometimes, a website may have a pop-up instant messenger (IM) window with a (supposed) live agent waiting to answer your questions. Type in, “how’s the weather?” or “how are you?” and you’ll probably get a canned response like, “Act fast so you don’t miss this great offer.” If you get an actual live agent, ask them questions about what kind of investment you’ll need to make to get started, how long the company has been around, and exactly what you will be doing. Many times, the agent will not be able to answer these questions, revealing the scam.

10. Don’t ignore your intuition. Most times you’re gut is already telling you what you need to know — that the opportunity is too good to be true. If something seems fishy, it probably is and you should walk away. Don’t suspend your good judgement because the money sounds so good and there might be a chance the opportunity is real. Walk away. There are real opportunities out there. They may require hard work for reasonable pay, but I’d rather be paid than wind up falling victim to a scam.

Do your homework and research the job opportunity and company. It only takes minutes to spot a work from home scam. Your time will be very well spent avoiding the many people out there trying to make a fast buck and taking advantage of job seekers.

Is the Lighting in Your Home Office Sufficient?

kim — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:15:16 +0000

The temperature is dropping, air outside is crisp, and nighttime is showing up a little earlier every day — the signs of winter are upon us. With less daylight, it’s time to think about how well your office is lit. Yes, lighting. The right lighting can reduce strain on your eyes and glare from your laptop. The right illumination can also enhance your mood and improve the way your office looks, but where do you start? Walk into any home decor store and it’s overwhelming. Which base, lampshade, bulb, style, color, height, etc., etc. do you choose? Am I buying a lamp or investing in a mutual fund?

In a pursuit for the perfect lighting, a New York Times writer writes about his adventure and top picks. Check out his article. Hopefully he’s done all the legwork so you won’t have to.

Know the Difference Between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

kim — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:04:39 +0000

If you’re like me, you’ve been hearing a lot of buzz on the news and radio about flu shots, Swine Flu, colds, seasonal flu, and many other things to avoid this upcoming season and frankly, it can be a little confusing. As a work-at-home mom, I want to keep my family healthy so I can keep my business going instead of tending to a sick child.

Here’s some information I found online that may help you decipher between the symptoms of a cold and the possible Swine Flu or H1N1 flu.

Cold

Fever is rare with a cold.
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Swine Flu

Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing is not common with the flu.
The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu..
Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

For detailed information, the Centers for Disease Control has tons of free information to help you and your family stay healthy this cold and flu season. Also, if you have any questions, please consult a nurse or physician.

How to Prepare Your Business for the Swine Flu