I use to find Data Entry was a great field b/c even though I had to work around other people in an office setting, no one bothered anyone else. People came to work, put their headphones on, listened to their music, placed info into a computer system, then went home. The least stressful job I ever had and I still remember it fondly.
Unfortunately, I can't offer any suggestions in terms of online/work from home opportunities, but if anyone would like me to I'd be happy to research the probable legitimacy of companies anyone is considering. In the meantime, a few things to keep you safe in your job search:
- Many "mail from home" opportunities involve making participants unwitting accomplices to fraud. So, be careful if the company is asking you to do things that you feel make little to no sense.
- If a business wants their "customer" deposits to go into your bank account followed by you sending them the difference, minus a small percentage you keep for yourself, this is a strong indicator that business is engaged in fraud or economic crime of some variety.
- Never provide your personal data (i.e., name, SSN, bank info) unless you are confident the business is legit.
- If the business is based in the U.S., search the "Better Business Bureau" to determine if the business has been rated (and if so, what is their rating).
- Perform a separate Google search of the company name, the company website, the company phone number, the company e-mail address, and the company mailing address. When searching place the information in quotes to narrow down the search (e.g., "ABC Company"). Also, place the term FRAUD beside it to see if anything comes up. Example:
"ABC Company", Fraud
If the business is linked to fraud, this simple search stands a great chance of turning up something. For example, even if they're using a new business name the address often stays the same so by searching all pieces of informaton available it helps paint a better picture of the opportunity you're considering.
- Sometimes you may find negative information that could be sour grapes, so to speak. After all, even the largest corporate entities will have negative info out there to include allegations of fraud. Use your judgement in determining if those allegations are valid. Unfortunately, the work from home business is ripe with fraud, but there may be some opporunities out there that are surprisingly legit. Its just a matter of sorting through the fakes to find the true diamond in the rough.
Good luck to those searching.