Because of the growing interest people have in working from home and starting their own online business, there are an increasing number of "work at home" scams to look out for. Some of the most common include:

• Envelope Stuffing
• Chain Letters/Emails ("Make Money Fast")
• Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)
• "Turn Your Computer Into a Money-Making Machine!"
• Typing At Home
• "Just Call This 1-900 Number For More Information..."
• "A List of Companies Looking for Homeworkers!"
• Email Processing
• Medical Billing
• Craft Assembly

This is just a list of the most common "work from home" scams to look out for. There are many others, of course.

If the "opportunity" you have encountered makes you even slightly suspicious, one of the best ways to check out the "opportunity" before you give them any of your money is by simply doing a quick Google search on the company's name, the job description, the word "scam" or "scheme", and any appropriate combination thereof. Chances are good that someone else has fallen victim to this opportunity that there will be information/testimonial about the circumstances on the internet. If you don't find any information on this opportunity being a scam, this could simply mean that this "opportunity" is a new scam and hasn't built a reputation yet. Proceed with great caution.

Be judicious. The only information you want to turn up in your searches about money making opportunities is good information, and hopefully several independent sources of it. If you find negative reports, stay far away from this company. If you find almost no information about this company or its opportunity, it would be safer leave this company alone until they have earned a bit more of a good reputation.

In fairness to honest companies out there, one or two bad reports don't necessarily mean a company is horrible. Some customers are really demanding and can be terribly nasty and malicious. Some people are just wired this way for some reason. If you find a nasty report about a company, keep this in mind. Do your best to use your best judgement and don't make decisions or commitments quickly out of excitement. Take your time and use your best judgement.

There is one other way to keep from getting scammed by a "work at home" scheme and one that we highly recommend: Start your own business from scratch! Most people get drawn into these "work from home" schemes in the first place because they aren't quite sure how to start a business from scratch on their own. That is exactly what our book, "How Ordinary People Make Extraordinary Money Online!" explains how to do.

The vast majority of the web sites, books, and resources on the web are designed to make the web sites creator or the book's author money providing very little substance or helpful info for the reader. Not "How Ordinary People Make Extraordinary Money Online!" This book is chock full of step by step information that every online entrepreneur needs to read, whether you are a complete beginner or an online veteran. Don't miss out.