WARNING - Work-at-Home Scam

I recently published a page on OFP about a Work-at-Home scam I got recently.

Apparently, either my "job coach" or I applied to a position on CareerBuilder for a part-time job. (This is questionable, since I'm looking for full-time work, but we have applied to some that are supposed to be part-time leading to full-time... It's also questionable, since I can't find any sent email message, any notification, or anything else that would "prove" I applied. Be that as it may...) I received an email saying that job was no longer available, but they had another one, and to link "to their clients'" careers page.

What? I know of NO recruiters who will link you directly to a client's webpage. How would the client know who referred you to them?

Going to the site, everything looked pretty good. The site was a "full" site (multiple pages, all with pertinent info on them), names were named, a group picture was displayed, etc. The job looked pretty good, until I hit the "process" part. Then it it me that I'd seen the same job scams offered through spam emails.

The idea is you work as an "independent contractor", meaning you handle your reporting and paying of your own taxes. They will send you checks, which they want you to deposit into your account, and cash out 95% (The 0ther 5% is your "compensation"/"commission"). You will then take the cash to Western Union (or some other company that wires money), and wire it to another location. You will then call them, let them know it's there, give them pertinent info to retrieve the cash, and that's it. The amounts are under what is required to be reported immediately to the IRS, and they promise you will receive a 1099 to help report it as an independent contractor. Sounds easy doesn't it?

The amounts are what a paycheck or contract would be so they don't look suspicious. Problem is they are bad or forged checks. This will leave YOU on the hook for the amounts the bank paid out (and you probably already spent), and if you don't pay it back into the account, you could be arrested, prosecuted. and jailed for passing bad checks.

If you want more information, on the email, the site, and what I found, check out my page at http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2s_scams_workathome_20070925(AdvantageGlobal)_example.shtml.

For more on this and other Work-at-Home scams (Assembly work at home, Chain Letter, Envelope Stuffing, MLM (Multi-Level Marking), Online Business, Processing Medical Insurance Claims, and Processing Bank Transactions for Overseas (and Domestic!) Businesses, and links for even MORE information, see http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2s_scams_workathome_home.shtml.

And, for more on VARIOUS scams (email, snail-mail, phone, fraud and phishing, etc.), see http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2s_scams_home.shtml.

And BE CAREFUL out there!

-wds

Be Careful Answering Work-At-Home Ads

I received an email on my OFP account, this weekend:

From: [removed email address to protect privacy]
To: [see Orange Frog Productions or leave a comment here]
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:41 PM
Subject: Incomeathome.com

I heard a commercial on Sirius Satellite radio about something called "incomeathome.com". Have you heard of it and do you know if it is another scam?

Greg, NY

Now, I don't normally reply to requests like this, because it doesn't have to do specifically with a page on my site. But, because I DO have a Scams page dealing with Work-At-Home scams, because I've seen so many commercials on TV for Work-at-Home jobs, and there are so many ads in other media, I "took a quick look", and replied:

from BBBOnline.org

Online Business Systems
http://www.incomeathome.com/
www.theonlinebusiness.com/contact.php

GlobalNet Marketing Solutions, Inc. is an advertising company that sells
Herbalife products and utilizes Online Business Systems as a marketing tool

The business appears to be based on an Amway/Quixtar model, and since the original founders of Amway have retired or died, Amway seems to be more interested in selling the business than their products, which makes them more of a pyramid scheme.

Amway PRODUCTS used to be very good products (and I assume still are). It is and was possible for entrepreneurs to make money (though, from my understanding and experience, not in the amount always dangled in front of distributors). It's also a way to learn about the complexities of business.

As with many other distributorships and in-home sales opps (Mary Kay, Amway, Quixtar, Avon come to mind), it depends on a number of things how much money you can make:

• how many friends you have
• how willing you are to sell them product and the business
• how willing the friends are to refer you to their other friends
• how outgoing and how good of a salesman you are (to recruit and sell to non-friends)
• etc.

The costs of joining are noramlly relatively inexpensive. The cost of seminars promoting the business aspect are also not normally too expensive, compared to many others. However, those costs can add up quickly. The seminars are meant to keep you "pumped up" to keep selling, and to attempt to achieve what the speakers have. And the speakers are GOOD and motivational.

However, in my own and my parents' experiences with Amway, many years ago, while becoming a distributor means you can buy product at reduced cost (and the product almost always costs more than a comparable product would in a retail store), and this seems to be the only way you can GET the product for that price, that's not really a good reason to join.

Be VERY CAREFUL with any work-at-home offers. If it comes in spam emails, ignore them. If it's advertised on TV/Radio, in newspapers, magazines, on the internet, or any other media, search the internet for them. (Go to Google, and enter the name of the company in quotes, or their website) before signing up for anything associated.

Pay attention to scam and rip-off reports. While they may be disgruntled associates, former employees, etc., they also may give you an indication of what you may have to deal with. Read OFPv2 - Scams - Work-at-Home Scams Home and its links.

For more information, check out OFPv2 - Scams Home, OFPv2 - Shams (Infomercial Info) Home and OFPv2 - Shams - Business Opps Home and their links.

Bill Sanders

PS: I am going to post this on my blog (Me, Myself and I, not OFP), to help warn others. I will remove your email address.

A lot of the information provided was from personal experience and the links I suggested Greg read are to pages on my main site. However, for more about this specific ... "opportunity", check out the Google search results for incomeathome.com, yourself.

I hope this helps others looking for Work-at-Home businesses.

-wds

Biggest Loser 2007

Interesting...

Some of the commercials shown during the two hour Biggest Loser season premier, this year were:

Domino's new Oreo Dessert Pizza

Arby's 5 Pepper-Jack Roast Beef sandwich deal

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar

I probably missed a few, because I've gotten used to turning to my computer for the commercials.

These commercials may have been local, which means the network shows may not have control over them.

Yes, they had "diet" and healthy foods commercials, too, but don't you think the Biggest Loser (NBC), Fat March (ABC) and other weight-loss shows (including Montel, Dr Phil, Oprah, and other talk shows who run "specials" on weight loss) should pay attention to who is advertising during their time-slots? If they can't, don't you think the local stations should pay attention?

I know they can't control everything, necessarily, but I've seen this way too many times, and commented to my wife, my kids, and anyone else with whom we're watching, even over the internet (IM). I think it's strange ...

• when "natural" proponents on a talk show have fast-food advertising...
• when Dr Oz on Oprah talking about how fat is formed and what you SHOULD eat has fast-food and snack commercials ...
• when someone's talking about how drinking ruined their life, and a beer or wine commercials is shown ...
• when ... you get the idea

Local or national ads ... Ironic, ain't it.

-wds

Terry Fator

Well... I blew it... I didn't realize that Terry (Winner of America's Got Talent, this year) was going to be on Jerry's Telethon, and missed it. Heck... I forgot all about the telethon, itself. First time in YEARS I didn't watch at least part of it!

But, if you hit here first, and want to find out about Terry (and if you missed America's Got Talent, you missed a BUNCH - check out my other blogs about that), here's his website: http://www.terryfator.com/and, and here's his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/terryfator. Be sure to see his corporate entertainer video (probably a little better at MySpace, though, if you're looking to hire him, you might want to go through his website.

Congratulations, again, Terry. Good Luck. Hope to see you on TV again, soon.

-wds

Michael Vick

Should Michael Vick be banned from NFL Football? Not necessarily. In case you missed it, he's the NFL quarterback who pled guilty to funding and providing property for dog fights, and being present as those dogs who didn't perform well in the fights were put to death.

So, he has pled guilty, and stated in a press conference, that he did it - He's admitted his culpability. That's more than many politicians are willing to do. He said it was "immature" of him to do so... Cut the crap, Vick... You did it. Maturity had nothing to do with it. You knew it was wrong, you knew it was illegal, and yet you still funded, provided a place, and at least watched it, and the deaths of dogs. This may be ok in other nations, but in the US, canines (wild and domestic) are friends. We see them on TV all the time (How many dog-food commercials have you seen TODAY? Many "family" shows have pet dogs in them, too.) We make movies about them (Incredible Journey, Benji, Beethovan, Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, to name a few). They are our babies (Leona Hemsley just left $12M to her lap dog, because he provided "unconditional love", and when he dies, wants him buried in the vault with her; Many celebrities are seldom seen without their dogs, and Paris Hilton is now starting a clothing line for dogs. Chicken fights would be bad enough, but DOG fights? GEEZE! Immature? That's crap. Vick's old enough to know better (but to young to resist? GEEZE!). Just say you're guilty and want to redeem yourself.

Can he redeem himself?

Think about this, people.

• We have professional sports players accused of starting bar fights, driving drunk (some causing accidents), shooting guns in the air (or at people), taking drugs, and we let them try to redeem themselves.
• We have players accused of taking steroids (oh, boy!) in their early careers, before steroids were banned; accused of taking steroids, now, and we let them try to redeem themselves.
• We have race drivers (and others) who drive drunk, sometimes causing accidents and we let them try to redeem themselves.
• We have popular, some not-so-popular, famous and infamous celebrities, especially those our children like, who take drugs, drive drunk, hurt people, do stupid shit (and because of paparazzi, it's all caught on camera), and we let them try to redeem themselves.
• We have rappers and their entourages carrying guns and knives, beating and shooting each other and others, and we STILL allow them to become popular - and when they do, most redeem themselves, at least to a point.
• We have referees, umpires, etc., gambling on games they call. I guess in this case, we'll see if they can redeem themselves...

Now, why can't we let Vick?

How can he redeem himself?

First, why throw him in jail? If it's a mandatory sentence, he should pay it, but otherwise, it's not going to help. Fine him big time. AND, the judge could/should make community service be working in a humane society and/or rescue shelter. Not in the office or doing commercials only, but dealing with the cruelty that some idiots and others inflict on animals, especially dogs. Vick's national... He should work in some of those places shown on the Animal Planet's Animal Cops shows.

Second, Vick has made and still makes lots of money with and FOR the NFL, so should NOT be thrown out. When the community service is complete, Vick himself (if he wants the world to believe in his redemption spirit), or maybe the NFL should restructure his contract, and require that the majority of his salary (at least for a time) be used to build and/or fund humane societies, rescue groups, animal rescue hosptials, scholarships for veterinarians, dog parks, etc. After the initial period, and even before, he should speak to children, young adults, and others about the reasons he got into the dog fighting (some sports guys think it was more his "friends" than him), and why they should pick friends with good values. He should then donate a majority (if not all) of the speaking fees to the same types of places listed above.

Third, He should probably make PSAs about animal cruely and (for the young and young adults, alike) picking the right kinds of friends.

If Vick would even do PART of the above, especially voluntarily, I think it would go a long way toward redeeming him in the eyes of many people.

What do you think?

-wds