In today’s world it is not uncommon anymore to find companies that have their employees work from home. In fact, many companies in the Philippines are now moving to this new model because it represents great benefits:  it saves a lot of money in office space, power, and other necessary resources, and it helps retain talent because people feel more motivated. The benefits of working from home are turning this option into the dream job today, especially because in a world full of chaos in the streets, not having to commute means more time to spend on the things people love to do, like their hobbies or spending more time with family.  The idea of it is very appealing.

But although real work from home opportunities are abundant, the Internet has become a breeding ground for get-rich-quick schemes. Private investigators in the Philippines are alerting people to be especially cautious with the job offerings that mention working from home as its main benefit. Online criminals are aware that the Philippines is a country with many unemployed people, and they also know that many of them, especially parents, will be excited about a work from home opportunity, which makes them even more vulnerable to scam.  Of all employment scams operating in the Philippines, the work from home offers lead the statistics in fraudulent job offers.

Here are some of the tips from Philippine PI investigators to avoid being victim:

1. Research the company. There are many job offerings that do not include details about the company and this can be seen as normal. Usually the details are slowly revealed to the person interested in the position as they move forward in the recruiting process. Once you have reached a point where you can start asking questions, try to ask as much as you can about the company, the industry they work in, the management team, the countries where they operate, etc. If it is necessary, get a company verification from an experienced investigator in the Philippines. You might need to invest some effort and money, but for the sake of safety it will be worth it.
2. Check for outrageous salary claims. Most of the fraudulent job offerings promise to pay a lot more than the average paid for the same job anywhere else in the Philippines. If the salary sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is one of the major red flags and it should not be overseen.
3. Beware of commissions or fees to join the company. Paying a fee in advance in order to join the club or to receive your starter sales kit is also a red flag. You might never get the products you are supposed to sell, or might never get paid for your work. Also, if part of your job is to recruit more people to join the sales team, the company might be part of a pyramid scheme, which is by definition a scam. Not all commission-paid jobs are a scam, but try to clarify how the payment structure works before putting any money out of your pocket.
4. Working from home can make your life easier and more pleasant, it can bring you some extra monthly income, or it can help you to become financially free. However, you need to be aware that online criminals will try to get you if you do not do your homework.
5. If you think you found the perfect work from home opportunity for you in the Philippines, contact us! We can help you verify if the company is legit. Contact today to verify any employment offer, the company and representative. Never provide your personal data, passport or ID copy, or payment to anyone offering you a job unless you have clear evidence it is genuine.

Need help?  Contact us today for a confidential quote.

C. Wright
© 2015 Philippine PI

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