Editor note: We have a
northern Illinois
consumer available for interviews
Chicago,
IL – January 10, 2013 – The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern
Illinois (BBB) advises consumers to be aware of work-at-home scams in the
upcoming year. Work-at-home scams claimed the top spot for consumer inquiries
in the BBB Top Ten Scams of 2012 with over 33% of inquiries from consumers.
“That
number of inquiries is a clear indication that we continue to have a soft job
market,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business
Bureau serving Chicago and Northern
Illinois. “These work-at-home schemes often hit those who are in
desperate situations and who can least afford to lose the money.”
Amanda Cooper from South Beloit,
Ill filed a complaint against Only Cash
Surveys, a company based out of Homewood,
Ill. Only Cash Surveys has an F
rating with the BBB. “I had been working for them
for around two years. I started having problems getting paid for the surveys I
had done on products that I had purchased. They were telling me that my surveys
were invalid. I found out that some other people were having the same kind of
problem getting paid.”
To avoid
falling victim to work-at-home scams, the BBB offers the following warning
signs:
- Companies that use personal
testimonials but never identify the person;
- Exaggerated claims of
potential earnings, profits, or part-time earnings at part time hours;
- Company claims "inside"
information;
- Requirements of money for
instructions or products before telling you how the plan works;
- Claims of "no experience
necessary";
- Assurances of guaranteed
markets and a huge demand for your handiwork
Always
check out the company’s BBB Reliability Report for free at www.bbb.org
to see if the company has received a passing grade from the BBB.
For more
information on this and other scams, visit www.bbb.org
###
As a
private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is
to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by
means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising
claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop
and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage
people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
