THE EMPLOYER/SPONSOR IS HIDING THEIR IDENTITY
Avoid business opportunities on sites that are hosted using free web hosting services (like Geocities), whose email addresses are to free domains (Yahoo, MSN.), and whose actual business mailing address and phone number aren't available. Many scam artists set up free accounts then use them to scam as many people as possible before packing up their "business opportunity" and heading to the next free host and free email account.

YOU RECEIVED THE OFFER AS SPAM
Legitimate employers won't contact you through SPAM emails. Although many legitimate home business opportunities are sent through opt-in lists, if you didn't specifically request the information be very wary of trusting its contents.

"DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO"
If someone is trying to sell you an ebook or a work at home business kit, ask yourself one question: "Are they doing it?" If someone tells you their ebook will help you make thousands of dollars a month using the unique marketing strategies they'll sell you for only $30, ask yourself why they're selling ebooks and not using their strategies. If someone is telling you that you can make money with an internet business opportunity and they're only involved in selling the opportunity and not using the opportunity, tread very carefully.

THEY WANT MONEY TO SIGN YOU UP
Call it a "processing fee" or "application fee", if someone wants money or a credit card number for "verification" before they let you in on what the business opportunity entails, don't trust them. Money for guides, products, or business related services are more legitimate, but beware someone who wants you to pay them for some vague "service" as a condition of their new business opportunity.

TOO MUCH HYPE
And not enough substance. Claims of "Make thousands of dollars in your spare time" and "Fire your boss next week" or "Make fast money" might be true in a few cases, but if there aren't solid facts and legitimate strategies thrown in with the marketing hype then stay away.

EXPERIENCE
The best way to learn to spot bad home based business opportunities is experience - not experience in trying them, but experience in evaluating their offers. There are many links on this site that offer legitimate methods for making money online.

As with any industry, there are also the "get rich quick" folks who are looking to take your money. Visiting a web site or requesting more information by email won't cost you a dime. Do your research, look at our program reviews, and visit as many web sites as you can. You'll soon learn to distinguish the good from the too good to be true.