Previous | Unsecured or secured loans: What's best for you? Next | Soft landings require skill; Is the Fed instrument-rated?
September 10, 2020 / Ray Wills
Work-from-home scams and how to avoid them

Work-from-home scams and how to avoid them

As the coronavirus crisis causes unemployment numbers to increase, a trend has emerged: Many people are falling victim to work-from-home scams.

Identifying these scams can be tricky, as work-from-home opportunities have skyrocketed due to nationwide stay-at-home orders.

Here’s how it works: The scam typically begins with an enticing online job posting, promising that you’ll earn thousands of dollars without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Woman using laptop next to red hazard sign


Then a “recruiter” contacts you with an offer: perhaps to work as a purchaser, envelope stuffer or mystery shopper. But dubiously, you’ll be expected to pay—for supplies you’ll never use, training and services you’ll never receive, or even illegitimate taxes and fees.

The unfortunate reality is that these offers, especially the unsolicited ones, are actually scams. So do your due diligence and research the company, and anyone associated with it, thoroughly.

Carefully watch for the following:

  • The website is incomplete or contains vague information.
  • The individual, or company, is not based in the US.
  • You cannot contact someone on a US-based landline, or via telephone at all.
  • You're asked to pay any amount of money up front.
  • You're told that you will need to provide your bank account or credit card information, or open a new bank account for direct deposit and payment for supplies.


Ray Wills is the security officer at F&M Trust

Recent Articles
Soft landings require skill; Is the Fed instrument-rated?
Soft landings require skill; Is the Fed instrument-rated?

Soft landings require skill; Is the Fed instrument-rated?

April 21, 2023 / Warren Hurt

50/30/20 rule helps with budgeting
50/30/20 rule helps with budgeting

50/30/20 rule helps with budgeting

April 13, 2023 / Courtney Shauf

What is Inflation?
What is Inflation?

What is Inflation?

April 07, 2023 / Joel Huffer

With recession possible, should I review my portfolio?
With recession possible, should I review my portfolio?

With recession possible, should I review my portfolio?

April 03, 2023 / The Merrill Anderson Company

Required Minimum Distributions in 2023
Required Minimum Distributions in 2023

Required Minimum Distributions in 2023

March 20, 2023 / The Merrill Anderson Company

First time home buyer assistance through First Front Door
First time home buyer assistance through First Front Door

First time home buyer assistance through First Front Door

March 17, 2023 / David Kuhns

How to avoid a phishing attack
How to avoid a phishing attack

How to avoid a phishing attack

March 14, 2023 / Ray Wills

Business owners can succeed with a personal touch
Business owners can succeed with a personal touch

Business owners can succeed with a personal touch

March 07, 2023 / Natasha Koons

Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?
Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?

Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?

February 24, 2023 / Patti Murray

Join our e-newsletter

Sign up for our e-newsletter to get new content each month.

NOTICE: YOU ARE LEAVING F&M TRUST!

You are now leaving the F&M Trust website. Links to third-party sites are provided for your convenience. Such sites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility standards as ours. F&M Trust neither endorses nor guarantees offerings of the third-party providers, nor is F&M Trust responsible for the security, content or availability of third-party sites, their partners or advertisers.