When I was just starting to work online, I wished someone had given me tips to avoid online employment scams, I would have saved a lot of effort and energy and my writings would have been paid.

Online workers are more susceptible to scams as compared to people who work offline. For us people who work online and accepts jobs, there are no guarantees that our employers are legitimate and will indeed pay after the tasks asked of us to be done. It’s risky and yet we have no choice. Or so it seems at first, but there are ways to protect ourselves as well.

I have been scammed too many times by people who have asked me to write 500-1000 words and I never got paid. In a way I am to blame because I should have been more careful and not too trusting. I’m writing this article in hopes that someday, I might help someone be more aware of how the online employment system works.

5 Tips to Avoid Online Employment Scams:

1. Always ask for an upfront payment. At least ask for 50% of the full payment. Payments are always made through paypal anyway, so if you don’t deliver what they’ve asked from you they can easily set up a dispute on paypal. A dispute on paypal is very, very bad because then you won’t be able to touch your earnings as long as you don’t settle the dispute.
2. Never pay for anything. You are the one who is looking for a job and then you end up paying them? That’s just weird. Don’t be stupid. Legitimate online employers will never ask you to pay for anything. Ever.
3. Don’t be too cheap. If you’re a writer, don’t accept $1 tasks for 500 words! If you do, you’ll be one of the reasons why there is cheap labor. I’m sure your 500 words is worth more than just a $1. Make sure that your rate is appropriate for the tasks done. Don’t just settle for what is offered to you, if you think it is too small, ask for a higher rate, but make sure it is reasonable.
4. Learn to research. If you saw an ad or you are offered a job by a certain person through e-mail, do a quick Google search. It may save you some time and learn if you’re about to be scammed or if it’s actually a legitimate job offer.
5. Join an Online Workers Group on Facebook or Forums. Everyone is on Facebook, look and you might find a group of people in your community who also work online, you can use this to promote your services and also find potential employers, as well as avoid scammers. You will also be able to learn more things about how the online employment world works and be able to share your knowledge too.