Work-at-home scams are on the rise as the economy continues its nosedive and job layoffs increase.

Complaints about these scams are among the top 10 received by the Better Business Bureau of Chicago in 2008. The Illinois Attorney General’s office also shows that such scams were on the rise last year.

How can you protect yourself?

• Be especially careful when trying to take on odd jobs while conducting your more formal job search. Scammers know that people are desperate, and they typically use the internet, regular mail and telephone solicitations to woo their prey, all for their own gain.
• Also be careful of job advertisements that promote a 900 number. It can cost you a bundle to call any form of a 900 number because they’re a charge-per-call number, often with unexpected and unwanted charges.
• Think twice before accepting an offer to stuff envelopes. In this scam, responders aren’t asked to stuff envelopes at all; instead, they’re told that for a fee, they’ll be given instructions on placing similar ads elsewhere.

Here are some other scams to avoid:

• Offers that ask you to deposit a check, then wire additional funds elsewhere.
• Work that involves assembling crafts. These scams ask you to invest hundreds of dollars in equipment and supplies, then spending hours making the products, which the seller of the goods says they’ll buy. The sale doesn’t happen. The potential buyer often denies the sale, indicating that the goods are “faulty.”
• Offers to become a “mystery shopper,” which include a requirement to pay a “registration fee” and receive information about becoming “certified.”
• Any claim that says you only need to pay a “minimum” investment to get started with “no training necessary.”

The bottom line: do your homework before investing in any work-at-home business. Carefully check out the fine print in their offer. They should provide a phone number to call if you have questions. And, it’s a good idea to check them out with the Better Business Bureau or the Illinois Attorney General’s office to determine if they have had any complaints filed against them.

If you’ve already been duped, an attorney may be able to help.

Note: This information was prepared as a public service by the Illinois State Bar Association and is a joint project with the Illinois Press Association. Its purpose is to inform citizens of their legal rights and obligations.