In this economy, if you're looking for a job, you're not alone. Nearly one in ten Americans is out of work these days, and are hitting the want ads hard. However, with multiple mediums providing access to job ads, we often find ourselves the subject of scams. One particular type of posting that has been the source of a great deal of controversy has been the dreaded Data Entry Job.
The job descriptions are all the same: Work from home! Unlimited income potential! Be your own boss! They promise easy work, seemingly clerical, where you set the amount of hours you'll work and the income you'll receive. The data entry jobs ad often solicits stay at home moms or recently laid of workers, promising a perfect set up.
How perfect are these positions? Well, the jobs rarely involve typing in numbers, addresses or basic information into some pre-set database. Usually, these jobs involve one of several setups. In one of the most common scenarios, the data entry jobs require you to pay a fee upfront in order to receive marketing information. Then, you market the same position you signed up for on various websites, and will receive a form of profit if individuals respond to your ad and purchase the marketing material.
Other data entry jobs will have you place lines of code on websites that will generate ads, and then you receive a very small profit based on the amount of clicks your advertisement gets. Another common data entry job will have you take a long series of surveys, or complete offers that usually require your credit card number, and you will be given a nominal amount for each task completed. In each of these situations, the actual income you make is rarely what is promised in the initial ads. In the case of completing offers or surveys, you may actually find yourself with an inbox crammed full of spam, or worse, your credit card charged for large amounts if you fail to cancel the offers in time.
Are there legitimate data entry jobs out there? Absolutely. However, the majority of those positions are not for those who are looking to work from home, and often require credentials in order to be hired. Data entry jobs certainly sound appealing, but it's important to make sure you have all the facts before you sign up.