The idea that one can stay at home, work a few hours a day and become rich seems ridiculous to many; and it should be, because this is not the American way. It’s unrealistic to believe that in a couple of hours you can rack up hundreds of dollars just by stuffing a few envelopes or answering a few phone calls. But every day, tens of thousands of people fall victim to work-from-home jobs that make empty promises of making you a millionaire fast.

As the population grows, gas prices rise, and long-distance commuting becomes the norm, it’s no surprise that many are looking for ways to earn an income within the comfortable confines of their home. Unfortunately, legitimate work at home jobs are very few and often those who sign these fraudulent contracts lose a lot of money and pride before they realize they have been duped. The adage if something seems too good to be true definitely applies to work at home jobs.

The work-from-home envelope stuffing opportunity is perhaps the one most people know best and the one that fooled most people. Some companies mentioned that one could earn several dollars per envelope! Unlike a time when there are machines that can produce, seal and emboss hundreds of thousands of envelopes in a matter of minutes. Would it really make sense and be profitable for a company to hire you at $3.00 or more per envelope? The definitive answer is no, and companies are in the business of making money, not losing it.

Another infamous work from home scam are those that claim that by taking surveys, you can supplement your income; others claim quick riches. This is absurd. While some may earn a few extra bucks by taking surveys for the few legitimate survey companies, usually these companies have fine print and in the end all you did was enter your personal information which they will sell to other companies and profit from. she.

But not all hope is lost; there are some big name companies that hire hundreds if not thousands of employees to work for them from home. But keep in mind that locating these legitimate businesses takes work and research in the first place, and second, you probably won’t get rich instantly by working a couple of hours a day. The most rational and realistic picture is that you will still have to put in your eight hours and earn a nominal paycheck like most of the working population.

Some of the most lucrative work from home jobs today are those involving call centers, computer technicians, and freelance writers. Platforms like Odesk, Bistro, and Elance outsource millions of actual writing jobs to writers, who with a honed craft, good work ethic, and diligence can make a decent living. Alpine Access is a great source for those who have customer service experience and want to earn a decent salary answering incoming customer calls. If virtual assistance is your niche, the International Association of Virtual Assistants is a great place to research and find legitimate work in this field.

Remember, aside from winning the lottery or inheriting a family fortune, you’re unlikely to believe that any company will make you rich for a little time and effort on your part. Examine each work at home opportunity carefully.