Garla Here,

If someone told you they will take your money and not provide any product or service, then disappear leaving you wondering, you’d tell them to hit the road. Unfortunately, online scams are not as obvious. Scam artists make promises, present credentials, claim affiliations and can appear quite genuine.  

Smart Moms was created because we wanted to provide moms an alternative to the scams preying on people seeking work at home jobs.  So, we are especially vigilant.  Well, someone slipped by our radars recently.  It breaks our hearts to learn that someone we recommend to our website visitors as one who would provide a bona fide service would not live up to our expectations.

When we returned to the website of that service provider and reviewed it more thoroughly, we found indications that we should have avoided recommending the business although these flags were not obvious during our original assessment.

We want to share some tips with you so you can be alert when making the decision to work with any organization. 

1. When reviewing a website, read the text carefully.  Note any inconsistencies such as number of years in business or providing the services you seek. Are there inconsistencies regarding where the individual obtained a degree?

2. Sometimes companies use a third party validating service. If one is represented, click through to that site and review it. Call the validating company to verify the claims of the first website. Con artists often make claims hoping victims will take them at their word.

3. If the website displays any industry association seals or certification seals contact those organizations to verify if the business you want to deal with is indeed a member or has obtained certification through them. Anyone can slap a seal on a website. They count on you accepting that seal as proof they are the real deal.
 
4. Check references. Ask the person who will provide the service to supply three references. You want to speak with people who have used the services you wish to purchase.  Try to verify that the references are real and not plants.  Ask for references that are businesses so they will be easier to verify. If someone is unwilling to provide references, that’s a clear indication to end the discussion.

5. Contact the Better Business Bureau in the service provider’s area.  Check to see if there are any complaints.  Note the nature of the complaints and whether complaints have been resolved.

6. If you don’t receive products or services you’ve paid for, be willing to contact the police for the town in which that company does business.  Also contact the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission and file reports.

Nobody likes to be ripped off.  There are many legitimate businesses operating on the web today. Unfortunately, there are equally as many scam artists operating on the web.  Do some background work before you spend your hard earned money with anyone online.

You may also like to read our tips for determining legitimate job opportunities  and our Guide to Legitimate Work From Home jobs. Our goal is to encourage, empower and educate you. 

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