It’s unfortunate that there are so many “work from home” scams out there, but the sad truth is that they exist. Therefore, if you want to work from home, it’s a good idea to be savvy about these scams and know what to look for. In addition to listening to your gut and doing your research (search the web on each company you consider), here are some tips for making sure that a work-at-home opportunity is legitimate.

1. Beware of vague claims. Scammers like to make big but non-specific promises, like how much money you will make. They may even try to sound specific by giving you a dollar amount you can expect to earn. But if you can’t discern what, exactly, you would be doing if you worked for them, or if you can’t tell what the job description is, then steer clear. You want concrete, specific directions and job descriptions, not vague promises about getting rich overnight.

2. Testimonials can be a great way to promote a legitimate business, but watch out for testimonials that sound far too glowing or staged. “I was able to quit my job after only 1 week, and now I make thousands each month working from home!” says Jane Smith in Somewhere City. Jane and many others may have similar testimonials on a company’s website, but once again they are too good, too perfect, and too vague. Jane doesn’t say what she did to make all that money, and the success time is way too quick (1 week).

3. Beware of consultants and representatives who call you constantly, trying to get you to sell their product. Legitimate businesses won’t harass you, or try to pin you down on selling a product. If it’s a truly good product, then it should be enough in demand that they don’t need to bug you.

4. Find out what the customer service is like with the company you’re considering working for. If you can’t get through on the phone or don’t get replies to your emails, that’s a red flag that the company is not legitimate, or at least disorganized.

5. Fees are a somewhat grey area – it’s normal to expect a sign-up fee with an online community with great business resources, for example (those who own that community are probably work-from-home people, too!). It’s also normal to expect to pay a fee for marketing services or for getting your name put on a list for prospective employers to see. The point is, you are getting something for your money.

Beware of companies that ask you to pay a fee that does not seem to have any basis, or a fee for you to be trained. Most sources agree that you should avoid companies that ask you to pay just for the privilege of working for them.

Today, there are many work-from-home options available. In order to stay motivated and succeed, you will want to choose something you are good at and enjoy.

Of course, there are scams out there that promise you thousands of dollars for doing nothing but what you want all day, and this simply isn’t realistic. Working from home is still work! But it will be made much easier if you choose something that interests you and that you enjoy doing. Here are some options and how you can determine what works for you.

1. Time

Be honest about how much time you have. If you have young children, you’ll need to arrange for childcare or work around their school schedule. If you only have ten hours a week to put toward a work-at-home (WAH) job, then it’s better to go ahead and admit that now rather than bite off more than you can chew.

2. List your skills

Making lists is not always our first instinct, but it’s a good exercise for looking truthfully at your abilities, hopes, dreams, and so forth. Begin by making a list of your practical skills – these can run the gamut from meal planning to typing to teaching.

Then, make a list of your income needs. How much money do you need to quit your day job, or to pay the mortgage? List all expenses from groceries to car payments.

Finally, make a list of your goals and dreams for your business. Where do you envision your business going? Are you content working for others or do you want to go into business for yourself? How big is too big, and how small is too small? Include in this list your financial goals – maybe you’d like to afford a vacation, a new car, or just the electric bill.

Having these lists will help you determine if a WAH opportunity is a fit for you. If it doesn’t help you meet your goals, it probably isn’t right for you.

3. Practical steps

If you’re working from home, you have a computer and an internet connection, right? So get online and research. If you are going to do work at home for a company, research that company thoroughly – check into references, reviews, and the reputation of that company. In this day and age of WAH scams, it’s just as important for you to interview the company as it is for them to interview you!

Join message boards and online communities that offer reputable information about WAH jobs. Here you can ask questions and build relationships for support. Another online option is to join a WAH community where jobs are posted regularly.

4. How much money do you have to invest?

Some legitimate WAH opportunities do require some cash outlay. If you are going into business for yourself, you will need to consider the cost of a website, possibly hiring a site designer, marketing, and advertising. Working for others usually requires little or no cash outlay beyond something like paid membership to a reputable site through which you can make connections.

Like any job environment, working from home requires a certain type of individual. There are skills and characteristics of the home employee that may or may not fit your style. So if you are considering working from home, you might want to ask yourself if it’s right for you. Here are some things to consider.

The Work Day

Do you value the time when the work day is over, and you can go home and do what you please? If this is a valuable aspect of your outside-the-home job, then think carefully if you want to work from home. Setting your own hours sounds wonderful, but it is not as easy as it sounds. You don’t go home from your home office!

Computer Knowledge

If you are going to work from home, you’ll need a working knowledge of computers. You don’t have to be a software designer or anything, but knowledge of the basics is important. It’s also a good idea to have resources you can turn to, such as technically-savvy friends.

There’s no IT department to turn to in the home office, and computers require maintenance and updates. If you have trouble downloading software, or if your machine freezes up, you will need to have some knowledge at your disposal to fix the problem. Also, you are undoubtedly using an internet connection to work from home; find out if a back-up plan is feasible for you in case you can’t get online.

Task Orientation

Some people are more task-oriented than others – that is, some people find great satisfaction in making a list and getting everything on it done. Others find staying on task difficult, and may get distracted easily with other interests and ideas. You don’t have to be naturally task-oriented to succeed at working from home; but you do need to be honest with yourself about your abilities in this regard and plan accordingly.

Motivation

Remaining self-motivated can be challenging for some. Again, you can’t rewire your brain to be the personality type you need to succeed; but understanding your limitations and strengths regarding motivation can help you put safeguards in place before you begin.

For example, if you recognize that you have trouble staying motivated, you can ask a friend to hold you accountable periodically. He or she can check up on you weekly with an email or phone call, asking you if you’re on task and if you’ve reached your goals.

Perks

If you already have a day job, carefully consider the perks that job offers and decide what you will do about providing those yourself. Health insurance and taxes, for instance, are often things that an employer takes care of behind the scenes. You’ll want to look into those things on your own before starting out in the work-at-home world.