Working from home is an increasingly popular option among the employed population of New York. Fortunately, modern technology makes it possible for more employers to offer this option to staff members on either a full or part-time basis. However, when looking for work-from-home opportunities, New York consumers must be on guard against work-from-home scams. Too often, fraudsters post “opportunities” online in order to steal cash or personal data from consumers. Sadly, when identity theft happens, it can cause lasting credit score damage. This is why those seeking work-from-home job positions in New York should do substantial research before giving out their information.
Three Ways for New York Job Seekers to Spot a Work-From-Home Scam that Might Lead to Identity Theft
When looking for legitimate work-from-home opportunities, New York job seekers should keep one basic rule in mind. That is, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. You are absolutely NOT going to get rich by stuffing envelopes in your spare time or filling out surveys. So, don’t even waste your time with these kinds of offers. In addition to this all-important rule, here are some good safety tips to follow.
1 – Never send your banking information in with your application.
If a company requests this, it is a big red flag. Some consumers in New York report getting elaborate job offers that ask for applicant banking information “so that they can get paid.” However, the truth is that no employer should ever make this request before actually hiring a candidate. Even if the offer is just to set up a profile for future opportunities, take a pass. There are safer ways to make yourself available to potential employers.
2 – Skip over work-from-home offers that are too vague.
For example, if “Must be at least 18-years-old with internet access” are the only job requirements, run. This relates to the “too good to be true rule” because most New York companies hire people with specific skills to perform specific tasks. Legitimate companies don’t want just anyone applying for positions, so they state detailed job requirements in order to attract the right talent. Don’t make yourself vulnerable to identity theft by sending your information to individuals posting shady offers.
3 – Don’t apply for jobs that require the purchase of a “starter kit.”
If the top requirement for a work-from-home job is the purchase of a starter kit, one of two things is probably going on. The first possibility is that the posting is from a fraudster. This person either wants to make money selling kits or steal your information to commit identity theft – possibly both. It may also be a sign of a pyramid scheme where your primary job duty is selling starter kits to other New York consumers. Don’t waste your time or money. Instead, keep looking for legitimate work-from-home opportunities because they are out there.
What New York Consumers Should do if They Become a Victim of Identity Theft
Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to protect yourself against identity theft in New York, your personal data sometimes gets into the wrong hands. When this happens, your first concern is stopping the identity thief from taking your money and opening new credit accounts in your name. Then, you must take steps toward credit recovery. More often than not, identity theft victims are left with damaged credit reports. Then, fixing your credit after identity theft often involves a frustrating and time-consuming process unless you have access to the right resources.
This is why New York victims of identity theft should do two things immediately. First, file a police report with your local New York authorities. Next, contact Credit Repair Lawyers of America. When you call our firm, an experienced identity theft attorney will give you detailed instructions on how to fix your credit. In fact, our team of credit pros will handle most of the process for you. We’ll also charge you nothing out of pocket for our services.
Free Credit Recovery after Identity Theft in New York
At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been ending cleaning up credit reports for victims of identity theft since 2008 for free. How do we do it? All of our fees come from the defendants in settled cases. This is why our clients pay nothing for the work we do.
Let’s start the conversation about what we can do for your credit. Set up your free consultation today by calling Attorney Carl Schwartz at (646) 859-3045 or sending him a message through our contact page.
