Real vs. bogus homework

This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in June 2009 Consumer Reports magazine.

Yes, you can work at home, but don't expect to get rich quick. Some 4.2 million Americans use their home as a base for occupations ranging from landscaping and housecleaning services to tax preparation, engineering consulting, and farming, according to the National Association for the Self-Employed. If you want to avoid a scam, the Federal Trade Commission and NASE advise:

Don't pay for materials

Legitimate home product-assembly businesses are local and never ask you to buy the materials.

Be wary of network building

Stay away from multilevel marketing schemes that make earnings contingent on your ability to sign up an ever-growing pyramid of "distributors" who are supposed to do the same and pass sales commissions up the line.

Do some sleuthing

Check the company's Better Business Bureau rating. Also do a search at www.ripoffreport.com and www.complaints.com.

Be a skeptic

Don't depend on promises of 100 percent satisfaction and money-back guarantees. They might be worthless.