3. Chain Letters - send $5 to next name on list then cross bottom name off list, replace it with your own, then forward letter to 500 of your nearest and dearest. What to look for: A jail cell. This is a pyramid scheme and is illegal. The letter goes to great pains to say that it is not illegal.

4. Envelope Stuffing - think you're going to be paid for stuffing envelopes? Think again. You get a kit that you can turn around to recruit others to an envelope stuffing scam of your very own! Watch out for craft assembly work as well. You'll probably find all of your hard work is not up to their exacting "quality standards" and therefore you won't get paid for your work.

5. Health and Diet Scams - magic pills that eradicate need to eat fewer calories than you expend in order to lose weight. They don't work.

6. Effortless Income - no such thing. As FTC says, if they worked, everyone would be doing it.

7. Free Goods - you're told you'll get a free computer. You have to pay a fee to join a club and then told you have to recruit other members. You get paid in computers. They're nothing but pyramid schemes.

8. Investment Opportunities - look for outrageously high rates of return with no risk.

9. Cable Descrambler Kits - they probably won't work and even if they do, you're stealing a service from a cable company and committing a crime.

10. Guaranteed Loans or Credit - pay a fee and you're given a list of lenders, all of whom turn you down. Credit cards never arrive.

11. Credit Repair - no matter how bad your credit, pay these people and they'll fix it. They generally just advise you how to lie on future credit applications - how to commit fraud in other words.

12. Vacation Prize Promotions - your accommodations will be so bad you'll want to pay for an upgrade. You'll probably have to pay to schedule a vacation at time you want as well.

=> Pyramid Schemes

Make money by recruiting members into program without giving anything of equal value in exchange for membership fees. Contrast MLM (multi-level marketing schemes). These are not pyramid schemes because they involve sale of products and services in return for membership.

=> Medical Billing

Prepackaged businesses requiring an investment of $2,000 to $8,000. Few people who purchase one of these "businesses" are able to find clients, start a business and generate revenues. Competition in this area is fierce and concentrated around a few big, well-entrenched firms.

=> Your In Box

Finally, go to your in-box now. You'll find no end of scams sitting right there. Here's one that just arrived in mine ...

"Subject: How to make $1,000,000 in 20 weeks selling to Newcomers on Net"

Like all rest, it gets one-finger salute - index finger to delete key. Works beautifully every time.

Where to go for more information on internet scams:

FTC Website http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm

Scambusters http://www.scambusters.org

Netscams http://www.netscams.com/frameset.html

Find a contact person with company that will talk to you. Have a list of questions such as length of time in business, annual revenues, publicly traded or privately held, name of CEO and other company officers, names and contact info for other company representatives that you may call.

Check to see if company is a member of Direct Selling Association by visiting their web site at http://www.dsa.org

Check with your state's Attorney's General Office.

See if they are listed with Dun & Bradstreet, and if so, check their rating.

Talk to 3 or 4 representatives and find out how long they have been with company and get general feedback.

If you have found company or opportunity from a web site, look for contact information of person owning and representing site.

Make sure you get all of your questions answered to your satisfaction. Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision.

Find out all up front costs. Also, find out if there are any recurring monthly or annual costs that you can anticipate.

What exactly is expected of you? Are there monthly sales quotas? What do you have to do to get paid? When will you get paid? Is there any fine print that you need to be aware of?

Listen to your gut instincts. They are usually right!

There are many profitable, legal and fun work at home business ideas both online, and offline. Just do your research.

Don't allow "bumps in road" to stop you from finding option that will work for you. Keep me moving in direction that will allow you to create a life that you love! It will happen, just keep looking!