The Myth of Easy Money: Why You Won't Get Paid to Surf the Web

There are many sites online that promise you that you could be paid to surf the Internet, take surveys or to click on ads. Unfortunately, most of these are scams that will take your money and run. Any site that promises that they can show you how to make money online is tempting, but most programs are either illegal or not workable, and you should take caution before becoming involved in one.

Paid to Surf Schemes

You should never pay a company to "work for them", especially if this company is online. Most paid to surf sites take money from new members, and use it to pay old members or not pay anyone at all (and keep the money).

Though valid sites do exist, these sites do not always work, and even if they do work, there is no guaranteed payment until you reach a certain money amount (which could take weeks, months or even years).

Paid to Click Schemes

These companies advertise that you can make money by clicking on ads in their website. Again, you should never pay to sign up for one of these sites.

Like paid to surf schemes, these sites generally require you to wait to reach a "payout amount" before getting paid. Most of the time each ad clicked gives you between .01-.05 cents, and you are required to view the ad for at least 30 seconds, making the most a person could make under the right circumstances be $6.00 an hour. Though some sites allow you to network your friends onto the site (and you would make a percentage of what they make), most of the time there are only 20 available ads a day for viewing, giving the view a maximum amount of $1.00 to work that day.

Paid to Take Survey Schemes

Another "free money" program offered online is being paid to take surveys. Many of these offer surveys in exchange for a subscription to their site. Again, be very wary when giving anyone your credit card number.

There are also sites that claim to be free, and after signing up for them, they will give you a couple of surveys to fill out before getting additional surveys. Generally, one will be a "personality" survey in which they could "get to know you better" so they could give you surveys that would relate to you. This would be less scary if the second "practice" survey didn't require you to give them your social security number.

Social Networking Schemes

Some social networking sites promise to pay you for social networking. Most of these sites will give you .01-.25 cents for every 1000 views you either get on your site or when you click on someone else's site. While most of these do not ask you for money or for your social security number, it isn't worth your time, and as with other schemes, you must reach the minimum payout before ever receiving a check.

While some good sites are out there that won't steal your money or identity, it is impossible to discern them from the scams, and unfortunately for every one good site, there are 50 scams standing along side it promising you wealth.

Though they may be good for that "extra 5 bucks a month", make sure you are doing something else that will give you the income you need. Just remember not to get your hopes up in becoming rich with these sites and to never give out personal information on them.

5 Tell-Tale Signs a Work-at-Home Job is a Scam

When researching to find a work-at-home job, you may be discouraged to discover that many online offers are scams. Scams come in all sorts of disguises, from promises to make hundreds of dollars a day creating ads, to simple part-time job scams. You should be knowledgeable about telltale signs of these false job opportunities to protect yourself from losing your savings, or even your identity.

Sign #1: You Must Join for a Fee

Many online "companies" offer you business if you pay them a fee to get you that business. These are almost always, if not always, scams. No company who is genuinely wanting to pay you money will require you to pay them a monthly, or even a one time fee. If they want part of your money from recruiting you, they can take it out of your first paycheck (after informing you that they will do that), but you should never pay to join a company.

There are some companies that require you to purchase materials before working. If that is the case (with a company to whom you have applied), make sure you know what the materials are, and research the company to guarantee they are a valid business (before spending a dime on them).

Sign #2: Only an Email Address is Required

On websites where companies can post job openings for free, there is a chance that you will come across scams. Sometimes job descriptions are very vague, such as "part time receptionist needed", and only an email address is used for the contact information. Though some of these are valid, many of them are scams and will solicit your email addresses to send you unwanted spam mail. You will have also wasted your time writing an email cover letter.

Sign #3: A Job Description is Vague

Many Internet sites promise you that you can make lots of money if you will sign up with them, but do not give you any details on what your job will entail. These are written to appeal to many people so that they can scam more people. Even with all sorts of "employee satisfaction" quotes attached to these pages, it is a good idea to look elsewhere for your job.

Sign #4: They Claim Great Wealth in No Time

If a site promises you that you can make hundreds of dollars a day, or even a week, by only working a couple hours a day, it is most likely a scam. Very few people can ever make that much money unless they are a high executive or have special medical or highly specialized knowledge.

Sign #5: You Only Get Paid by Direct Deposit

If a company refuses to pay you by any other means than direct deposit, they may be scamming to get enough information from you to take your savings. In most states, employers are required by law to give the option of a business check, unless you are working for the Government.

Trying to find an job can be rough, and unfortunately it is made tougher by scammers. However, by weeding out the scams and focusing on the real job opportunities, you can make the job search part of your life a lot easier.

Update: Arbonne Restructuring

Arbonne Poised to Emerge

We are pleased to report that the judge overseeing our financial restructuring confirmed our Plan of Reorganization today, clearing the way for our company to emerge from Chapter 11.

We have sped through this process in a little over one month—an exceptionally short period of time and right in line with what we hoped and expected from the outset. We will emerge shortly upon the completion of certain routine closing conditions and in advance of NTC 2010.

Arbonne Independent Consultants can go to arbonne.com > Internet Consultant > Arbonne Restructuring to find a letter from Kay, FAQs, and other important information.

For Clients and prospective Consultants, please visit us at arbonne.com > Company > Corporate Information > Arbonne Restructuring, for more information.

Thanks for your interest in Arbonne.

Tags: restructuring

You can now shop online at Inspiranza.com!

Inspiranza now offers an online shopping cart for you to be able to shop from the comfort of your home!

Order online at www.myinspiranza.com

Amway launches iphone App

The free download allows Amway distributors to access a complete product catalog, show customers videos and other product information, and place orders, with or without an Internet connection. The app puts almost every business function an Amway distributor needs on a device that goes wherever they go. I just love this idea! Hopefully other companies will jump on this idea.

A loss in the Wahm family..

Dawn Klenow-Lampinen, 41, of Rock, passed away Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, as a result of an automobile accident on her way to work in Marquette.

Her webpage was "Packaged to perfection" where she sold handmade jewelry and packaging products.

Our prayers go out to her family...

How long do you need to keep your Direct Sales paperwork?

Are those papers and folders stacking up from your direct sales companies? Want to clean those papers out but wonder how long you need to keep them for "IRS" reasons? How long do you need to keep them?

Technically about 7yrs ... but remember "if" the IRS finds one thing out of place they can go as far back as they like... meaning you better have your paperwork in order.. why not go to walmart and get a $40 file cabinet just for this paperwork.. and then you can write it off as a business expense next year as well..

its better to be safe then sorry

-thank you to Yahoo answers