From the Email Bag -- Home-Based Jobs for Boomers

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren
Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

Dear Rat Race Rebellion: I'm about to retire, and I need part-time projects to supplement my income. I'd like to consider home-based projects, but every time I search, I see things that don't look trustworthy, like mystery shopping jobs and stuffing envelopes. Also, can I really make $100 per hour taking surveys? Please advise. —Patrick in Boston, Mass.

Dear Patrick: Many boomers mistrust the home-based work option, and they're right to be cautious. Our research shows a 61-to-1 scam ratio in work-at-home job ads, so the odds are lopsided. But there's a broad range of legitimate jobs and projects, too, including many mystery-shopping assignments.

Here are some tips to help you spot scams and find legitimate leads:
Updated: Mon Jan 26, 2015

Dear Rat Race Rebellion: I'm about to retire, and I need part-time projects to supplement my income. I'd like to consider home-based projects, but every time I search, I see things that don't look trustworthy, like mystery shopping jobs and stuffing envelopes. Also, can I really make $100 per hour taking surveys? Please advise. —Patrick in Boston, Mass.

Dear Patrick: Many boomers mistrust the home-based work option, and they're right to be cautious. Our research shows a 61-to-1 scam ratio in work-at-home job ads, so the odds are lopsided. But there's a broad range of legitimate jobs and projects, too, including many mystery-shopping assignments.

Here are some tips to help you spot scams and find legitimate leads:

—Envelope stuffing is almost a guaranteed scam. Survey work that pays a few dollars is usually legitimate, but the survey ads that offer high pay are typically scams. Steer clear of mystery-shopping jobs that ask you to wire funds.

—Other signs of a scam include claims of high pay for little work, "no experience necessary" and flagrant symbols of wealth (mansions, expensive cars, etc.).

—If a "job offer" arrives unsolicited in your email, it's almost surely a scam. And don't be fooled if it seems tailored to your situation. Scammers routinely troll sites like CareerBuilder and others for resumes. Then they shape their come-ons accordingly.

—Never pay for a survey or mystery-shopping job.

—For legitimate mystery-shopping jobs, see Market Force Information, at www.marketforce.com. You can also check our bulleted list at http://bit.ly/pOphak.

Dear Rat Race Rebellion: I got laid off and have had some trouble paying my bills, and my credit rating is shot. Can I still get a home-based job? —Mark in Blacksburg, Va.

Dear Mark: It depends on the job. Many employers both online and off now require applicants to pass a credit check. Many freelance hirers, however, have no such rule.

You may want to take on some freelance (aka independent contractor) gigs to jump-start your income and upgrade your resume. Fortunately, there are many types of freelance work to choose from. Here are some thought-starters:

—Freelance writers (including bloggers) are in high demand. The pay has come down in recent years, but you can still earn worthwhile payments if you choose projects carefully and build a list of credits. Some sites to check include www.JournalismJobs.com, www.Problogger.net and www.BloggingPro.com.

—Website testers are often hired to give their impressions as they navigate new or existing sites. Hirers typically pay $10 per site for a review that takes less than an hour. The demand for these projects is high, however, so it may take awhile to break in. For more, see www.Userlytics.com, www.UserTesting.com and www.FeedbackArmy.com.

—Courthouse researchers visit courthouses in their regions and record various data from public records. For more, see the bulleted list at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-courthouse.html.