We all know there are work at home scams out there that will rob people of their hard earned cash and steal their precious time; but did you know that some of the “work at home” schemes may even rob you of your liberty?

The ads for these scams are often incredibly seductive, promising individuals that they can earn hundreds of dollars every week just by processing checks, or stuffing envelopes. How do you spot the ones that will actually get you into trouble with the law and what can you do if you are a victim?

According to the FBI one of the most common illegal scams involves becoming a “US based” agent for an overseas firm. They send items to the “mark” to reship from their address, or checks to cash through their bank in return for a small portion of the total amount. The problem is that many times the goods are stolen or the checks are counterfeit, both of which could land you in the jail, not the “people” you are working for.

Before you undertake to work at home for anyone make sure that they have genuine contact information you can verify and that you know who they really are. There are criminals out there who are actively seeking innocent hard working people, looking for a way to make extra cash in hard times, to use as a cover for their illegal activities. By operating in the virtual world they profit but, are almost impossible for the police to track later and the unwitting home worker may pay for a crime they never knew they were committing.