(WMC TV) - So many people are falling for offers of big money to stuff envelopes at home that U.S. postal inspectors asked us -- begged us -- to tell you to stop.
"You can't make $3,500 dollars for putting a letter in an envelope and putting it in the mail. It's impossible," implored U.S. Postal Inspector Marc Ewing.
Yet in one recent case, inspectors said 3,000 victims lost a total of nearly $400,000 in this scam.
The suspect told them they could make $3,500, simply by stuffing envelopes.
All they had to do -- wait for it -- was pay $42 up-front for instructions on how to get started.
Really, folks? You're really going to fall for that?
"A lot of the victims I spoke with were down on their luck, out of a job," said Ewing. "They are trying to make money.
If you get a wacky "work-at-home" offer like this one, inspectors say ask yourself:
WHO WILL PAY ME?
WHAT TASKS WILL I HAVE TO PERFORM?
WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND MEMBERSHIP FEES?
Most work-at-home opportunities are scams. The easiest rule of thumb to remember: if they came to you first -- unsolicited -- then they are fake. Every time.
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