With the recession going on, it is no surprise that scams are on the rise. People are interested in earning more money, and finding creative ways to get some increased cash flow. Sadly, many of these scams include the “home business opportunity” line.

Yes, there are many home business opportunities out there that are legitimate. However, there are also even more that are actually scams. Here are some red flags to be aware of when looking at work from home opportunities:

1. Promises that you can get rich quickly.

2. Promises of a 5-figure income in one month. (Many home business owners work up to this, but it is by no means a given — and it can’t come quickly.)

3. Promises that you won’t have to do anything — the system is automatic!

4. Grammatical and spelling errors. (Many scammers lack good English writing skills.)

5. Requests for you to pay money up front to work for someone else. (Most legitimate telemarketing jobs that require special equipment will provide it for you or reimburse you.)

6. Indications that you “only” have to buy a “special” system.

As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Choose your work from home opportunities with care, and be on your guard against scammers.