Webupon

We see the ads all the time. Work from home. Scam free. Perfect for stay-at-home moms. Make $1,000 a day. Simple form-filling. The question almost all online job seekers ask at some point in their job search is, “are data entry sites and jobs a scam?” Are there truly any legitimate data entry sites that a desperate at home job seeker can join with no investment or start up cost?

From my experience, in a nutshell, here are the two truthful answers to these questions:

First, data entry sites and jobs are not a scam, but are so often falsely misrepresented that they BECOME a scam in the eyes of the job seeker.

And second, there are NO legitimate data entry sites that you can join without an initial investment or start up costs. There are simply data entry job openings, which a job seeker can find on getafreeelancer, eufreelance, odesk and other freelance or even regular employment sites.

Are Data Entry Jobs a Scam?

The meaning of “data entry” is so poorly defined that it is manipulated, misunderstood and intentionally misrepresented by many data entry sites. Most job seekers take for granted that they know what data entry is. Strictly speaking, data entry is entering textual data or information onto a form, and this loose definition is used by many scam sites to lure online job seekers into filling out google ads, when the poor job seekers are really under the impression that they are subscribing to traditional data entry jobs. Traditional data entry is normally:

• medical transcription
• appointment setting
• business coding
• data recording and transcribing

These are certainly the types of jobs most online job seekers are looking for when they sign up with a data entry site. Many data entry sites have cashed in on online job seekers’ desperation to find at home work and have compiled long directories and lists of real, legitimate, verifiable companies who require such workers.

Many online job seekers feel it is a scam to pay a membership fee to data entry sites only to find that they are only provided with a list of other data entry companies to apply to. There is no actual work, just a list of companies. It is important for online job seekers to understand that they are NOT working for the data entry company. They are simply paying for access to hard to find or unlisted data entry jobs, which could actually be useful and worth the money, for a skilled and talented work at home employee who simply needs leads. Time is money, and job seekers are provided with useful information that would otherwise take hundreds of hours of online searches. Although some online job seekers feel cheated at only being given an opportunity to apply for another job, it isn’t a scam. In fact, it’s simply paying for information.

Where is the Scam?

The real fraud lies in the fraudulent misrepresentation of some data entry companies, who intentionally list themselves as data entry companies, when the only jobs they offer are “form filling,” which is simply google adposting. The “job” these data entry sites offer is essentially the opportunity to post the company’s ads on google adwords in order to entice other desperate online job seekers to sign up and pay a membership fee for the same ‘work at home’ privilege. The online worker then takes a small commission in return for his efforts.

These types of scam jobs, which technically fit the description of ‘data entry’, are easy to spot:

• The online site says the job involves ad posting. It doesn’t involve adposting; it IS adposting.
• The income potential is unlimited. Theoretically true, as commission has no limit.
• The job calls you an independent contractor. You aren’t paying for a job; you are paying for an opportunity.
• The site has a payout minimum. They will happily hold your money until you have generated enough business for them.

So, the question becomes, which are traditional data entry sites, and which are google adposting data entry opportunities?

The Only Two Traditional Data Entry Sites I Have Encountered:

1. My Data Team- Offers a directory of many different jobs to apply to, along with online training to help you gain the credentials needed to apply for skilled data entry jobs, like medical transcription work. Job postings are updated quite often, and the site offers attractive bonuses and a money back guarantee if the job seeker doesn’t find an opportunity. Customer service is excellent and responses to my emails were rapid and thorough. The only drawback was that many of the legitimate data entry companies listed were US based, and as a non-US resident, I did not qualify.
   Rating: 10/10
2. Data PC Jobs- Their site absolutely looks like a scam google adposting data entry site. In reality, there are links to many traditional data entry companies along with lots of ebooks about making money online. Tons of paid survey links, mystery shop links, pay per click email companies and more. For those who WOULD LIKE to venture into the potentially profitable google adposting domain, there is a full training and tutorial section with plenty of software to get started. I did make some money with the bonus links, and learned plenty of online money making techniques from the free ebooks. Rating: 8/10

The Scam Data Entry Sites Which Stole My Membership Fee

Here are some data entry sites that are simply paid opportunities to post ad for them. I know because I have paid membership fees to these companies, without a cent in return.

1. Click N Earn- A true example of a paid opportunity to post ads for a “data entry” company. I subscribed to the one “non adposting research typist job”, and found that it involves collecting HUNDREDS of email addresses belonging to desperate job seekers from online work at home forums then submitting them to the company, no doubt to be the used in company spam email. Stay away. The company says, “Advertisement is our business and we specialize in internet advertisement.” That is the 110% truth about them.
2. Offline Typist Jobs- This free registration site is deceiving in appearance.