Work-at-Home Scams: A Retired Nurse’s Story (FTC Video Guide)

A friendly caller describes a business you can run from home, with coaching that will help you earn a steady monthly income. All you need to do is pay for the program. In this FTC video, a retired nurse explains how that pitch cost her thousands of dollars. Our guide shows how to check out a work-from-home offer before you spend a cent.

From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Part of our Online Safety Video Library

What the video shows

A retired nurse got an unexpected call about a work-from-home business coaching program. The caller called back several nights in a row and promised large monthly earnings.

She paid thousands of dollars for coaching sessions that, according to the FTC, did not exist, then paid more for a business license and website. Her advice: research any business opportunity before you pay, look for complaints and reviews, check with the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general, and talk it over with people you trust.

Key takeaways

• Unexpected calls offering a ready-made home business are a red flag.
• Promises of steady, high monthly earnings with little effort are a classic warning sign.
• Paying upfront for coaching, a website, or “starter kits” is how these scams make their money.
• Repeated calls and pressure to decide quickly are meant to stop you from checking.
• A few minutes of research can save thousands of dollars.

Check out a work-from-home offer before you pay

1. Search the company name with words like “scam,” “complaint,” and “review.”
2. Check with your state attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
3. Ask the seller for its required business-opportunity disclosure document, and for written proof of what typical buyers actually earn.
4. Talk it over with a friend, relative, or financial counselor before signing or paying.
5. If you have been targeted, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Common work-from-home scam types

• Coaching and “business in a box” programs that charge for training, websites, or leads.
• Reshipping or package-forwarding jobs that may involve stolen goods.
• Fake-check jobs that send a check and ask you to send part of the money back.
• Online “task” jobs that ask you to pay or deposit money to unlock earnings.
• Envelope stuffing or assembly kits that require you to buy supplies first.

Common questions

Are all work-from-home jobs scams?

No. Many real employers hire remote workers. A real job pays you; it does not ask you to pay to get started.

They sent testimonials from successful customers. Doesn’t that prove it works?

Testimonials can be invented or come from a few exceptional cases. Ask for written earnings information about typical buyers and verify it independently.

I already paid. Can I get my money back?

Contact your credit card company or bank right away to dispute the charge, keep all records, and report it to the FTC and your state attorney general.

Related guides

• How to Avoid Income Scams (Video Guide)
• How Scammers Tell You to Pay (Video Guide)
• Hidden Fees: How to Spot Charges You Never Agreed To
• Impersonation Scams: How to Spot Them

About this video

This video was produced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency, and plays from the agency’s own channel. Juggling Chaos wrote this summary and guide; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the agency. Some details on screen, such as phone models or web addresses, may look dated, but the advice still applies. Checked October 7, 2026.

Read the FTC’s advice on job scams.