While there are numerous profitable home based opportunities online, there are also a lot of scams that one must be aware of in their search for a home business. There a lot of scam artists who are just lurking behind for someone who is hopeful – and inexperienced – to come by. Don’t fall victim!Certainly, there are dishonest schemes that are aimed at those who want to start their own home based business, but there are also con artists who target average computer users around the globe. These scammers are skillful at building web sites that look and feel just like the web sites that you normally access. For instance, they can set up an exact duplicate site of your shopping web site, in an attempt to lure you into revealing your user name and password, or other vital data, such as your account number or credit card details.In home business scams things work slightly different. In this case, the fraudster simply wants your cash, in exchange for an unkept promise. He doesn’t require your bank account details; he just wants payment, which inexperienced hopeful folks will gladly offer him. He will take your hard earn money knowing that he is crushing your dreams and emptying your bank account – and he won’t bother.Safeguarding Yourself from Home Business Opportunity Scams So, how can you safeguard yourself from these internet scammers? The initial step is to apply common sense. At all time, if something sounds too good to be factual, it likely is. Learn to detect hype, and to keep away from offers that are hyped. Hype means that peculiar promises are being made. For example, “make tens of thousands of dollars in just days with little or no work”. That is a common strategy used in many scammy internet home business advertisements.Investigate the Company Before you think of investing your hard earned cash in any business opportunity, you need to properly investigate the business. Verify with the Better Business Bureau first to confirm if there are any negative reports. You can also pay a small fee for a basic background assessment, which usually costs less than twenty bucks. A great deal can be acquired from such basic information.Personal Details Make use of a postal address, instead of your home address, and never reveal your personal info if you can avoid it. However, when doing business on the web, you might need to provide personal information. When doing so, ensure that the site is secure and safe to transact business with over the internet.Peruse the Fine PrintPeruse everything, including the fine print, and ensure you don’t pay for anything until you have read all terms and conditions. And you should know precisely what you are paying for, before you send that payment. Or if you can get in touch directly with other people who have invested in the offer, and verify who they are. Note that a fraudster can put people up to telling you anything that they think that you want to hear, but usually, when you request for references and such, a fraudster will move on.Common Sense As mentioned earlier, the application of common sense in all transactions, and believe in your instincts. If it feels inappropriate, it likely is. If it sounds too good to be real, it likely is. If you are not too sure, do not move forward until you ascertain it legitimacy. The appropriate home business opportunity will come along, but by paying close attention, and knowing what to be on the lookout for, you won’t spend a great deal of time or cash investing in business opportunity scams.