I was scanning through a whole bunch of random job listings, and I found this interesting webpage…
http://members.aol.com/workathomenetwrk/
Wow: this apparently indepedant and respected organization has carefully reviewed one of those “work-at-home-for$$$” offers, and finds that you can make an average of $6450 a month!
Sounds great: indepedently verified, with an actual study to make sure that it’s for real. I’m definately going to spend MY 32.65$ on the registration fee, which I’ll no doubt earn back in an hour, as this worker’s organization says!
But wait… something’s not right. First of all, why is this organization hosted by… an free AOL member webpage? And how come none of the navigational buttons work? Is this the only webpage that the organization has on their “site”? And how come, not far into the review, the “reviewer” starts sounding like he IS the company making the offer?
Most interestingly, why is the date in the “Openings Are Limited. We Can Guarantee Processing Of New Applicants Only Through Friday, June 6, 2003.” rather convieniently the next business day: was I really so lucky as to find this site just in time to come under the wire for eligibility? Must be…
Anyways, it doesn’t get any sillier than this: setting up a phony worker’s association to shill for your scam (looking deeper into it, it appears that there’s no explicit contract with anyone before forking over your “registration” fee: they essentially agree to NOTHING for getting your money!) I found a couple other links for the name of this “organization” on google that lead to broken tripod webpages (another cheap-o webpage farm). That’s it. The “contact us” link for this highly reputable firm is a free yahoo email account. In other words, there’s nothing in this entire scam that a 13-year old couldn’t have put together. They didn’t even bother to register a phony domain name for their phony organization. They put so little time and effort into this scam that… I can only assume they snooker countless people with it. Or, they’re those same “Nigerian” guys.
Here’s another choice quote: “What makes us feel the most comfortable about “Get Paid For Your Opinon” is that the entire transaction is processed by a company that has achieved the highest possible rating with the nation’s most recognized Business Bureau. That’s what we like to see whenever we investigate a company.”
Ah: the “most recognized” Business Bureau! Wink wink, nudge nudge: no need to uh, actually tell anyone which Bureau that is! 
Say no more!
Anyway: how do I contact the REAL Better Bussiness Bureau about this little gem?
Finally, the real (and much less funny) tipoff is the very tiny, very far down portion that reads: “!!! = Verification system: statistical study based on experience of 10 research affiliates. Guidelines developed in accordance with AHWA protocol. Income projections based on 10 hours a week spent participating in online focus groups earning advertised $150 per hour rate. Not meant to guarantee results. Each participant’s results may vary.”
The link, of course, goes right to the scam’s website.