Home business opportunity scams abound in this slow economy. Having recently become a victim of such a scam due to desperation of being out of work for eight months, I took a leap of faith and researched many of the "business opportunities" listed on several job sites.

Most jobs that can be performed at home involved data entry to taking orders through your home phone line for other companies. The opportunity looks great, promises lots of money, and many even back up their claims with a guarantee. Thats what convinced me; if I wasnt satisfied Id simply get my money back.

I spent days researching several ones. I focused one those that did not sell just the software to show you how to make money at home. But actually stated that I was working for them and all I had to do was go to their website and pull data to enter into forms. Sounded easy enough.

The one I chose had the aforementioned guarantee plus I was one of the first several callers so I received a special discount (or so I thought). What I really got was not at all what Id been promised. I knew Id been scammed as soon as I give my information (including my credit card account information). I should have known better.

My job was to promote credit cards on a website that I was to enter into hundreds of search engines and through other online media. I hadnt been told that before, nor had I been told I had to apply for several credit cards and that only after I was approved for them would I get paid $20 for each of them. Even that turned out to be elusive since I had to earn $500 first.

I couldnt get paid until Id provided leads. There was always another reason why I couldnt yet get paid and no way to really get answers since they didnt provide a telephone number or online help just an email address that was usually ignored (or it replied with generic, automated messages that werent applicable).

I asked for the money-back guarantee multiple times. The only way I even reached them was through a phone number listed on my credit card bill (in Australia) and of course those calls werent returned either. I ended up filing a complaint through my credit card issuer and Im still waiting for it to be resolved.

Im a college graduate. Im embarrassed to have fallen for this scam. I know being desperate for a paycheck is stressful though and I was in a place where I was susceptible to the lure of easy money. I am ready and willing to work hard, I just couldnt do that through opportunities like this that are based on deception. I really want others to realize that a job probably isnt legitimate if the promises are too good to be true; research carefully before you take a chance on a work-at-home business.