Book Review: I Got Scammed So You Don't Have To

Bethany Mooradian bills herself as 'Queen Of The Random Job', though she and Abigail R. Gehring may have to compare their random jobs. She's worked as a mystery shopper, a multi-level marketer and made cash doing surveys. If there's an opportunity to work from home and make money online, then there's a very good chance that Mooradian has tried it.

In her book, I Got Scammed So You Don't Have To, Mooradian outlines how to find legitimate work-from-home jobs and other random jobs in an industry where theres offers are viewed with a very sceptical eye.

The book is updated from her previous work to include the latest scams and work-from-home opportunities. Mooradian offers a little of her personal history: she worked as a consultant for three years before losing her job. She thought about applying for nine-to-five jobs but while she applied, she took on 'random jobs.' Her experience forms the basis of the book.

I Got Scammed... is split into four sections: Scams, Making Money, Getting a Random Job and Becoming the Ultimate Business Professional.

Scams

The books opens with the psychology of scamming or why people scam and provides an overview of jobs versus opportunities. Also included is a discussion of various work-from-home jobs or opportunities from multi-level marketing (MLM) and affiliate links to direct sales and whether or not they're actual scams. Mooradian has worked in a number of MLMs and says that the ones she was involved in weren't scams and while they weren't for her, other people made money. The chapter then wraps up with Mooradian's list of every common scam along with ways to recognize them, research and verify their legitimacy.

It's an exhaustive list. A lot of the scams are very familiar: the lottery email, envelope stuffing and cheque cashing.

Making Money

Just like Gehring, Mooradian lists jobs that can bring in money without leaving your home and without working for someone. They including consigning items, writing, and working in market research. If you still want to make a little money but don't want to deal with finding a job on your own, Mooradian outlines several jobs that are available by searching Craigslist, temp agencies and working as a virtual assistant.

Becoming the Ultimate Business Professional

For those looking to actually own and run their own business, Mooradian walks the reader through applying for jobs, taxes, deductions and even provides information on where to find legal and business resources.

I Got Scammed is a quick and basic read for anyone thinking of taking on a job to make some extra cash. While it is a US-based book, most of the information works across the border and is a good resource to have before you sign up to fill out surveys. The tone is breezy and matter-of-fact. Mooradian doesn't make any promises about finding a well-paying job -- only a first-hand account of her experience from doing those jobs.

I Got Scammed So You Don't Have To is 214 pages and available from Amazon.ca for $23.89.



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