"Earn thousands of dollars a month from your home!"  We've all seen these types of ads posted on telephone poles and on the Internet.  It sounds great, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends exercising caution when it comes to work-at-home opportunities.  Many of these companies don't deliver on their promises, warns the FTC.

What many of these ads don't disclose is that you may have to work many hours without pay, or front the money for the materials needed to accomplish the job such as envelopes, paper, stamps, or other supplies.  Many consumers have lost thousands of dollars to companies like these - not to mention their time and energy, says the FTC.

Before you accept a work-at-home job, ask questions like these to determine the legitimacy of the offer and the appropriateness of it for you:

· What does the job entail?  Can you describe the process step by step?

· Who will be my contact with your organization?

· How is the compensation determined:  Is it a salary?  Piecework?  Commission?

· Who will pay me?

· When may I expect my first paycheck?

· What is the total cost of the work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment, and membership fees?  And what will I get for my money?