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Is Stuffing Envelopes a Legit Work From Home Job?

Is Stuffing Envelopes a Legit Work From Home Job? #workfromhome #scam #stuffingenvelopes #workathome

When I was in college I worked part-time waiting tables, and even though I made decent money, I still had to pinch pennies to make ends meet. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found a flyer on a bulletin board at school advertising a job for envelope stuffers. The flyer said,

“Make Great Money Stuffing Envelopes From Home — $2.00 per Envelope”!

I was so excited!

I started calculating how many envelopes I could stuff in between classes and how much extra money I'd make per week; life was going to be so much easier. I sent them $12.00 off for the information about the envelope stuffing gig and waited weeks for the information to come.

Finally, after a few weeks, it arrived. The information that was going to solve my financial worries.

But, when I read the letter, and it said, to make money stuffing envelopes, place the same ad you replied to in magazines, newspaper ads, and on bulletin boards. You will then earn money by people responding to the ad, and in return, you will send them the same bogus information.

What?!

This was not a job. It was unethical information on how to scam people out of money. Luckily, I only lost $12.00.

Today you still see envelope stuffing ads all over the Internet:

“Work From Home Stuffing Envelopes – Earn $1,500 a Week”

Only now they charge $20 – $100 for the same bogus information!

In Tory Johnson’s book, “Will Work from Home,” she tests the stuffing envelopes scam with a few different companies, and none of them panned out. “Recruiting people to stuff envelopes is the oldest work-from-home gimmick that fools people every day. Don’t be one of them”.

Bottom line, stuffing envelopes is a scam!

Need more proof that stuffing envelopes is a scam?

Both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) have alerts on their websites warning people of this scam. In fact, the United States Postal Service says that stuffing envelopes is the most common work-at-home scam (the other is assembly work).

What should you do if you've fallen for this scam?

Try contacting the company that you purchased the information from and request a refund. Be sure to tell them that if they do not refund your money that you will be contacting legal officials to investigate their operations further. If you're not able to resolve the situation this way, contact the FTC (1-877-FTC-HELP) to report the issue. You can also contact your local U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Since these scammers are using P.O. Boxes to run their scam operations they will investigate these fraudulent mail practices.

Is Envelope Stuffing a Legit Work-at-Home Job? stuffing envelopes

What are some warning signs to look out for when searching for work-at-home jobs?

When you're searching for work-at-home jobs, you need to take your time and research the job opportunity extensively!

Scammers know they can make a quick and easy buck by preying on people’s vulnerabilities. What I mean by vulnerabilities, is when people are struggling to make ends meet, or they need to be at home for a new baby or elderly parent there is a sense of urgency and these scammers know this. So they create their ads to appeal to these emotions. The second reason scams are so prevalent is technology has made it easy than ever to distribute scams while hiding behind a digital curtain.

For these reasons, it’s more important than ever for you to educate yourself on what’s legit and what’s not.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:

  1. Look for negative reviews.
  2. Search for contact information — scammers don't want to be found.
  3. Vague job descriptions.
  4. Outrageous income claims with little or no effort on your part.
  5. Hyped up job ads: Start Immediately! No Experience Necessary!
  6. Unsolicited job offers.
  7. Poor spelling and grammar.
  8. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Do you want a guaranteed, legit, work-at-home jobs? 

If you’re still feeling uneasy about your work-at-home job search — check out the paid membership site, FlexJobs. Every single job listed on their website is hand-screened for legitimacy. So when you apply you can rest assured that you’re not going to fall prey to a work-at-home scam. Not only does FlexJobs have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, but they also offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.

Have you encountered ads for stuffing envelopes online? What other fraudulent opportunities have you come across?

Originally published on March 31, 2009. Revised on November 27, 2016.

This page includes affiliate links. Please be aware we only promote advertising from companies that we feel we can legitimately recommend to our readers. Please see our disclosure policy for further information.

Scam Prevention Workbook

Avoid Work-From-Home Scams!

While there are more work-from-home jobs than ever before, technology has given scammers a digital curtain to hide behind. Because of this, it's more important than ever to be able to identify what's legit and what's not. To help you do that, grab our free 36-page Scam Prevention Planner to research companies, track your applications, and steer clear of work-from-home scams.

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About the Author

Holly Reisem Hanna

Holly Reisem Hanna

Holly Reisem Hanna is the publisher and founder of The Work at Home Woman, which has been helping individuals find remote careers and businesses that feed their souls since 2009. Through her unconventional career path of holding over 30 jobs and obtaining two college degrees, she's been able to figure out how to find a career path that you're truly passionate about. Holly's had the pleasure of sharing her expertise on sites like CNN, MSN Money, Huffington Post, Woman's Day Magazine, as well as being recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 100 Websites for Your Career.” Holly resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and daughter and enjoys reading, traveling, and yoga.

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Reader Interactions

51 Comments

  2. Amanda Miranda

    I know a work At Home Job Stuffing Envelopes That Isn’t A Scam. It’s a legit company trying to sell a work from home book that has legit jobs like making crafts for different companies to sell, jewelry, wood products, and more. Paper And ink cost money too so if if you’re not going to ask for more than a $1, it’s not worth it. I know someone who had a stuffing envelopes job years ago, but it was too much for him he said. So not all of them are scams. It’s hard for people to make money doing some things, because of others always saying everything’s a scam.

  3. Tonya Fox

    These people are a damn joke! Really, pay to get a job to work at home, bitch, please don’t fall for this SCAM they are delusional people they will do anything to get your money! Do. Not. Fall. For. This. !

  4. Haywood Jablome

    I’m looking for a career where I can work from home and stuff envelopes. I’m not sure where my money went but I keep paying these fees to companies that hired me to work from home and stuff envelopes, but I never received my envelopes…must be a problem at the post office, or my neighbors steal all my envelopes. Do you have some links for good envelope stuffing? Thanks

  5. Frances Kinchen

    I would like a work from home job. Are there anywhere you don’t need experience

  6. Barbara

    Could you please provide me with some genuine work from home jobs me and my husband are interested and been doing some but it’s not directly deposited like we ask it’s going to our email to get paid and you can’t get your money also is the survey ones legit thank you

  7. Wanda Burelison

    Holly:

    I am truly astounded by the number of times I read, “stuffing envelopes is a scam” in your comments section. You certainly got your point across to me. I am looking for something to supplement my present income so I appreciate the websites you have offered. I am hopeful I will find something. Thank you for your patience for your fellow mankind.

    Sincerely,

    Wanda Burelison

  8. step

    Aw. Dang it! I just wish i would have applied myself all those years ago before i invested my youth mis-applying myself. Yes, i made that word up… Anyways thanks for your site [email protected] , i appreciate it ever so much and am at present trying to apply properly (pun intended).

  9. 2 cents

    WOW! I’m sorry to say, but most of the people that left comments here are extremely dim. How can someone read an article that is warning them that a job is a scam, then immediately ask how they can get said job? I’m not sure they should be allowed to…nevermind, I’ll stop before I get negative LOL. Sadly, these people exist, and basic common sense is not, well, very common. I don’t wish ill will on anyone and hope they figure something out or they’re just plain doomed. I understand people get into bad situations and need help, but if they’re asking these questions after reading this article they will never get out of their situation.

  10. Nope

    So basically this article is a plug for flexjobs.com, which is also a joke and cost money to join. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?

    • Holly - The Work at Home Woman

      Yes, I do mention FlexJobs because I think they are an excellent resource for professionals!

      I like to educate my readers on all of their options, and it’s up to them to decide which ones are best suited for them.

      You can also check out our massive list of work-at-home jobs, it’s free: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/wah-jobs/

      Or you can try a free site like, Indeed, but you need to be very careful on scams on there.

      Good luck!

  13. Tanya Lynn Butler

    I would like a work at home job under $20 to start up, that doesnt involve selling, recruiting, or any of that. Like something i can do on my computer myself at home and get paid every week. Is there anything like this out there???

  15. harlane loefflindeman

    why are there no stuffing envelopes jobs or survey jobs that are legit? nothing available but start your own business blog,etc? what else is there? if you only want to do something that is fast and mail it in or on line? thank you

  16. Patricia

    Holly! I worked in the manufacturing field in a shop (retired now). I’m used to assembly jobs. Tell me there isn’t true work @ home jobs as assemblers now a days? Kinda breaks my heart. I’m not a typist or should i say a fast one or blogger or transcriptionist. Where do i start please? I want to do something besides nothing. Thank you in advance for your reply.

  19. Sangay wangmo

    Hi
    Could you suggest me a job where I can be helped from my passion on writing poem and short stories

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