How to Spot the Scams in Medical Transcription

Work From Home!
Be Your Own Boss!
Work in Your PJs!

We've all read them, the sexy ads that tap into your long-awaited fantasy of working from home as a medical transcriptionist, coder or biller. Or a customer service representative. Or travel sales rep. The list can go on and on.

The fact is, there really ARE some people who work from home as transcriptionists, coders, billers, travel agents and customer service reps, but these career fields are rife with scammers doing their best to part you with your money. It's unfortunate, really, because it casts a bad shadow over the legitimate businesses that actually do hire people to work from home.

The scammers are good. They will print what you want to read, say what you want to hear, making it all sound so very easy, and promising success along the way. Hey, you can't blame them entirely; we're bombarded every day by Madison Avenue in some form or another already, so why not them too?

The trick is to be able to spot the scammers and not be lured into the smooth talk. How do you spot them? Look for the warning signs, the red flags that make it sound "too good to be true", because if the signs are there, it probably is. Let me share some of them with you, so you'll know the warning signs next time you encounter them.

1) Lots and lots of openings, for vague, unspecified positions. In this economy, there just aren't that many unfilled positions, and the likelihood that one agency is actually recruiting for clerical positions in Cleveland, Dallas, Seattle and Miami is slim to none.

2) Completion of a "program" that will result in a paying job. The only "program" you should consider in medical transcription is that of an accredited school with a 2 year course of study. Likewise for travel agent, etc. etc. See "How to Choose a Medical Transcription Course of Study"

3) Don't EVER pay an employment service for a job. Permanent Employment Referral Services will take your money to refer you to a job opening that is probably easily found published online or in the papers. Real employment agencies are paid by employers to find qualified candidates. There is no charge to prospective employees.

4) "Hiring Now" is usually nothing more than a carrot dangled to excite you into buying into whatever they're selling. Watch out for it.

5) "Training Available" has no place in a legitimate job opportunity ad. You are being sold a training program. It may or may not be accredited... probably not.

6) "After we certify you"... Let me guess. They want you to buy their software with the promise that they will hire you and pay up to $2000 per month. They'll even train you tuition-free! CERTIFICATION DOES NOT HAPPEN. Congratulations, you've just bought software that is otherwise completely useless.

7) "After we certify you", Part II: There is only one certifying authority in medical transcription, ADHI. No school or program can certify you. You must sit for an ADHI examination in order become certified. Anyone else offering you certification is full of beeswax.

8) US Dept of Labor Statistics, "employment of medical transcriptions is projected to grow faster on average compared to all other occupations through 2014." You'll see this quote in many training school ads. It has no place in an ad for a legitimate job opening.

So there are just a few of the warning signs when seeking a job as a medical transcriptionist. But keep in mind, the career is real, and trained, qualified medical transcriptionists are indeed working at home, and making real money while doing so.

To view pages and pages of medical transcription jobs, go to MedicalTranscription.com Some are remote, some are in-house; and yes, a couple of them could indeed be scams. At least now you know what to look for!