Stuff Envelopes at Home and Make Money! Have you seen these ads, either online, on a billboard, or on TV? Do you believe that anyone can make money by stuffing envelopes at home?

Envelope stuffing jobs are said to be easy, lucrative, and absolutely risk-free. The envelope stuffing materials are shipped to you, and all you do is place the materials inside the envelopes, stick on the enclosed stamps, and then send off the batch of envelopes. For every envelope you stuff, you may about $12. Your efforts are rewarded with a big check at the end of the month.

Supposedly, the claims go on to say that you can stuff as many or as few envelopes as you want. Also, all you need to get started is to send $15 to $75 for an information packet that describes the business and how to register for it.

The premise of this offer is that somewhere, somehow, legitimate companies are looking for people to stuff envelopes with their materials. The actual companies are never named, however, or how to get in touch with them. Also missing is any information on how to contact the “satisfied” customers, whose positive feedback comments speckle these ads.

Honestly, why would any legitimate company trust complete strangers with valuable materials, stamps, and possible proprietary information? Would a company really be that stupid to send strangers books of stamps without so much as an interview? And even if such companies existed, how would they stay in business if they are paying people to stuff envelopes at up to $12/envelope?

From reviews online, as well as some friends of mine who tried this program, I have found out just how the stuffer programs work. There are two scenarios:

Scenario 1:  You send $15-$75 to a designated address to become a registered envelope stuffer. You then wait for the promised materials. If you receive those materials (and many people do not), there will be instructions included on how to place advertisements to promote (what else but) the exact same offer you just responded to: envelope stuffing! When someone responds to your ad, and then sends $15 to $75 to the company’s address, this will earn you your $12 for stuffing and sending out an envelope of registration information.

This scenario may seem funny, but it is also an internet scam and illegal. By doing these things, you could get in trouble with the postal inspector, or even end up with a civil lawsuit. 

Scenario 2: An informational packet arrives at your home and contains directions on how to become an independent envelope stuffing contractor. You’re instructed on how to solicit other companies for their material mailing businesses. All your solicitation costs will be paid by you.

While the second scenario is actually legitimate, it is very difficult to do. You will need to solicit early every company in your town in order to gain one client. All invoices will have to be tracked by you, and you will be responsible for tracking down deadbeat payers.

Granted, there are small companies out there who do need envelope stuffers. But how do you find these companies, and make sure they are not a scam?

One way to make sure a company is legit is to call directory assistance and ask if that company is listed. If that company is not listed, you should call up the Better Business Bureau and report it.

Bottom line:  If you are seriously looking into envelope stuffing, do your homework and be careful. And also keep in mind that no one pays $12 for stuffing an envelope!