An envelope stuffer fills envelopes with materials provided by the company that pays him. Typically, this person is required to stuff envelopes with advertisements. In some cases, however, a person might be hired to stuff envelopes with statements, invoices, or other materials. Unfortunately, envelope stuffing opportunities are often work-at-home scams. As such, a person may do well to thoroughly research such an opportunity before signing up for it.
Envelope stuffing is repetitive work that doesn’t require a significant level of education or experience. It may require a person to have the ability to pay attention to detail, however, in order to avoid putting too many documents in one envelope, forgetting to seal an envelope, or skipping an envelope altogether. Organizational skills and the ability to follow directions may prove helpful as well. While a legitimate company may have envelope stuffing tasks to complete, it usually won't hire people just to do this job. This task may be just one part of a clerical worker's job, or it may be outsourced to a printing or business service company.
Each year, untold numbers of people receive advertisements for envelope stuffer jobs. Many are drawn in by these ads because they promise easy money for something just about every person can do—stick paper in envelopes. Many people see it as the perfect part-time job. They may even envision doing it as they watch their favorite television programs each evening. Unfortunately, many pay for start-up kits in the hopes of becoming envelope stuffers, but what they usually receive in return is the opportunity to draw others into this scam.
Typically, when a person answers an ad to become an envelope stuffer, he receives more advertisements that make the opportunity sound too good to miss. Normally, however, the aspiring envelope stuffer is not given the chance to start this opportunity for free. Instead, he must pay for a start-up kit or welcoming package. Sometimes he may be charged a processing fee instead.
What an aspiring envelope stuffer usually receives after payment is a package of materials for scamming others. For example, he may be instructed to stuff envelopes with advertisements for the same opportunity for which he signed up. Essentially, he attempts to get others to send money to him in the hopes of becoming envelope stuffers. In variations of this scam, a person may receive information about posting ads for envelope stuffer opportunities or even creating websites to draw others in.
Most envelope stuffer opportunities are not legitimate. A person may make a living in a similar fashion, however, by starting a direct mail service. This may involve maintaining a mailing list for a client and sending his advertisements out periodically. In some cases, it may also involve creating sales letters, postcards, and other mailing materials for clients. With this type of situation, a person is starting his own business and seeking his own clients; it may take time and effort to build this business, but there’s no scam involved.
