A consumer warning about work-from-home scams has been released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA.

Thousands of people have been losing money as a result of bogus work-from-home schemes, which recruit victims through a variety of outlets, from newspaper adverts to online employment services and unsolicited emails.

Once a consumer has signed up for the job, which often involve 'get rich quick' or telemarketing roles, they become an ideal target for cyber criminals to launder money from.

Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have warned consumers to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of these scams. They suggest doing thorough research around the company before agreeing to anything and searching online for previous reviews about the company to see if others have had bad experiences.

Other tips from the FBI include being cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience.

They warn not to pay for anything upfront, such as supplies, before 'work' commences and not to give bank or personal details out to anyone unless you trust them completely.

The FBI says that the work-from-home schemes have grown in popularity as a result of the slow economy.