Search the Internet for work-at-home opportunities and the results are pages deep. It’s true that you can use the Internet to increase your income and do it from home. But proceed with caution. There are plenty of scammers who make their money by taking yours.

There’s no way to quick overnight Internet riches. To earn money, you need to provide some sort of service in return for pay. Like real life jobs, you may need to pass a test or a background check before getting hired. How much you can make depends on your skill and experience. But where possible, I’ve listed average pay rates.

Freelancing

If you have special talents, consider freelance work. Freelancing isn’t just for writers. Designers, programmers, business professionals, engineers and even administrative assistants will find opportunities.

Many small sites list freelance opportunities. Some let you bid on projects for free. For more opportunities, try elance.com or Guru.com. Expect to pay $100 or more for an annual membership.

As a freelancer, you won’t have the security of a full-time job. Projects could be sporadic. You may spend more time finding work than working when you start out. But you set your own hourly or per-project rates.