A newspaper advert promising easy money to readers who take part in online surveys for 'big companies' has been exposed as a scam.

Listed as a 'work from home' opportunity, the scam was brought to light by a reader who was duped into thinking he could make some extra cash.

The advert stated limited posts were available and invited readers to apply at jobopportunityonline.com, which promised applicants they could earn money by working from home.

The advert contained several testimonials from a number of what it claimed were satisfied customers.

The reader said: "It then asks you to check the availability of posts in your area and tells you there are two posts available - and will hold one of them for you for half an hour.

"After you pay a registration fee of €28.73 (of which €4.38 is supposedly tax), you are redirected to another website," he said.

However, this webpage, which the company says is exclusive to members, consists of a long list of surveys which can be accessed directly without paying a subscription.

The reader in question managed to reclaim the payment because he used Pay Pal, the online payments service which covers customers in such cases.

It later emerged the advert was booked by a local intermediary, who, when contacted, dissociated himself from the company.

He provided an e-mail address of the advertiser, but questions sent to this address remained unanswered.

A number of people worldwide have complained about the website on internet forums.

A number of suspect websites are online. Only last week, the financial services authority urged the public to be wary of a recent wave of offers to work from home which have hit the country.

It said one should not give out any personal information to anyone they think suspicious, let alone hand over money.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com