Scammer freelancer collected thousands of dollars by legit clients - Want Justice from Upwork

[#1]

Hello,

A freelancer promising Youtube Automation packages with monetization has collected 100k$ + from legit clinets and I try to find justice. The freelancer was asking upfront payment for her packages that are reported in Upwork platform and I flaged her as per Upwork's guidance but still she manages to take more money and as it seems she will escape justice...

I asked for a Refund with full proofs and I went through the Dispute approach but of course this didn't affect at all the freelancer who were continuing taking money from other clients. Now the freelancer has been disappeared for several dates and although the mediation team asked her to pay me back most of the money, of course, this measurement and simple recommendation cannot affect at all the freelancer. The Arbitration that has been proposed to me by Upwork cannot gurantee anything and I find it also very ineffective and unfair to ask from legit clients to pay 675$ fees without any gurantee of payment.

I am asking for justice from Upwork since all this scam is happening inside Upwork platform and it seems to me that Upwork reward the scam or at least is extremely ineffective to deal with these kind of cases. One freelance is very easy to get a few 5 stars in the beggining with taking jobs of 20$-50$ and after having "Top Rated" mark from Upwork and be ready for the BIG SCAM which was the case of this freelancer.

How Upwork can help on this? I am asking for justice and so far I have followed all the guidelines but without any effective result...

Hope this can save other clients as well. 

[#2]

Pay arbitration. You say that have all required evidences so you will win. Or you need just a money but not justice?

Why 675? It was around 300.

[#3]

Of course I have all the documentation to prove and I have done it already but since the freelancer has zero money in her account how I will get my money back? it's 675$ splitted by freelancer & client but the freelancer doesn't even reply anymore in messages or in the dispute section and therefore, it's me that I need to pay the full amount. 

[#4]

No. It is about 1000. 3 sides must pay: you, FL and upwork. After you paid FL must pay too. If FL reject to pay then arbitration set in your favour without beginning and your 300 refunding to you. No need to pay for FL, it isnt your problem.

[#5]

No, it's not correct what you are saying. Below what Mediation team replied to me:

"In case there is no agreement during mediation, you have arbitration option to pursue the case further. In order for the case to move up both users need to pay 337.50 each or the client can pay the entire fees of $675.00. Once the case moves to arbitration, users are required to follow the outcome, otherwise, actions will be taken until both users adheres to them."

And even if I pay nobody gurantee to me that they will return my money which is 1500$ for this case.

[#6]

Something new. Client can pay but not must. Upwork need to review what that mediator adviced. Some moderator, pls clarify whats going on there?

Yep, nobody guarantee. But if FL wont pay that then will be permanently banned. Arbitration decission is a must, with no excepsions or apeals.

[#7]

Mediation team solution was to provide me back the 1300$ out of the 1500$ which I agreed but the freelancer has been disappeared. She hasn't been online since then and I assume that she took all the money from other clients and she left the Upwork platform. This is the reason I am asking for Upwork real help, not just messages to a scammer....

[#8]

Sorrry to hear about what happen to you