Concerned Client is using my audition submission for their AI project without hiring or paying me.

[asamery42]

Hello, 

Recently received a request to interview for a voice over job. The client is working with an ai project and looking for VO to record speeches the ai might produce. She requested I record one of their sample script with several phrases and submit. I did this, then received feedback and a request to submit again with changes, which I did. 

It has now been two weeks and I have not heard back form the client in spite of messaging them twice to ask for an update. I am concerned that they have simply taken my samples and used them on their project without hiring or paying me. Is there anything I can do?

[debi-f]

Hi Alex!

Did you check the client's Profile before sending the sample? Did you start a contract or new milestone? Is the client a member, since when? Did he hire previously other freelancers? Are there feedbacks about this client from other freelancers? 

[debi-f]

I'll try to help by posting some ideas that I acquired from my experience working 13 years at Upwork (previously Elance). Upwork has changed, there are fewer invitations and fewer jobs, a lot of new freelancers, more connects required to apply, a lot of SCAMMERS, and even when you flag them, Upwork is not helping.

It seems that Upwork is doing its business selling connects, that's why there are jobs that require 16 connects and they allow people to boost their bids with 50 connects or more (especially the new freelancers).

Some suggestions to find real jobs and avoid scammers:

• Don't search jobs only directly at “Find Work”. Go to the “Search for job” space to apply “Filters”.
• One of them is “Payment verified” (although today there are scammers with payment verified and Upwork is not checking it, it could help).
• Other Filter is “Client history”. Check if he posted other jobs, if he hired other freelancers, feedbacks, etc.   
• Check the Date since the client is a member. Usually the scammers are members from the same day they post their jobs, and they didn't hire anyone. 
• DON'T BID for jobs that ask for +20, +40 languages translation, or they publish a list of 15 languages, or invitations too good to be true, even when they have their payment verified. They verify their payment from different countries every day. 
• APPLY TO JOBS THAT FIT YOUR SKILLS. Don't apply to 100 jobs, wasting connects and money.
• ALWAYS CHECK THE CLIENT'S PROFILE before sending a proposal, even when it fits my skills.  
• DON'T APPLY and don't contact if they publish a link (telegram, mail, skype, etc.) outside Upwork.  
• DON'T start working or deliver any work if the contract didn't start for Upwork, and until the client has his payment verified and/or the money funded (specially if it's your first work with this client). 
• DON'T BOOST YOUR BIDS. If you do it, you are paying to Upwork for finding a job instead of earning money from your work. Serious clients will find the best options according to your skills and not according to the amount of bids you use.  
• I suggest not paying for a membership. Just use the 10 connects they give you for free, and buy 10 more ($1.5) ONLY when you find a good job for you. 
• I suggest your Profile to be visible to Upwork members and not Public outside Upwork. This way you avoid people outside Upwork (for example, scammers) to find you and enter for posting a job or inviting you. 

[069cc2a0]

That was a 100% bonafide scam.

Any so-called client that asks for anything done as a sample that is in conjunction with their project without any payment is a scam.

If they ask for a sample of your own work then it's not a scam.

Next time ask them for a face to face video call because scammers usually run for the hills at that point. But never be rude. If your gut instinct tells you something is wrong or weird it usually is.

A real paying client will never ask you to do a sample of their work for free.

[7ba56d1a]

On here and the F site, it's not at all uncommon for clients to ask for custom samples from voice artists. On the more upper level sites and through agents, we do auditions all of the time.

[7ba56d1a]

Hi Alex! It seems as if they probably stole your voice. I wouldn't be doing custom samples for people here these days. We, as voice artists, typcally have plenty posted that can be used for demonstration purposes. 

Personally, I don't even reply to posts for text-to-speech or synthetic voice creation. If you do the job and get paid, say, $2,000 then at some point your clone could be making them exponetially more and putting you on the streets.

I attended a recent NVAA symposium on this, which included a few lawyers, and one take away was finding a way to weave non-consent clauses into contracts. Here, for us, it would be in proposals. I've yet to find a way to do it that doesn't have an off-putting tone, but I definately vet potential clients more--well, the increasingly fewer there are here, anyway.

Feel free to reach out to me if you feel the need!