Your suspicions are valid, and it's true that preventing bots is a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity of platforms like Upwork. While requiring connects for applying to jobs can serve as a barrier, it's not foolproof against sophisticated bots or malicious actors who may be willing to invest in circumventing such measures.
KYC (Know Your Customer) checks are indeed important for preventing money laundering and ensuring the legitimacy of users on the platform. However, even with KYC processes in place, determined individuals or groups may still find ways to create multiple accounts or employ bots to manipulate the system.
The scenario you mentioned, where ransomware hacker groups invest their ill-gotten gains into feeding bots to apply to jobs on freelancing platforms, is not entirely far-fetched. While it's difficult to estimate the likelihood of such a scenario, it's certainly a possibility that platforms like Upwork need to be vigilant about.
To address these concerns, platforms like Upwork continuously work on improving their security measures, including implementing advanced fraud detection algorithms, enhancing account verification processes, and actively monitoring for suspicious activity. However, staying ahead of determined malicious actors is an ongoing challenge in the realm of online platforms and marketplaces.
