Solved: LinkedIn messages

exectric · ‎06-05-2020

I keep getting people from outside the US contacting me to create an upwork account, and they want to work on my behalf, is this legal?

Thank you guys for your replies, I just wanted to verify my own assumptions as I continue to tell these people on LinkedIn no.

feed_my_eyes · ‎06-05-2020

Preston H wrote:
Alex, you already know that you shouldn't be involved in that kind of thing. Block those people. Ignore such requests.

Of course if you were caught by Upwork participating in any of that, you would probably be banned from Upwork permanently.

Considering that the OP doesn't currently have an Upwork profile and isn't necessarily interested in freelancing at all, this threat may not carry much weight. I'd be more worried about having strangers commit fraud in my name, and potentially being charged with tax evasion.

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martina_plaschka · ‎06-05-2020

Alex O wrote:
I keep getting people from outside the US contacting me to create an upwork account, and they want to work on my behalf, is this legal?

It is probably not illegal in the sense you could go to prison for it.

But according to upwork ToS, it is strictly forbidden.

feed_my_eyes · ‎06-05-2020

Martina P wrote:
It is probably not illegal in the sense you could go to prison for it.

Oh, I don't know - I think that it's possible to go to prison for fraud.

martina_plaschka · ‎06-05-2020

Christine A wrote:
Martina P wrote:
It is probably not illegal in the sense you could go to prison for it.

Oh, I don't know - I think that it's possible to go to prison for fraud.

Thank you for the reminder, Christine. This is actually very true.

a_lipsey · ‎06-05-2020

Martina P wrote:
Christine A wrote:
Martina P wrote:
It is probably not illegal in the sense you could go to prison for it.

Oh, I don't know - I think that it's possible to go to prison for fraud.

Thank you for the reminder, Christine. This is actually very true.

Yeah, also the tax evasion part. I think we all often forget it's not just ethic or Upwork TOS. There are legal implications.

prestonhunter · ‎06-05-2020

Alex, you already know that you shouldn't be involved in that kind of thing. Block those people. Ignore such requests.

Of course if you were caught by Upwork participating in any of that, you would probably be banned from Upwork permanently.

feed_my_eyes · ‎06-05-2020

Preston H wrote:
Alex, you already know that you shouldn't be involved in that kind of thing. Block those people. Ignore such requests.

Of course if you were caught by Upwork participating in any of that, you would probably be banned from Upwork permanently.

Considering that the OP doesn't currently have an Upwork profile and isn't necessarily interested in freelancing at all, this threat may not carry much weight. I'd be more worried about having strangers commit fraud in my name, and potentially being charged with tax evasion.