Manipulated by client

[ejryan]

I was recently manipulated by a client who promised payment and then told me I had to pay a brokerage fee in order to receive my payment. This fee was apparently refundable but was $500. There was nothing about this in the contract we signed or in the job posting. I was totally taken by surprise and I have not received a rather significant payment.

This work was done off UpWork so I would like to encourage other freelancers to learn from my mistake and only accept payment through UpWork. 

[fcac4c1d]

Hi Eva.

I'm very sorry you've got into this situation. It's really confusing and frustrating. Unfortunately there're a lot of scammers around who ask you to pay "fees" or work in advance promising to refund and compensate everything. They actually never do.

I can understand how you feel but it will be okay eventually. At least you won't be caught by them again. Just keep all the payments inside Upwork and don't work in advance.

Take care.