Possible Scam: Live Chat Representative for **Edited**

[#1]

I'm new to Upwork and one role I've applied for is Live Chat Representative for **Edited for Community Guidelines**. I got a message requesting I start onboarding and do background check supposedly through ID.me and to email HR separately from **Edited for Community Guidelines** I replied and said I was unsure about engaging off the platform. She replied this was their usual process.

I emailed them and was asked for my phone number to have HR send me a text to proceed. This seemed odd so I did a little research. Their email domain goes to a site newly setup -- **Edited for Community Guidelines**-- and it appears similar to **Edited for Community Guidelines**but is not. The client's job description shows it as being in Hospitality. 

Anyone else had contact with them for this or any other role?

[#2]

No my friends are not George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, or John Greene. At least I dont think Mr. Martin knows who I am I would have to ask a different friend if that is one of her brothers who I have never met.  I didn't drop the names of my friends because I have not yet reached out to them to ask them for permission.  Jeanne H.  the testamonials should be newer than 21 years ago right? thats the last time I was able to proofread for them. 

I  am trying to work on tweaking my profile but trying to find ways to make my skills marketable is not really helping. I also know not having much in my work history isnt really helping either but some of the jobs I have had the places are no longer in business so no way to look them up.  

Scams can happen no matter what a profile looks like.  When I said not to worry about your post I didnt mean it as in ignore I meant not to take the way your post can come across. It sometimes seems like you are angry when your putting your message down and not wanting to really explain what is wrong. I have a hard enough time transcribing my own words from my head to paper (or this case to computer). I literally have to whisper/speak outloud has I type to make sure my words that I want are getting written the way I want them to be.  It's why I am not a author even though I do have stories I could write. I can't make my own stories flow or sound not flat. It's how my brain is wired, So while I do might not have the best profile out there I just don't know how to make it sound better.  Even now that I changed it seeing other's profiles it still doesnt seem quite right.

[#3]

"So while I do might not have the best profile out there I just don't know how to make it sound better. Even now that I changed it seeing other's profiles it still doesnt seem quite right."

Might sound a bit arrogant, but I think I know at least a bit about how to make it sound better.

First of all, you should not only work on your profile, but on your self-esteem as well.

With almost every sentence of your profile you show me (and, worse, potential clients), that you are not very confident about what you did or currently do or what you are trying to do:

The very first sentence is pure proof for this:

"I only have proofreading experience from high school. "

You do not just "only" have proofreading experience from "high-school".

You have proof reading experience. Period.

Do not give possible clients the impression that your work is of little value just because you did it "only" during "high-school" time. This will signal them that you do not trust in yourself. And how should they trust in you (and spend their money for your work) if you do not trust in yourself?

To mention that you are a self-taught knitter is a good idea, because it shows your possible clients that you are a person who is able to explore new fields successfully, and, that this probably holds for your actual profession, proofreading, as well. But, in the same sentence, you talk about the techniques you might not be good in.

DON'T DO THAT!

Tell them about the techniques you MASTER, not about those where your skills are weak.

And, with regard to your previous jobs: Just mention that you worked in sales. I would not emphasize the fact that you did work which is, whithout doubt, indispensible, but, unfortunately, accompanied by low payment. It is not about lying, it is about omitting things nobody is really interested in. 😉

Instead, mention that you have an academic education in the field of veterinary techniques and "other" (whatever that specifically means).

And, hurry up, get the testimonials from your friends and present them, but do not call them friends. They were your clients (they just did not pay you, I guess :->>). Just that. And forget about the age of the work. If it was quality work then, it would be quality work now.

And, last not least, as a reference to my intro with regard to self-esteem:

Increase your hourly rate. Eight dollars would be o.k. if you would live in India or a similar country. I have checked profiles of your competitors in the states. A minority offers their service for less than 20 bucks, so increase it accordingly (unless you think and want to show that is not worth $20). It is not relevant whether you are a relative newbie or not, but only what YOU honestly think your service is worth. And I cannot imagine that it is so little. 😉

In the hope that you are not offended by my honesty, and that my (unasked) advice is helpful I sent you greetings from Germany at night, which is drowning in chaos. 😉

Best

Wolfgang

[#4]

Danke for your response.  I will attempt to work on my profile to make it better.  

[#5]

I applied for a data entry job and literally the same thing just happened to me. The website was only one month old and it seemed odd so I did not put in any personal information. I just hope others don't fall for it because it is definitely a scam to get your identity.