Solved: Possible Scam - Page 3

c763b1a0 · ‎10-27-2021

Hello all! I am thinking there might be a scam going on here on Upwork. It's pretty creative and sneaky if you don't know what to look for, but here's my experience: I am a photographer and editor and I recently saw a job (payment unverified) asking for photo editing of eCommerce jewelry items. I applied and was contacted and she asked if I would be willing to do a few test shots so she could determine whether I was capable of handling the work. I am paying member so I have the ability to see how many people have applied and are being interviewed. I noticed she was already interviewing 11 people. I also noticed that the quality of images she was having me edit were horrible and I realized that she might be asking all 11 applicants to edit "test shots" and essentially getting all of her editing done for free. If each was asked to do 2-3 images as I was, that would be over 30 images done for no charge! I told her I would do one for free but that's it. My portfolio already demonstrated I could do what she was asking. That conversation has quickly gone dead and I haven't been hired. So, on the next day, I saw a similar job posted (eCommerce image editing) and applied for that one, as well. This time, I wasn't interviewed, but again, I noticed that the client was interviewing multiple people in a very short amount of time. This job quickly closed with no hires and no verified payment. Does anyone else think this sounds fishy and is there a way to report this?

pgiambalvo · ‎10-27-2021

If it smells like a fish and quacks like a fish, it's a fish.

View solution in original post

hedy_w · ‎12-22-2021

Are you a freelancer? I don't know why you're siding with the clients. In the regular work world, employees get **Edited for community guidelines** over and exploited much more than the employers. And the employers have more power.

petra_r · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:

Are you a freelancer?

Yes, we are all mostly freelancers.

Hedy W wrote:

In the regular work world, employees get **Edited for community guidelines** over and exploited much more than the employers. And the employers have more power.

And AGAIN: No employers and no employees here.

Freelancers and clients is a completely different thing and nobody is "siding with" clients or employers.

feed_my_eyes · ‎12-22-2021

Upwork warns freelancers not to speak with clients off of the website before a contract is in place, and following this rule would eliminate most client scams. It's not that difficult.

hedy_w · ‎12-22-2021

There is so much information to look at when you first sign on here, I didn't even remember the part about not speaking with clients off the website. I was directed to Skype from the website, so I thought it was okay. I'm guessing the people who are responding like this are either not freelancers or have enough experience on this platform and know what to avoid. It really isn't that black and white and that easy when you first sign on here. I get tired of the condescending remarks from people who just must know how this platform works and it is not as easy as other job websites.

prestonhunter · ‎12-21-2021

re: "I am new to this platform too and I would like to know why is the onus mostly on the freelancers?"

Because nobody has figured out a way to put the responsibility on the scammers or the clients.

re: "I saw the TOS and most people first signing on aren't going to look at those or know to look at them."

I agree.

But if a person is not going to read the directions before jumping in and using the system, they must be willing to take their lumps. I know that a lot of experienced Upwork users criticize Upwork users who jump in and use the system without reading the directions first. That criticism is valid.

But I long ago decided that such criticism (while valid) is also unrealistic. New users (both freelancers and client) ARE going to jump in and use the system without reading the directions. That is very common. It is quite normal. I don't think it makes a person foolish or bad.

I believe that BOTH of these are valid paths toward learning how to use the system:

- read the directions

[or]

- dive in and start using the system, as long as you're willing to take your lumps

hedy_w · ‎12-21-2021

I also feel that they can put certain obvious things into place that would warn new people of possible scams or keep people from constantly having to be on guard about how they use this platform. Sure, once you get used to using the platform, you may know what to avoid, but why should a new person feel like they are walking into a minefield? I just know there must be ways to better protect new people and not make it so they must be so hypervigilant about using the platform.

petra_r · ‎12-21-2021

Hedy W wrote:
I also feel that they can put certain obvious things into place that would warn new people of possible scams or keep people from constantly having to be on guard about how they use this platform.

That isn't just the case on this platform. That is the case on the internet in general.

Hedy W wrote:
I just know there must be ways to better protect new people and not make it so they must be so hypervigilant about using the platform.

You don't have to be hypervigilant. Just aware of the rules and have some common sense. Most of the common scams are deliberately quite obvious so the scammers can avoid wasting their time on all but the most gullible potential victims.

Almost invariably just the merest hint of common sense would prevent the freelancer from being scammed, even if they didn't bother informing themselves of the basic rules.

hedy_w · ‎12-22-2021

"That isn't just the case on this platform. That is the case on the internet in general."

What platforms are you talking about specifically? Because aside from Craigslist, I don't know any other platform I have used where you have to be this wary. Sure, the internet in general may be unsafe, but I'm talking about specific job platforms. Like, I haven't experienced this on Indeed.

"You don't have to be hypervigilant. Just aware of the rules and have some common sense. Most of the common scams are deliberately quite obvious so the scammers can avoid wasting their time on all but the most gullible potential victims.

Almost invariably just the merest hint of common sense would prevent the freelancer from being scammed, even if they didn't bother informing themselves of the basic rules."

I have plenty of common sense, but when you are new to such a platform, something can come across as harmless when it isn't. I had one company offering to buy a computer for me, which could be possible in the real world, but when a second company offered to do this, I did get suspicious. There are companies out there who I am sure will get computers for their employees, but on a platform like this, it does seem suspicious. They just honestly do not protect their freelancers enough on this website aside from putting in a bunch of rules which a lot of people will not first look at, and even when you look at them, it is so overwritten in dry legalese. You may be experienced enough on this platform to know what to avoid. It's not about lack of common sense or gullibility, but a large part of it is not being familiar with this forum, because honestly, aside from Craigslist, I don't know any other job forum where I had to be so careful.

roberty1y · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:

I had one company offering to buy a computer for me, which could be possible in the real world, but when a second company offered to do this, I did get suspicious. There are companies out there who I am sure will get computers for their employees, but on a platform like this, it does seem suspicious.

No, it is suspicious for anyone posing as a client on Upwork to offer to buy a computer for you. Yes, companies will buy computers from their employees, but freelancers on Upwork are contractors, not employees. Buying equipment is their own business and has nothing to do with the client, with whom they have only a business relationship, the kind of relationship you have with the vendor when you buy goods on an e-commerce site.

feed_my_eyes · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:
I had one company offering to buy a computer for me, which could be possible in the real world, but when a second company offered to do this, I did get suspicious. There are companies out there who I am sure will get computers for their employees, but on a platform like this, it does seem suspicious.

Clients aren't employers, so why would they send thousands of dollars to a total stranger to buy a equipment for a one-off project, when they could have their pick of thousands of other freelancers who already own computers/software/printers? And who in their right mind would send that much money to a brand-new freelancer who has no established reputation on Upwork, since the freelancer could just take the money and run, without doing any work? So yes, anyone with common sense would be suspicious. And you still seem to be missing the point that you're not allowed to communicate with clients off the platform before you're officially hired; it doesn't require hypervigilance on your part to say "no" when a client requests moving the conversation to Skype or Telegram.

hedy_w · ‎12-22-2021

You obviously don't understand that these are not all one-off projects. A lot of them are longer term. Get it? See I can talk to people like they are dumb too. Are you guys hired to talk down to people on this chat? This place just keeps getting worse. It's just a downward spiral.

martina_plaschka · ‎12-22-2021

No, we are not hired to do anything. Only people with the upwork logo beside their names are upwork employees who monitor the forum. I'm guessing somebody will swoop in real soon to make sure that no forum rules are violated. Actually we are all really nice people!

m_terrazas · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:
You obviously don't understand that these are not all one-off projects. A lot of them are longer term. Get it? See I can talk to people like they are dumb too. Are you guys hired to talk down to people on this chat? This place just keeps getting worse. It's just a downward spiral.

Do you know Hedy? I leave it.
It is clear that you do not want to understand what is being said to you, so good luck.
And no, both I and the others who have answered you with the best of intentions are freelancers, like you. And with the advantage that some of them are also clients.
But, hey, if we seem dumb to you, yourself.

petra_r · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:
You obviously don't understand that these are not all one-off projects. A lot of them are longer term. Get it?

Those aren't projects at all. They are scams. Ancient scams. They pretend that they are long term projects. Get it?

Clients don't pay for computers for long term projects either. Ever. That simply doesn't happen.

Clients don't send real checks to strangers on the internet.

petra_r · ‎12-22-2021

Hedy W wrote:
I had one company offering to buy a computer for me, which could be possible in the real world

Oh dear... Ancient scam. I remember it as far back as 2007. It wasn't new then either. And they weren't offering to buy a computer for you, they were offering to send you a fake check and then have you send them your real money.

Clients don't buy computers for random strangers on the internet. Nobody does. Ever.

Hedy W wrote:
There are companies out there who I am sure will get computers for their employees,

Trust me, it doesn't happen. And you're not an employee here. You're (supposed to be) an independent business.

Hedy W wrote:..aside from putting in a bunch of rules which a lot of people will not first look at, and even when you look at them, it is so overwritten in dry legalese.

There are only 2 rules you need to really know about:

1) You are not allowed to communicate with any client outside the platform until you have an Upwork contract in place.

2) You are not allowed to receive any money in any way (including fake checks) outside the platform.

It's not exactly rocket science.

hedy_w · ‎12-22-2021

You're really taking some things I say out of context and in the context you prefer to make it sound like I don't know what I'm talking about, in addition to not really know what I'm saying since I'm not explaining my complete side. I can see how that is easy to do on here. I didn't mean to say that someone was buying a computer for me. I mean to say buy a computer for me to use. It doesn't mean it would be mine. You're only saying part of the story, just l ike I am, but it all seems designed to be condescending. The way you're behaving is not exactly rocket science either.

martina_plaschka · ‎12-21-2021

If they can't be bothered to read the ToS, they should at least use common sense and ask themselves the following questions: Is it common practice having to pay a fee to get hired? Is a stranger really going to send me 4K worth of office equipment for free? Should I send any work before I have been hired? Is an unsolicited invitation legit when there are millions of freelancers with a good work history here? Why does a client want to work with newbies specifically?

And many more.

feed_my_eyes · ‎12-21-2021

I've also seen a lot of posts from freelancers who say things like, "I know that we're not supposed to contact clients off of Upwork, but..." or "I suspected that this was a red flag, but..." and they go on to say that they fell for the scam regardless. There's just no getting through to some people.

martina_plaschka · ‎12-21-2021

Christine A wrote:
I've also seen a lot of posts from freelancers who say things like, "I know that we're not supposed to contact clients off of Upwork, but..." or "I suspected that this was a red flag, but..." and they go on to say that they fell for the scam regardless. There's just no getting through to some people.

"This guy asked me to interview on Skype, Telegram and Google Hangouts, sent me three checks for office equipment, asked me to pay a paperwork fee for getting hired... I don't know, I have this gut feeling something isn't right. Nevermind, I wanted to post this from one of my other profiles."

Ah well.....

roberty1y · ‎12-22-2021

Martina P wrote:
Is a stranger really going to send me 4K worth of office equipment for free?

Check the client's location. If it's "North Pole", then yes. But the ToS should include: "Belief in Santa Claus will result in immediate termination of freelancer's account with immediate effect, for said freelancer's own good".

martina_plaschka · ‎12-22-2021

That's a good policy. I hear Santa Claus's account was suspended for sending fake checks, though.

m_terrazas · ‎12-22-2021

Martina P wrote:
That's a good policy. I hear Santa Claus's account was suspended for sending fake checks, though.

LOL! Yes, you are in a good mood today !!

fda70b38 · ‎12-21-2021

I had the very same experience yesterday (20 Dec). The job post was 25 manipulations for $4000. They were hard manipulations the price seemed reasonable for me. i applied and I got the message by asking for a sample. Since it takes tons of time, I did the partial edit and submitted it. All most all clients of mine will accept that partially done work. I know that.

But he asked me for full edit and meanwhile he was interviewing more than 25 freelancers. I smelled it very fishy and I just drop that project without saying any word.

Yeah, there are tons of scammers on this platform now. 😕

m_terrazas · ‎12-21-2021

Dilhara P wrote:
I had the very same experience yesterday (20 Dec). The job post was 25 manipulations for $4000. They were hard manipulations the price seemed reasonable for me. i applied and I got the message by asking for a sample. Since it takes tons of time, I did the partial edit and submitted it. All most all clients of mine will accept that partially done work. I know that.

But he asked me for full edit and meanwhile he was interviewing more than 25 freelancers. I smelled it very fishy and I just drop that project without saying any word.

Yeah, there are tons of scammers on this platform now. 😕

- Customers cannot request free samples.
- If you decided to do it, it is at your own risk.
- "I just drop that project without saying any word", but did you flag the job for asking for free work? THis the way how you can help other freelancers.
- I do not know if there will be tons of scammers on Upwork, I suppose you mean both clients and freelancers, but what I am noticing is that you see many freelancers who have been about to fall for a scam or, unfortunately, they have fallen into it.

Silly question, have you read the TOS, Help, Forums, etc ...?

feed_my_eyes · ‎12-21-2021

Dilhara P wrote:
I smelled it very fishy and I just drop that project without saying any word.

Why not say a word? If you don't want to do free work - and make no mistake, "partial" free work is still free work - then stop doing it and report clients like that.