Potential Client emailed me after a brief interview

[#1]

I spoke to a potential client yesterday about their business needs (they didnt post a link or upload a PDF with a link or anything), but they also didnt hire me for the contract and so I was thinking it was either a scam or a bot or maybe the client just got side tracked and I was prepared to call it a wash and move.

The next morning I found an email in my email address from the client saying that they want me for the contract, they instructed me to navigate to an official website and that I would be given a designated username and other tools with which to perform my duties.

I was extatic! 

But (just to be safe) I checked my account status and contract information, thinking they hired me and I just didnt get a notice somehow?

Seeing no changes at all, I decided that must not have been hired yet and sent the client an message through the messaging tool saying "thanks so much for reaching out, but I'll need you to go ahead a verify your method of payment through upwork and officially hire me before we talk on any other platforms."

I haven't got an answer back, yet but I have no idea if this is even a legit offer or if the client is just trying to cut corners.  Any hints or tips on how a normal client /freelancer proposal / negotiation / hirng process works would be really helpful here.

They didn't raise any of my usual red flags with the exception of sending a direct email to my email address..

[#2]

You've had your time wasted by one of the many scammers infesting this site. They always want to get you off the site first. Then they give you a lot of BS about their hiring procedures, just to make themselves seem legit. After that, they tell you you have to pay a "security fee" that you forfeit if you don't finish the job. Pay that, and it's the last you'll hear from them.

You seem to have given them your email address, which is against Upwork's terms of service - no offsite contact unless a contract is in place. If you don't make any contact outside of Upwork without a contract, and you don't pay anyone any money, you can't get scammed.

[#3]

Im not sure If I was clear about this, but I -in no way- provided an email address for them to make use of

during the course of the interview through the messaging tool..

[#4]

You said they emailed you, so I assumed you meant by private email, not Upwork's messaging system. Anyway, they'd have asked you for money if you maintained contact. Scammers prefer new members, who are keen to get their first job and less savvy about how scams work.

There's an excellent guide for avoiding scams here:

List of red flags for scams - Upwork Community

[#5]

How did they get your email address?

[#6]

I suspect it had something to do with this situation..

https://community.upwork.com/t5/Writers-Translators/Client-emailed-me/m-p/822238#M3009

in the words of Bojan

"Thank you for following up with additional information. It looks like you shared your portfolio with the client. Your portfolio contains your contact information. We know sharing your past work is important. Therefore, you can share links to external portfolios when you submit a proposal. We understand external portfolios may include contact information, it is still fine to share these, though please make sure to ask the client to only contact you via Upwork."

So their having the ability to get the email isn't my primary concern, Im just trying to make sure I dont violate TOS and identify if this is more or less standard procedure for getting hired or if this is one of those situations I need be particularly worried about a scam.  In my mind I cant decide if its a scam, a bot or a legitimate client that felt proactive in emailing me \_O_/

[#7]

OK, I get it. That is an exception to the rule about revealing contact info, as long as you insist all communication is through Upwork. Anyway, this is particulary bad time for scams, so be careful.

[#8]

Michael, legitimate clients are sometimes unaware of the rule about keeping communications on the platform until a contract is in place. When you tell them politely but clearly that is necessary, they will happily comply. If they push back or disappear, it's a sure sign they are either a scammer or at least, a scofflaw comfortable breaking rules who would expect you to do likewise. So, no loss. Over the past couple years since the rule was instituted, I've had a couple of clients literally scoff at it and tell me, "Oh, with the amount I spend on this platform, they won't come after me," to which I reply, "Be that as it may, I have too much invested in my UW account to put it at risk over defying a trivial rule." At which point they go their way and I go mine. 

[#9]

Thanks guys! so just to clarify, I can assume their legitimate as long as;

1.) They hire me prior to attempting to post links and attempting direct email or any other form of communication.

2.) They have verified their method of payment through Upwork.

3.) They do not attempt to obtain my ID, Citizenship or other PII, before being hired.

4.) They do not Instruct, infer, suggest or recommend navigating to another site, platform or medium to conduct an interview before being officially hired and I have accepted the proposed contract.

Is that accurate?

[#10]

Having a verified payment method is not a good diagnostic. Many legitimate clients don't bother doing that until they are ready to hire a specific FL. (It would be like having to let DSW run your credit card before you even try on any shoes.) And many scammers have a verified  payment method because they have stolen it; they run their scam and disappear before being discovered.

You'll find this helpful.