SCAMS

[lizzy414]

I am on the verge of closing this account down and being down with upwork. I signed up about a week ago and was so hopeful that I could do some work from home given my poor health. Well I almost got scammed twice luckily my husband helped me figure it out before it was too late. The only info they got was my name and mailing address. I also called the company they were pretending to be and warned them of the situation. And forwarded the conversations and emails to the companies IT dept so that they can make sure to set up a investigation. I am very upset by this and now I keep getting fishy invites for jobs, plus all the legit jobs I apply to don't respond. I am beginning to regret ever setting this account up.

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Antonina,

Unfortunately, since I don't have the details you`re referring to, I can't investigate it further. Please follow up directly on your ticket with any additional information you would like to share. Our team will investigate it further and will share more details with you directly there. Thank you.

[bc79b49f]

which ticket should i follow up on? the scam letter? see attachment

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Antonina,

You can follow up on your ticket directly on this Link. Thank you.

[bc79b49f]

there was chat instagated in upwork chatbox

[hannesjaaaro]

In the event of a scam, where the job posted has a "fixed fee" payment that is to be delivered once the work is submitted (but isn't), what protection can Upwork as a platform provide for me as a freelancer?

H

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Hannes,

To learn more about our Fixed price protection, check out this Help Article. Feel free to share more details with me via PM (click on my name) as well so that I can assist you further. Thank you.

[petra_r]

---

Hannes J wrote:

In the event of a scam, where the job posted has a "fixed fee" payment that is to be delivered once the work is submitted (but isn't), what protection can Upwork as a platform provide for me as a freelancer?

---

That depends on whether you have a contract (check your My Jobs Page) and whether the milestone is fully funded.

If you have a contract, you have some protection up to the value of the funded milestone.

If you don't have a contract or the milestone is not fully funded, you have no protection at all.

It might be an idea to familiarize yourself with how the platform works. 

[bizwriterjohn]

Newcomers are considered prey for scammers.  They are specifically reviewing your profile and counting on the newcomer to not have the discernment-of-scammer skills,  The top three skills - or outcomes a newcomer must achieve to be successful:

1. Creation of a powerhouse profile.  Newcomers are competing with established veterans who do not play around one bit in the quest to win work.

2. Creation of a powerhouse portfolio.  Without this, the exercise of winning work is mostly the expenditure of connections.

3. Guarding against scammers.

And actually there is a fourth.  Having the stamina to endure the rejection, deal with the fluff-and-stuff opportunities of low-no value, and sticking with it as if your income depended on it.

Which. To note. It does.

Hang in there, compete without mercy, and play the mid-term game is your path.  Freelancer-land is not as sweet and gentle as one might consider.  The promise of working from home, Upwork providing leads and project opportunities, and let's all get along.

It is one of the most competitive marketplaces in the world and the weak are culled out.

[solieldebella]

I feel your pain almost every "interview" has been a scam for me. That's pretty bad.