Scammer!!!!

[joserracr]

The contractor from the proposal listed below it's trying to SCAM 

They will invite you for an interview once you accept
**Edited for Community Guidelines**

She paints a pretty picture and you will be "working" for **Edited for Community Guidelines**
Page seems legit enough, then she ask you some normal interview questions and ask for your physical (home adds, cell# etc) information, after that she ask you to hold online to talk to the manager and come backs saying you are hired, EXCELENT!!!!!!! 

Then she will go one to tell you that you will be paid 30$ per hour and have health dental and 401k with paid time off, and that they will send you a laptop and you need to purchase some software with your own money that the company will then later pay you back, Since i don't know some of the programs in the list i search them and surprise all the scam alert came up, be carefull with these people!!!! 

I have the full hangouts conversation at hand


**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[lysis10]

I tell them that I bought it and ask them what is next and they tell me to copy the receipt and I LOL

[joserracr]

I told them that I will gladly purchase the programs after I get their laptop 😄 

[2d318873]

So they're going to send you the laptop, but you have to pay for the software? They're obviously targetting morons here! I would request that they buy the software and install it before sending it to me. 😄 It would be brilliant to see what their response would be.

Please ask him, please, please!

[joserracr]

Awwwww I shoul've think of that before, It's over now sadly, I said i was going to purchase any software after I got the laptop 

The response to that was:
Once you are able to purchase the software and the vendor has confirm your payment  they will start processing your working equipment for shipping which will be available in your location in the next 72 hrs  is that clear ? 

Silly scammer 

[kat303]

Well,,,, I wouldn't actually call them morons, but you do have any idea on how many posts there are about freelancers sending the money for the laptop? It's usually " I sent the money,, where is my laptop?" And that's just one scam.

And the reason why they are targeting freelancers is because they are getting responses. When you stop getting responses you stop. Obviously, we only know that there are new freelancers being scammed because they post in here about it, but how many of the thousands here don't post.

[neha-bhardwaj]

Thanks for the Information Jose. 🙂

[mwiggenhorn]

Be sure to flag the job post, too.

[jcullinan]

Your specific client info will be redacted by a moderator any second now...

But here's a tip for recognizing scams before you waste your time in a Hangout or jumping through other weird hoops:

Start with when the client joined Upwork and if they've verified payment - this by itself, no big deal. But, if a brand-new client is looking to hire a strangely random number of freelancers, like 11 in this case, it's a scam. And if that brand-new client has also sent an abnormally high number of invitations, like 20 in this case, it's DEFINITELY a scam.

Pair both of those facts with the poorly written description, no capitalization in the post title... this one's pretty obvious.

Screen the job posts you apply to more carefully, and you'll avoid this kind of thing entirely.

[joserracr]

Been out of work for quite some time now, bit desperate and it surely made me miss some red flags  

Although the moment the work description started from outside upwork it was pretty much clear but hey, I had to see it thru 

Thanks for the advice 

[ferwana-maryam]

I was about posting my issue with them, I feel they are SCAM from the interviewer pic, which I am sure it's not for her, I when she asked me to send 65$ for the programs I told her that I am very far from western union office, she said I will wait you because your profile is perfect. BTW, I was talking to them while I was having breakfast hhhhhhhh, so the interview was awful but they chose me LOL. Thanks for your attention, wish you the best.

[kochubei_valeria · Accepted solution]

Hi Jose,

I followed up about the job you reported and it looks like both the job and the client's account have already been removed from the platform by our team.

[joserracr]

Awesome! 

[bc94]

someone here said "if the jobs is too good to be true, it probably is"

can't remember who said it, but that's the golden rule.

I wish I found this thread earlier though, I find some weird enjoyment in looking up profiles mentioned in the forum hahah

[j_nyhart]

I have the same problem right now!!!  OMG!  Ok, this is def a scam.... it is the exact same but it is a man, actually calling himself **Edited for Community Guidelines** You reply to the google hang out and answer some questions etc... the job is closed as well.  They will send you cashiers check to purchase office equipment and software etc.... They will not go through upwork website to communicate.  What do I do now?

[prestonhunter]

re: "What do I do now?"

Jennifer:

Stop communicating with that scammer "client" immediately.

You already know that the name this scammer told you is a fake name.

You may report this client or his (her?) job posting to Customer Service.

But the important thing is that you don't waste time talking to that person. The only thing she wants to do is steal money from you.

[j_nyhart]

Thanks!  I have stopped the conversation and will report right away.  

[katrinabeaver]

---

@Jennifer N wrote:

Thanks!  I have stopped the conversation and will report right away.  

---

 Preston is right it's a scam, but you also need to keep in mind that by accepting that check you broke one of Upworks sacrd rules of not accepting payment off platform. This could get you banned. They will usually give newbies a second chance on this, but just though you should know. 

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Jennifer,

I can confirm that the job you are referring to has already been removed from the platform because it was in violation of Upwork ToS. 

Check out this post for more tips on how to avoid questionable jobs in the future.

[wworsham]

Nope...they are still at it under another name

**Edited for Community Guidelines** is the name now. I went through the same stuff with the google site...which is pretty much a bot...as soon as I started asking about bank account stuff, they disappeared. 

[greenwood_ruth]

I wonder if that **Edited for Community Guidelines** is not their real name. **Edited for Community Guidelines** is a very big, legit temp work agency that I have worked for...but they wouldn't be doing the things that this client does.

This is the second scam I've learned about today, my first day submitting proposals, that uses the name of a legit person and/or company.  

I'll look at their track record rather than anything they say in their posting. Thanks for this.

[kochubei_valeria]

William and Ruth,

We'll make sure that the jobs you are referring to are reviewed for any ToS violations and appropriate actions are taken.

Thanks for reporting and make sure to check out this post for more tips on how to avoid questionable jobs.

[tomisfrench]

Hello

Is **Edited for Community Guidelines** offer genuine or is it a scam?

Thanks in advance for your prompt reply

Kind regards

Thomas

[vladag]

Hi Thomas,

Please review these safety tips and let us know if the client exhibits one of the described behaviours. Make sure you don't start working without an active contract on Upwork, never pay in order to start working and only accept payments through Upwork.

[paulachoin]

I believe I had exactly the same scammer, only under a different name.

I just made a post about it. They offered to send me this awesome laptop, pay me 50 dollers an hour with healthcare, paid vacation you name it.. I just need to set up the software and go for my training. I just wasted my whole morning on this scam lol I did not know about these scams until today.

[paulachoin]

Please watch out for Job scams! I have been victim of a Phising scam from this job post and wanted to warn other designers:

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

The 'client' requested a google hangouts interview with me claiming to be from **Edited for Community Guidelines** and offering to pay me 50 dollars an hour. He requested my bank information and said it was not a freelance position but a fixed job outside of Upwork. He conducted a fake 40 minute interview and told me I had been hired. When I asked him to send me a confirmation message and some contract information about the so called amazing health care package, he quickly declined and backed away. During the interview he asked questions about where I had previously lived, which companies I worked for, the name of my bank, and wanted to know my address so he could 'send' me a free laptop. Identity theft is a serious problem. Please take down this Job posting and warn other freelancers. The scammers email is: **Edited for Community Guidelines**

Freelancers plese be careful

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Paula,

I checked and the client's account has already been limited by the team. They'll also remove the job. Please, note that it's not only against Upwork ToS to offer and accept payments outside of Upwork but it's also often is a sign of scam.

Please, check out this post for more tips on how to avoid questionable jobs.

[mwiggenhorn]

Paula, freelancers don't get "benefits".  Ever.  You are self-employed now - no benefits except those you provide for yourself.

[paulachoin]

Thankyou. I am new to this website as of today and proceeded to apply for jobs after adding a portfolio to my profile. I did read the terms and conditions but I was not aware of the likelihood of these scams. I'm glad I have learnt this lesson early on.

[prestonhunter]

re: "I believe I had exactly the same scammer, only under a different name."

Yeah... there's no way to know if she was the same scammer.

There is not one scammer. There are various scam scripts and scam packages that are circulated. There are hundreds and probably thouands of scammers involved.

There are independent operators, but a lot of the scams are very organized, run by actual companies with rented office space, up-to-date computer centers, managers, etc. These are located primarily in India and Africa. These offices may employ dozens of hundreds of workers whose job it is to perpetuate these scams. It's just a regular job to them, no different than if they worked as a telephone operator or customer support representative for a major company.

These scam operations exist because gullible people (including many Upwork newbies) fall for the scams and send the scammers money. The scams target all possible online work platforms, not just Upwork. They target anyplace they can find people looking for work, including CraigsList, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.

[paulachoin]

H Preston:

Thanks for your insight. However Im fully aware what a boiler room is. Im suggesting it's the same scam as the scenario was exactly the same. A search on the email address pulled up a LinkedIn artical showing an interview chat conversation 'exactly' the same as mine, word for word. Several other people then posted their converations, they were all the same. In this case, it is part of the same scam, the same company if you prefer. Unless you're suggesting india and africa have a hive mind.

I would be careful about classing new freelancers here as gullible, some of us just simply arn't aware how common of a risk this is, and how would they know?  Unless they have the time to read all these forums before applying to jobs. A lot of us have been designers or writters for countless years and now trying to make some income on the side, or slowly work towards going independant. Most have never had to worry about this kind of thing and yes, we are learning. This also goes for clients who have found themselfs hiring conn artists ect.

[datasciencewonk]

---

@Paula C wrote:

H Preston:

Thanks for your insight. However Im fully aware what a boiler room is. Im suggesting it's the same scam as the scenario was exactly the same. A search on the email address pulled up a LinkedIn artical showing an interview chat conversation 'exactly' the same as mine, word for word. Several other people then posted their converations, they were all the same. In this case, it is part of the same scam, the same company if you prefer. Unless you're suggesting india and africa have a hive mind.

I would be careful about classing new freelancers here as gullible, some of us just simply arn't aware how common of a risk this is, and how would they know?  Unless they have the time to read all these forums before applying to jobs. A lot of us have been designers or writters for countless years and now trying to make some income on the side, or slowly work towards going independant. Most have never had to worry about this kind of thing and yes, we are learning. This also goes for clients who have found themselfs hiring conn artists ect.

---

I can only speak for writers...

But, writing and research are absolutely not mutually exclusive. As such, they (writers) SHOULD research before they onboard as researching is a fundamental element to being a good writer.

And, for the record, my research bears this out. The writers who fail on Upwork are those who did not do their due diligence. 

Designers may be different. That's not my niche so I leave that to Upwork designers to comment on. 

[d3d571ad]

Why are these scammers allowed to post jobs here?  I see this same scamming scenario every time I visit this board. Doesn't UpWork vet these jobs before they are posted?  If they can vet a new freelancer and demand verified identification, why can't they do the same with employers?  

All it took for me to post a job was an email address. That was it.  I guess I answered my own question.  

[kat303]

---

@Charles W wrote:

Why are these scammers allowed to post jobs here?  I see this same scamming scenario every time I visit this board. Doesn't UpWork vet these jobs before they are posted?  If they can vet a new freelancer and demand verified identification, why can't they do the same with employers?  

All it took for me to post a job was an email address. That was it.  I guess I answered my own question.  

---

Because the content that make up the scams are messaged offsite, usually in Google Hangouts. Upwork can't monitor communication that is not on their site, and even on their site, it would take much much more works to keep track of all of that. The only way to stop these scammers, is for newbies to learn what to look out for. To not jump right in without knowing how the site works. And to not be so trusting to some stranger somewhere that they just met on the internet. And for everyone , when they come across a scam, to report it.

[crystalcalhoun]

Thanks for the post and all the comments!  I'm a newbie to Upwork but not a newbie to web design and online marketing.  I recieved a proposal this morning that just didn't seem completely right so I google searched the email address I was given and this thread came up. (thank you all for having it here)

Their proposal is as follows:

"Dear Applicant, Your resume has been reviewed by our HR Department in reference to our AD posted on Upwork we believe you are capable of handling this position based on your resume. Your details has been forwarded to Mr Roger ( One Of The Hiring Manager) Of ** Edited for Community Guidelines**he would be conducting an online interview with you to discuss the Job Details, Pay Scale and Benefits, etc. You are to set up a screen name with gmail hangout and add up the company Hiring Manager's hangouts screen name  a ** Edited for Community Guidelines**nd instant message him for an online interview/briefing exercise. If you don't have a Google-hangout on your computer, then log on to www.hangouts.google.com to download one for free then Set up an account with Google hangout. He is online waiting for you. Your verification code is SR - 001(E commerce developer) this would serve as your identification number throughout the on-line hiring process. Your timely response matters a lot, this is an online work from home and working hours are flexible. Interview Scheduled : Online. Time: ASAP Venue: On line Via Google Hangouts Training is Available Human Resources Your swift and timely response matters a lot in this beneficial position... We look forward to having you on the team. Best regard Human Resource Genesco Inc"

So it seems pretty evident this is a scam.  Now what?  I don't see a "potential scam" button to submit this to Upwork for review.  Recommendations anyone?

[crystalcalhoun]

never mind that... I just declined the offer and saw the spam option.  (that's how new I am, lol)

[paulachoin]

Hey, like you I am new to this site but experienced in graphic design.

I had that exact same email with Mr 'Roger" Sisson. Dont waste your time. I had an hour long hangouts conversation because it was my first job proposal and I didnt know any better. He claimed to be from a legitamate company which is why it took me a while to figure it out. Once he told me he was going to be sending me a laptop with high speed internet I think that was the biggest give away... I told them to send me the details via email about this laptop and the amazing health care package they were going to offer me and then he only replyed with: 'You will get it later OKAY?'

Dont waste your time like i did. And good luck on here. I think there are many good clients and a potential to be sucessful over time. 

[aribausman]

Hi Paula,

Thank you for posting this here. I got the same offer today. And he is like I will offer you $50 per hour. Quite true to believe that right? I figured out he's a scam and then I came across your post. Thank God I didn't waste any time.

[kbadeau]

I got that exact same message today and flagged it but it's still up there.

To the point about Upwork not being able to monitor things that go on in Google Hangouts: I understand that, but this is the exact same word for word scam being used repeatedly... can they not flag Genesco or "Hiring Manager" so that at least they will have to change their wording the next time they try the scam?

Or maybe just "google hangouts" in a job description should be enough of a flag. It's a waste of our time to have to police this stuff for them. Isn't that part of what we pay them to do for us, not vice versa?

[kochubei_valeria]

Thanks for reporting, Kelly. We'll have the client reviewed as soon as possible. Unfortunately, often there are no red flags or violations in the job posting and we do rely on Upwork users to flag such jobs once they receive a message from the client that violates Upwork ToS.