What is “suspicious activity” by a freelancer?

[yitwail]

From time to time, I read about freelancers permanently suspended due to “suspicious activity”. I’m assuming such activity is not limited to violating TOS, since the reason given is not violation of TOS. So moderators, please provide a list of suspicious activities so that we can avoid engaging in it inadvertently.

[prestonhunter]

Often what is being referenced is activity which is flagged by Upwork's automated algorithms which look for signs that a freelancer is trying to manipulate the Upwork system in dishonest ways.

Such as a freelancer setting up a client account and hiring himself. Or having a family member hire him. In order to gain work history or positive feedback.

Also, Upwork is looking for freelancers who are being dishonest about their profile information. Including the use of fake locations. Freelancers claiming to be located in one place, but really located in a completely different country.

Your post referenced "moderators".... but I'm not sure how much information moderators are willing to reveal here. Upwork does not want to provide too many specifics, lest they disclose information that the would-be schemers can use to evade detection.

[gilbert-phyllis]

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Preston H wrote:

Often what is being referenced is activity which is flagged by Upwork's automated algorithms which look for signs that a freelancer is trying to manipulate the Upwork system in dishonest ways.

Such as a freelancer setting up a client account and hiring himself. Or having a family member hire him. In order to gain work history or positive feedback.

Also, Upwork is looking for freelancers who are being dishonest about their profile information. Including the use of fake locations. Freelancers claiming to be located in one place, but really located in a completely different country.

Your post referenced "moderators".... but I'm not sure how much information moderators are willing to reveal here. Upwork does not want to provide too many specifics, lest they disclose information that the would-be schemers can use to evade detection.

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If UW declines to disclose specifics, how do you come by the knowledge shared above?

[tlbp]

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Phyllis G wrote:

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Preston H wrote:

Often what is being referenced is activity which is flagged by Upwork's automated algorithms which look for signs that a freelancer is trying to manipulate the Upwork system in dishonest ways.

Such as a freelancer setting up a client account and hiring himself. Or having a family member hire him. In order to gain work history or positive feedback.

Also, Upwork is looking for freelancers who are being dishonest about their profile information. Including the use of fake locations. Freelancers claiming to be located in one place, but really located in a completely different country.

Your post referenced "moderators".... but I'm not sure how much information moderators are willing to reveal here. Upwork does not want to provide too many specifics, lest they disclose information that the would-be schemers can use to evade detection.

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If UW declines to disclose specifics, how do you come by the knowledge shared above?

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Believe it or not, the guilty freelancer will often post on the forums expressing their outrage at suddenly being suspended for no reason. Sometimes they post on Reddit instead. [Note: It is always sudden and for no reason. 🙄]

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi John,

As Preston pointed out we won't be able to share specifics. However, we have put together a list of common reasons for account holds and suspensions here.

[yitwail]

Valeria, thank you for the reply. I reviewed the article you mentioned and also read another article it references but they both only concern violations of TOS. Does that imply that suspensions for suspicious activity always involve one or more TOS violations?

[hodgesh]

Asking about suspicious activity counts as suspicious activity.