genuine customer?

[ruijterthera]

Hello!

I have only been with Upwork for a couple of months but am really enjoying how this setup works and am happy with my progress. I have recently submitted a proposal to translate articles and blog posts on some really interesting topics. So far so good!

I then realise that the offer on the job posts is in euros (hmmm). I then get contacted via Upwork to send my email, which I did. They would like me to do a small test (230 words). The three sections in the test look like introductory paragraphs of articles or blog posts (hmmm). I then see on the job post that they are doing 50 interviews (hmmmm). I am now wondering if everyone is doing a little 200ish word test and they are getting a lot of articles done for free (no offer of money for the test). I check the website, and the global company has one page but with linke to other pages that have the articles and blog posts. No coporate idenity or link is overly clear.

Am I being overly suspicious or is this not quite right? If it walks like a duck...

Any guidance is much appreciated!

Thera

[petra_r]

sounds suspicious and clients are NOT allowed to ask for free work.

No, 230 words are not a lot, but free work is free work. If they want test translations they have to hire and pay the freelancers they want to "test"

Flag the job post as inappropriate and select the reason "Client is asking for free work"

[ruijterthera]

My other thought is also that they are asking me for about 230 words but there are 50 interviews. If they ask them all to do a few words, thats a lot of work done for free. 

Is there any chance that this could be a genuine customer? Should I report them?

Thera

[sgoble]

 Is there any chance that this coudl be a genuine customer?

Yes, one who didn't read the rules and understand that tests and samples should be paid for. 

But the chances are higher that client has a brilliant scheme to get free work. 

Should I report them?

Yes, definitely. 

[sgoble]

Sounds fishy to me.  These 'test samples'  should be paid for

Open the job listing and in the right-most column is a "Fklag as Inappropriate" .  Click it and report it for violating UPwork policy. they'll be able to see if they are having one test done 50 times or if it's 50 different "samples".

Also, DO NOT SEND THAT CLIENT ANYTHING until you hear from Upwork.

[ruijterthera]

Thanks!!

The customer asked for my email address to send me the test sample directly. The sample has not been registered on Upwork.

Now that I am discussing this I think it is all becoming very clear...

I will flag it and see what happens.

[colettelewis]

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@Thera R wrote:

Thanks!!

The customer asked for my email address to send me the test sample directly. The sample has not been registered on Upwork.

Now that I am discussing this I think it is all becoming very clear...

I will flag it and see what happens.

---

 _______________________________

What you will get, is a little message from CS thanking you for flagging and that Upwork does its best to keep the site free of scammers (paraphrased), but they probably will take action on the client. The problem is that they have to prove that the client is circumventing.

[ruijterthera]

I have had that message and I have let them know that I am happy to send them the email. There are a few things that don't add up without that information though, such as the currency they are offereing, the 50 interviews they are doing, and the website link they provided through Upwork. Hopefully that will be enough info to determine whether or not this is genuine. 

I'll feel bad if I got this wrong!!

[tinker_bell3 · Accepted solution]

Hi Thera,

Welcome to Upwork! Sorry to hear of this experience. Thanks for flagging the job post. This sends a notification directly to Upwork, allowing us to investigate and take the appropriate measures. Please check out this help article on how you can report suspicious activities and these Tips to avoid questionable jobs. You can also send me a DM with screenshots of your conversation to this client so that I can share it with the team. Thanks again!