Fake Job Offers

[#1]

Hi Team

There are so many fake job offers.

How to bypass them 

advice pls.

Nadil

[#2]

This is so frustrating. I cannot recall I haveencountered many fake posts, but I simply don't reply posts with unclear problems, goals, timeline and budget. 

[#3 · Accepted solution]

Hello Nadil

Though it is impossible to completely avoid fake posting, there are a couple of things you can try.

I might be wrong or not accurate but the first thing I look out for is a verified payment tick :heavy_check_mark:.

If verified I try to glance at

• History,
• Other job postings,
• Reviews
• as well as how much has been spent.

If verified but no reviews, no history, or money spent, I spend more time considering

• The nature of the job posting,
• Looking out for red flags.
• Such as wanting an expert in web design at a fixed budget of $5
• Or offering an exaggerated fee for a simple fixed, (which I call too good to be true),
• Or using the wrong tags,
• there are a lot of them like looking for a beginner with 5 years of experience in 6 skill sets, etc.

But if not verified, I look at the job posting thoroughly, for red flags in the

• choice of words,
• language structure,
• descriptions, tags, etc.

I am yet to get a job here on Upwork, so I can tell you that I am using the best approach, so this is just a suggestion. But keep in mind that you can't filter out fake postings completely but you can try to minimize how you engage them.

Hope this helps.

Thank you,

Kind regards 

[#4]

This is an easy trap to fall into. There are several good suggestions already mentioned i.e. checking reviews, payment verification, job history etc. 

I'd like to add a big warning bright red flag, is when a client asks to chat on Telegram or any external platform, before a contract has been agreed via Upwork. These are known financial scams. It is also against Upwork's policy so don't fall for it and report them. 

[#5]

Yep I agree with this! Any comms outside Upwork before the contract is secure is dodgy. Also any offer to pay outside of Upwork. I am also cautious of clients who don't have a verified payment method.