Existing client scamming outside UW

[#1]

Hello,

So this is somewhat a strange situation that I am unsure how to handle, thus, relying on Upwork community to help me with advice.

The matter is that I've had a client on Upwork who I've worked with back in 2021 and their contract has since remained open (even though I asked them to close it once everything was settled).

In 2024 in August the client reached out to me via Whatsapp asking to do some work and justifying communication outside of Upwork by losing access to the account and being in process of redeeming it via UW CS. While this did seem fishy, they used such details as a proof that it was them, that were only available in our UW chat and thus, nobody else could have known about that. That's why I've agreed to do the job and hourly bill through the existing contract, worked for 2 weeks (it was 1 week, factually, but given weekly limit I couldn't bill the required number of hours, thus, split that billing into 2 weeks).

After billing the first week, it all went smooth, but after the 2nd week billing cycle the client contacted me via UW, now demanding their money back as they haven't requested any work.

And now I am thinking whether it was a scam to make me work for free or whether it was somebody impersonating ths client. I would definitely approve the dispute and refund money, but my concern is that:

- the client used such details in Whatsapp that were not publicly available, that's why I believed them to be the client;

- nothing happened during the 1st week review period which means that either the client didn't have access to their UW and couldn't dispute the hours or they didn't notice it;

- I would understand if it were a scam to get some money (like deposit $X to get your money) but nothing like that was ever requested + the work done was around the industry that the client is in;

So I am really confused on what to do in this situation as I understand that I might have done wrong believing the Whatsapp conversation and keeping that outside of Upwork, but on the other hand the bullet points from above made me think that it was really the client. So I don't want to make the client unhappy, but neither do I want to get scammed for free work. What can I do now?

Thanks for your replies in advance.

[#2]

That's terrible! It seems like a scam, or maybe your client's account was hacked.

Honestly, you shouldn't have agreed to work outside of Upwork. If all the communication had been through the platform, this probably wouldn't have happened.

[#3]

Since he still had an open contract with the client, communication outside of Upwork is not an issue.
He has not been working outside of Upwork. As he says, he has logged hours and billed through Upwork.

[#4]

In terms of the ToS, it's not a violation yo communicate outside the platform when the contract is open, you just can't be paid outside the platform. Another thing is that it turns out that the client can then file a dispute and say that they've never communicated with you and have never asked for any work. That's my case with the differemce being that the details in that outside communication is clearly found only in our UW conversation before.

[#5]

It is possible that client decided to scam you. Registered client mean nothing. Some clients with reputation scammed me in different way.

In your case possible that you will be forced to refund. Wher client got watsapp, did you shared it before and used for workscope?

[#6]

Nope, that's I think the main problem. But the details shared in that outside conversation can not be founs anywhere besides our UW conversation. So that did give me a sense of the job not being a scam, especially considering that tbe client asked to bill hours on the platform.

[#7]

Well, if it doesn't appear anywhere (in the chat, for example) that the client asked you to do a job, it seems that you made the decision to start the job on your own.
And the hours billed, from what you say, seem to have been manual hours.
It's all a bit strange, if I understand correctly.
The best solution would have been for the client to close the existing contract and open another one.
Let's see if someone can give you a solution.

[#8]

Yes, agree, I should have waited for the client to regain access to UW and then given me a green light to perform the job. I just relied on their consciessness and the fact that people wouldn't create such a scheme to scam. I would even say that this idea was born when they regained the access as the first week has been paid, so it's not under dispute.

[#9]

In my opinion, you should confirm that make escrow on upwork. then work and delivery and release escrow.

Hope it can help you

Thanks

[#10]

It was an hourly job.

[#11]

This was an hourly contract, so no escrows or milestones in this case.

[#12]

Hi Vangelis, 

I am sorry to hear about your experience with the client. I saw your post in the community and converted it into a support ticket to give it the attention it deserves. Rest assured that one of our agents will reach out to you.

[#13]

Hi Ivygail,

Thanks for that as I was seeking help on how to handle that because the communication with the client has been very wavy, given how they are trying to dispute, accuse and then just disappear when I explain the situation and try to let them see from my side.

[#14]

You are most welcome, Vangelis.