How To Avoid Scams While Using Freelancing Websites [FAQs]

It’s time to stop getting scammed.

In this article, we’ll show you how to avoid scams while using freelancing websites.

We’ve all been there—you were about to take the plunge and hire a freelancer for your project when you realized that maybe you don’t know what to do next. So you’re stuck, not sure if you should hire that person or not.

Or maybe you’ve already gotten started with a freelancer, but they’re taking longer than expected and it doesn’t really look like they’re doing the work.

On top of that, it’s hard to figure out who is telling the truth online because everyone’s profile looks great, right?

But don’t worry. We’ve got your back! In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about avoiding scams when hiring on freelancing websites so you can get your project done without breaking a sweat.

Takeaways
1. Be vigilant for common scams encountered on freelancing websites, such as payment scams, identity theft, fake job postings, and phishing attempts.
2. Learn how to identify potential scams by recognizing red flags, including unrealistic payment offers, requests for personal information, poor communication, and unverified clients.
3. If you suspect a scam, cease communication with the suspicious party, report the incident to the platform’s support team, and consider informing local authorities or fraud prevention agencies.
4. Take preventive measures to avoid scams, such as vetting clients, verifying job postings, using secure payment methods, maintaining clear communication, and trusting your instincts.
5. Protect your personal information by minimizing the sharing of sensitive data, using strong and unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and staying vigilant against phishing attempts.

1. Can I Get Scammed On The Platform As A Freelancer?

Yes, you can.

But that doesn’t mean you should be scared! The Upwork is actually a really safe place for freelancers to find clients and do their best work, with thousands of incredible companies posting jobs there every day.

And it’s not all that common for freelancers to get scammed. In fact, we’ve found that less than 1% of freelancers will have a negative experience when working on Upwork.

If you’re nervous about being scammed on the [platform name], there are some easy ways to protect yourself:

Do your research: If a client seems too good to be true, they probably are. Check them out online and make sure they have a legitimate presence before taking on any work for them.

Read through all job postings carefully: Make sure you understand what kind of work you’ll be doing before taking it on—you might not realize that an “ebook writing gig” actually means “writing an ebook about how to make money” until after you’ve completed an entire draft! This will help you avoid misunderstandings later on down the road.

Building a successful freelance career requires knowing the dos and don’ts of the industry. Learn how to navigate the freelance world and move forward with confidence in our comprehensive guide on The Dos and Don’ts of a Freelancer.

2. How Can I Protect My Money From Scammers?

There are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from scammers on remote job sites like Freelancer.com or Upwork. Scams can be hard to detect, so it’s important to do your research and be careful about who you choose to hire for your project.

Before you post a project and start receiving bids, make sure the site itself is legitimate. This may seem like an obvious one, but many sites out there will charge you money to post projects and then disappear with your money before you can hire anyone. In fact, this happened to me on two occasions before I got wise!

Make sure the site is well-established (has been around for several years) and has a strong reputation. If the site is brand new and has few users, that’s a sign that it might disappear soon after you’ve posted a project and received bids. If it doesn’t have any reviews or ratings of its own, that’s another red flag.

You should also check the payment structure of the freelance site. Many sites allow you to release funds only when certain milestones have been reached in a project. For example, if you’re hiring someone to write an article for your blog, you might release half of the funds when they submit their first draft and release the

3. What Can I Do If A Freelancer Scams Me?

The first thing you should do if a freelancer scams you is remain calm. It’s easy to feel frustrated or upset when someone steals your time or money, whether on or offline.

But don’t let your emotions take over. In order to get the most out of this situation, it’s important for you to stay cool, even if it seems like a disaster.

Here’s what to do if you’ve been scammed:

• Report it. If you’ve paid a freelancer on our platform and you feel that they have scammed you, please report it to us as soon as possible by contacting Customer Support. Do not send payment directly to the freelancer in an attempt to resolve the situation. This will only make recovering your money more difficult.

• Contact your credit card company or bank: if you believe your payment information has been compromised. They can help determine whether there are any fraudulent charges on your account and if so, work with you to resolve them.

4. What Is The Difference Between A Scam And A Legitimate Job?

The best way to think about scams and legitimate jobs is to compare them to a job interview. If a company asks you for money before giving you a job, it’s almost certainly a scam. Scams take advantage of the fact that there are so many job seekers out there and prey on people who are willing to do anything for some money.

Unlike scams, legitimate jobs will never ask you for money before you start working. They’ll offer you a position, give you instructions on what they need from you, and then pay you once the work is done.

Think of it as if someone were interviewing you for a job: they wouldn’t ask for money during the interview process; they’d offer you the role and then send over information on how to get started (and how much it pays).

Writing effective proposals is essential for freelancers to land clients and projects. Discover the key elements and strategies in our informative article on Freelancing 101: What Are Proposals? to improve your success rate.

5. How Do I Report A Scam?

If you think you might have been scammed, we’ve got your back. It’s easy to report a scam. 

There are two different options for reporting a scam, depending on your situation.

If you believe that someone is trying to scam you while they’re clocked in and working with another user, you can use the “Report a scam” link to contact the platform immediately.

If you believe that someone is trying to scam you outside of work time—if they’re asking for personal information like credit card numbers or passwords—you should stop communicating with them immediately, and then use the “Report a scam” link on the website to let them know what’s going on as soon as possible—be sure to provide as many details as possible.

6. What Are Some Common Types Of Scams?

There are lots of scams out there, but here are some of the most common ones to look out for.

• The Listing Scam – this is a website that shows up in the search results for a particular job. When you click on it you are asked for your personal information such as name, address, phone number, email address, etc. You are then asked to “register” your account and the company pays you after they give you the “job”. You will get paid via Western Union or direct deposit into your bank account.

• The Freelancer Scam – this is also a website that shows up in the search results for a particular job. When you click on it you are asked for your personal information such as name, address, phone number, email address, etc. You are then asked to register your account and sign up for the company’s services. Many of these companies will pay you through PayPal or direct deposit into your bank account.

• Pyramid / Ponzi Scheme Scams – these are schemes used by people to make money off of other people by paying them money upfront and later taking from those people that had invested their money in the scheme (ie one person invests $100 in the scheme but gets paid back only $50 or no at all).

7. What Does A Scammer Look Like?

Of course, we all know the stereotype of a Nigerian prince looking for a way to move his fortune into your bank account. But the truth is, scammers are everywhere—and they know how to adapt to their environment. You might be dealing with a scammer if:

• You notice grammar mistakes or unusual phrasing in their messages and profile

• They ask for small favors that seem insignificant and then keep asking for more favors

• They tell you a sob story about their family or mention that they just moved into town and don’t have furniture yet

• They offer to pay you off-site with Paypal or another payment method before you agree on terms

• They seem too excited about your job post and accept it immediately before discussing specific terms with you

Balancing freelancing with maternity leave presents unique challenges and opportunities. Find out valuable insights and tips from our firsthand experience in What I Learned from Freelancing While on Maternity Leave.

8. Do People Really Fall For Scams?

It’s no secret that people fall for scams every day. You might not expect it, but the truth is that anyone can fall victim to a scam. Even you!

But how does that happen? How do people get tricked by scammers? Here are some of the most common ways scammers trick their victims.

• You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank or credit card company, and they need some information to make sure there are no fraudulent charges on your account. They sound very official and professional, so you believe them! But they’re not actually from the bank, and you just gave them all the confidential information they needed to steal your identity.

• There’s this really amazing job opportunity online, but you have to pay $50 in exchange for training materials before you can apply! You think that if you’re going to get this great opportunity, it’s worth the $50. But when you pay for those training materials, you never hear back about the job or see the materials that were promised to you.

• A friend messages you on Facebook and says she needs money for an emergency. She doesn’t want anyone else to know about it so she sends a private message asking for help. Because she seems

9. Why Do People Try To Scam Other People?

People try to scam other people for a variety of reasons. Some people do it because they are desperate and don’t think they have another option. Others want to make money quickly. Some people are simply greedy and want more than what they have, so they try to take it from someone else. Still, others just get a thrill from being able to scam someone out of money!

The best way to avoid getting scammed is to keep an eye on your surroundings: don’t give information over the phone that could be used against you later; ask questions before making purchases or signing contracts; and never, ever send money without checking into who’s receiving it first!

10. How Do I Know If I’m Being Scammed on Upwork?

If you’ve got a bad feeling about a job posting, there’s probably a good reason for it. Here are some of the most common scams:

The client tells you that they’ve already hired someone. But then they ask for your personal information to “verify” that you’re “qualified for the job.” Never share your personal information with anyone who contacts you directly through Upwork messages (or other messaging systems).

You’re asked to accept payment for a client outside of Upwork. This is against our Terms of Service, and it’s how scammers get around our security measures. Never accept payment from someone outside of Upwork or before you have had a chance to set up your hourly contract or submit your first fixed-price proposal.

You’re told to sign up for an unrelated service, like PayPal or Western Union, using your email address and password—which the client can use to hijack your account. Never enter your account credentials on any website other than www.upwork.com.

11. How Do I Protect Myself From Scams?

The best way to protect yourself from scams is to use common sense. If a job seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t give away your personal details unless you are absolutely sure that the job offer is legitimate. 

Do your research on the client who posted the job, and always check their feedback and star rating if they have one. If they haven’t been on Freelancer.com long, or don’t have any feedback, this could be a red flag. If you have any doubts about a job opportunity, it is best to ignore it.

Crafting a compelling freelance proposal is crucial for winning clients and securing projects. Explore our expert tips and advice in 15 Tips on How to Write a Freelance Proposal for Your Next Project to enhance your proposal-writing skills.

12. Are Scams Common?

Yes and no. That sounds like a cop-out answer, but I can explain.

On any given day on the site, there are probably some people who are being scammed. Or at least they think they are being scammed or they don’t know if they’re being scammed because it’s hard to tell sometimes when a job is a scam. But that’s what we’re trying to help you do: make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by an employer who doesn’t have their act together or doesn’t fully understand how the site works.

Out of all the jobs posted on the site, less than 1% of them are actually scams. It’s not very common! And the ones that are scams aren’t even always trying to be scams they just don’t know how else to operate or do business yet. So we try really hard to help people who don’t know how to use the site…and also try really hard to make sure freelancers aren’t getting taken advantage of.

13. How Can I Tell If A Project Is Fake?

It’s always a good idea to double-check anything that seems too good to be true. If the project is new and has no bids, or if it’s been open for a long time but has never been updated, it could be a fake post!

Some signs of a fake project include A client who isn’t even registered with Freelancer yet; An offer that sounds too good to be true; Very little information in the job post; Requests for interviews without any details about what they’re looking for or what kind of job is on offer.

Requests for tests or samples before you’ve even had an interview; Promises of quick payment or a large amount of work with no verification process; A client asking you to complete work without awarding it first, or asking you to register on another website to do the job.

If you’re considering creating an Upwork account, now is the perfect time to take the leap. Discover why you shouldn’t hesitate to start your freelancing journey on Upwork in our insightful article, Why You Shouldn’t Hesitate to Create an Upwork Account Now, and unlock numerous opportunities in the freelance market.

Final Thoughts

Luckily, you can avoid all of these scams by being smart. Paying with PayPal is safer than a credit card whenever possible. Don’t give out any personal information like your real name, address, phone number, or social security number to anyone even someone who seems legitimate. Another thing to keep in mind is to never pay via Western Union if you do they’ll never be able to trace it! Like we said before, if you can follow these guidelines and stay safe, you should have no problem avoiding scam artists and remaining a free-lancer for as long as you want to be.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to learn more about avoiding scams on freelancing websites:

Upwork and Fiverr Scams and How to Avoid Them: Discover common scams on Upwork and Fiverr and learn effective strategies to protect yourself from falling victim to fraudulent activities.

Identify Scammers on Freelancing Sites: This article provides valuable insights on identifying scammers on freelancing sites and offers practical tips to stay safe while conducting business online.

Freelancer Scams: How to Avoid Them: Learn about various freelancer scams and gain knowledge on how to avoid them. This resource offers guidance to help freelancers protect themselves from potential fraud.

FAQs

What are common scams encountered on freelancing websites?

Common scams encountered on freelancing websites include payment scams, identity theft, fake job postings, and phishing attempts. It’s important to be aware of these scams and take necessary precautions to protect yourself.

How can I identify a scam on a freelancing website?

To identify a scam on a freelancing website, look out for red flags such as unrealistic payment offers, requests for personal information, poor communication, and unverified clients. Trust your instincts and do thorough research before engaging in any freelance job.

What should I do if I suspect a scam on a freelancing website?

If you suspect a scam on a freelancing website, stop all communication with the suspicious party and report the incident to the platform’s support team. Additionally, gather evidence of the scam and consider informing local authorities or relevant fraud prevention agencies.

Are there any preventive measures I can take to avoid scams on freelancing websites?

Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to avoid scams on freelancing websites. These include carefully vetting clients, verifying job postings, using secure payment methods, maintaining clear communication, and trusting your instincts. It’s important to prioritize your safety and be cautious while conducting freelance work online.

How can I protect my personal information while using freelancing websites?

To protect your personal information while using freelancing websites, avoid sharing sensitive data unless necessary. Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts, enable two-factor authentication if available, and be cautious of phishing attempts. Regularly monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity and report any unauthorized access immediately.