#1.IT Sounds too good to be true
. The thrill and excitement that comes from a job opportunity.So charming that we forget the reality for a hot second. Now I am not poking fun at anyone who has been through this. I have fallen for clients that have overpromised and under-delivered, even though fortunately, none of them turned out to be actual scammers. But when we see a high-paid ad for simple work, go ahead and be on guard. Granted, there are nuances to this scenario.
For example, it could mean that the client wants quality work. It could mean that the job involves time-consuming research or the kind of wisdom that only someone with years of experience can do. But suppose they are offering a suspiciously generous rate from the get-go without straightforward offering the scope of illustrating the kind of experience they require in detail, as the old Maxim goes. In that case, it's probably too good to be true.
#2. Unusual Payments
. After doing the work, the client sent us a cheque for double the amount of the project quote claiming that they were paying in advance for the potential second phase of the project. Then we got the cheque, and we put the money in her bank account. We think that all are clear and good, money in the bank. But then the client suddenly decided to cancel the imaginary second phase of the project, after all, and ask us to wire them back the extra cash. That's when the alarm bells rang. We spent hours on the phone with our bank k only to find out that the cheque was thankfully we didn't end up any money to wiring any money back to them.
In other cases, the scammer might send us a larger payment; then, they will tell us to send the extra cost to a third person. And the chances are money came from a stolen credit card or a hacked account. Then we are the one who has fraudulent cash in our bank. And we are the one who has to deal with the report, the lawyers, the paperwork and the headache.
#3.Large Test Projects
. The client asks for a portfolio sample before they decide whether or not to hire you. And in some cases, they may ask to complete a brief test for free to gauge whether or not we had been a fit for their brand. After we send their test projects, which they send us to do, chances of scams arise. After they get their test project, they will block the contact with us. We have no space to give a complaint and no proof to show this. Finally, we are at the end of foolishness. They got their project, and we lost our time and hard work.
#4 Cutting Out the Middle Man
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have invested a ton of money and resources into creating a sophisticated and secure communication and payment system. They've made it painfully simple for us to liaise with our client from start to finish on a project, completely removing the need to exchange email addresses, personal contact details, or bank info. So first, we should make a trusting relationship with our clients. When we take things outside the platform, we risk potential scammers getting access to our private details, sending us payment, and verifying our identity. Firstly, trust your client and then do your work.
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