What Are the Signs of a Freelance Scam? (And How to Avoid Them)

Being a freelance proofreader doesn’t only mean being in charge of your working hours and rates of pay. Unfortunately, it means you also have to watch out for scammers! In this post, then, we’ll cover the common signs of a freelance scam, and advise you about how to avoid them.

Resisting a Written Work Agreement

A client that refuses to sign a written contract is a red flag for any freelancer.

Even though you may have to compromise on your terms sometimes, having a written work agreement (with the project’s deliverables, expected timeline, and payment information) can protect you from most freelance scams. You can use freelance contract templates to make your life easier (and stay on the safe side).

And if someone is completely unwilling to agree to your work terms in writing, you might want to reconsider working for them.

Higher-than-Average Rates

All freelancers should know the value of their work and avoid taking on projects that underpay. But what should you do when the rate offered is way higher than average? Could a job be too good to be true?

Unfortunately, yes: it could mean that you won’t get paid at all. Do your research to know what the average rates are for the services you offer (and make sure to take into account your level of experience). If you come across an above-average rate, ask the client why the pay is so high.

Suspicious answers? Call their bluff and ask to be paid 50% in advance – if they agree, the offer might be real after all. But proceed carefully either way.

Pay-to-Work Deals

If a client asks you to pay a fee before the project starts, chances are they’re setting up a freelance scam. They might ask for a deposit, for example, or for you to pay to access a certain software.

To avoid falling for pay-to-work scams, never agree to work for clients that require you to pay for the privilege.

Unfamiliar Payment Methods

Another red flag: a client that insists on using a payment method that you’ve never heard of.

To avoid falling for this, do your research! Although people often pay freelancers digitally (e.g., via Stripe or PayPal), checks, direct debits/bank transfers, and credit cards are also commonly accepted.

To avoid an unpleasant surprise after you’ve completed work, set out accepted payment methods before a job starts (e.g., with a freelance contract as above). And if the client disagrees to all of your proposed methods, consider politely turning them down.

Requesting Free Samples

A free sample edit isn’t always a scam. It can be a great way to showcase the quality of your work and secure a job, especially when you’re starting out. So how can you tell if it’s a scam or not? Watch out for:

• Tasks that are overly complex or long
• More than one free sample request
• Free sample requests for projects you’ve already shown expertise in

Unfortunately, this isn’t the easiest freelance scam to avoid – and this means some prospective clients will take advantage of that to get work for free.

Working for agencies like Proofed can protect your work from exploitation. But if you don’t work for an agency, make sure you clearly outline (and stick to) the number and length of free samples that you’re willing to offer.

Off-Platform Communication Requests

Freelance marketplaces have terms and conditions for communication that aim to protect freelancers from exploitation.

Sometimes, though, people will request to move messages outside these platforms. This can make it easier for scammers to remove evidence of ill conduct. When asked to leave the official communication channels, the general advice is to say no.

If you do decide that someone appears trustworthy enough to communicate off-platform, however, make sure you do this on your terms. Use a work email address (rather than your personal one) and keep a record of all communications.

Request to Share Freelance Marketplace Accounts

If someone pops up in your messages claiming they can help grow your freelance business, pay attention to how they say they will do it. If they request access to one of your freelance marketplace accounts (e.g., Fiverr or Upwork), they can then access:

• Your current earnings that are waiting to be transferred
• Your bank details
• Other personal information, such as your date of birth, social security number, and scans of your identification documents (e.g., passport or driver’s license)

In general, having to share any account information is a huge risk to your privacy and almost always a scam. Just say no!

Other Freelance Scams

Although these are all common freelance scams, you should be aware that there might be other ways to con a freelancer, such as pyramid schemes.

As a general rule, you should consider new projects carefully and always do a quick search on your clients before accepting a job. If something seems too good to be true, it might just be!

Becoming A Proofreader

Our Becoming A Proofreader course sets you up to start your own freelance proofreading business and offers guaranteed work with Proofed when you pass our final assignments. Sign up to our free trial today!

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What Is Scope Creep in Proofreading? (And How to Avoid It) Dealing with Difficult Proofreading Situations 5 Tips on How to Find Work as a Proofreader