- PPF Points
- 2,039
I think that majority of the freelancing websites on the internet are quite legitimate. There are a few that are scam. However, detecting freelancing scam websites should not be that hard. A first warning sign would be a site that offers absurdly high wages for very easy tasks. To be fair, while a high wage is acceptable, if the income stated is outrageous for the simplest job, then it should cause suspicion. Scammers are usually employing this trick to catch those who are most eager for jobs.
A second indication of scam is no apparent company information. Genuine freelancing sites generally provide contact details, a physical address, and a privacy policy. If a website is intentionally hiding these or giving you unclear or unconfirmed info, do not trust it. Likewise, if the content is not good, the links do not work, or the descriptions of services are very general, it may be the case that the site is run by professionals, but it is not very serious.
The sites asking for money upfront for training or software or the jobs list are not good at all, so be careful of those. The reputable ones just take commissions or subscriptions, but not through ambiguous "starter packages." Besides, never give your bank details or ID if you are not sure the reason is legitimate.
The fakes are numerous as well, so be careful. If the client is proposing to hire you without an interview or is practically telling you to talk to them through a different channel, especially if it is through messaging apps, then it is a scam. Usually, the professional clients keep a polite tone and follow the rules of the platform guidelines.
If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong or it looks like it is too good to be true, then probably it is. You can easily prevent some financial loss and save time if you research and verify the platform before you invest any energy in it.
A second indication of scam is no apparent company information. Genuine freelancing sites generally provide contact details, a physical address, and a privacy policy. If a website is intentionally hiding these or giving you unclear or unconfirmed info, do not trust it. Likewise, if the content is not good, the links do not work, or the descriptions of services are very general, it may be the case that the site is run by professionals, but it is not very serious.
The sites asking for money upfront for training or software or the jobs list are not good at all, so be careful of those. The reputable ones just take commissions or subscriptions, but not through ambiguous "starter packages." Besides, never give your bank details or ID if you are not sure the reason is legitimate.
The fakes are numerous as well, so be careful. If the client is proposing to hire you without an interview or is practically telling you to talk to them through a different channel, especially if it is through messaging apps, then it is a scam. Usually, the professional clients keep a polite tone and follow the rules of the platform guidelines.
If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong or it looks like it is too good to be true, then probably it is. You can easily prevent some financial loss and save time if you research and verify the platform before you invest any energy in it.
