UpMyChain Security Tips: How To Spot a Freelance Scam

As a freelance marketplace, UpMyChain's priority is to make sure that you enjoy the best freelance experience without any hassles. Your security is our utmost concern. Our goal is to provide a fair playground for all skilled professionals across the globe while ensuring that we do everything necessary to make sure that our platform is safe for freelancers and clients. A common concern of many freelancers, especially newbies, is being duped into accepting a fraudulent project. Once you've been around for a while, however, you'll be able to spot frauds more quickly. 

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Also, our golden mission is to help you stay alert as you transact on the platform, protect your personal interests, and respond to reports about any suspicious activity within the community. The easiest approach to protect yourself from a scam is to be aware of the numerous kinds that exist across different freelance industries. Then, be aware of the steps you need to take to ensure that you don't fall for them or get carried away too far before you realize it.  

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In this article we have put together a list of scam techniques used by scammers in the freelance world. The sole purpose for creating this list is to keep you safe from job scams by easily identifying them at first glance. Here's how to spot freelance scams:

1. Request for Communication Off UpMyChain

The first step many scammers take after getting your attention is to try boycotting communications off the workstream. This approach is employed by scammers in order to avoid being noticed by the UpMyChain's security team, and by doing so evade all punishable sanctions detailed in UpMyChain's Values and Ethics. Engaging in conversations off the platform is a very serious offense. Ensure to keep your conversations within the platform and report any suspicious request to communicate off the platform. Our security team is available 24/7 to maintain order within the platform.  

2. Request for Personal Information

Fake employers are always on the hunt to extract personal details from victims. Some even get in touch with freelancers personally, pretending to be in need of your freelance skills. Be alert if the client begins to request for your personal details before you decide to build a long-term relationship. Personal details such as driver's license number, bank account information, social security number, etc. are not supposed to be disclosed to any client unless you are signing a contract with a thoroughly investigated company or business. 

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On the other hand, such inquiries and exchanges are nothing to be scared of if you have already been working with a client and have established a relationship with them over time. A safe net for you is to ignore the tell the client politely that you don't feel secure sharing such information with them. A genuine client will surely respect your decision, while a scammer will keep pestering you or disappear entirely without a trace.

3. Unclear Project Description

The red flags begin with an unclear job description. Before starting a gig, you should be well versed on the exact objective a client actually wants you to achieve. Project descriptions are expected to be concise and should explain everything you need to know about the project expectations, including the deadline. 

Some clients may request a project but withhold the specifics, and then when you start the work, they start adding in extra tasks for you to complete. Learn to say "NO" to such agreements. Understand clearly what the job description says before starting any gig. 

4. Project Seems Too Good To Be True

If the project appears to be too good to be true for the amount offered by the client, then it probably isn't true. Be on the lookout for clients with many jobs and no money spent. Freelancing is a very challenging business, so if an employer offers to pay you significantly more than usual for a very simple project, it is advisable to check them out first before accepting to start working on the project. 

Also, keep in mind that the majority of these frauds may be avoided with a thorough contract between the freelancer and client - duly detailed and signed.  

5. Requested To Payment Before The Job Is Awarded

As a freelancer on a trustworthy marketplace, you don't have to pay a dime to start a gig or after completing it. Your job is do a good job and get rewarded with a payment for a job well done, not the other way round. Never pay upfront for a project to be awarded to you by a client. 

Want to sell your skills as a freelancer? Join UpMyChain now!

In some cases, a client might insist that you cover payment for charges accrued during a transfer, or pay for tools you'll be using to do the job and in return you will be paid additional royalties with other mouthwatering benefits. These baits are designed to get you greedy and an easy prey. 

Always avoid clients with unverifiable records and projects that are too good to be true and ignore clients who insist that you pay before a project is awarded to you, cover transfer charges for them or involve in payment distribution of any kind. Report any suspicious activity as the case may be.

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