Three UpWork Freelance Scams to Watch Out for | Posted by bridgethegap | Coins | January 2024
Fraud on UpWork is more commonly reported on the client side, where fund transfers are more direct. But the Freelancer side is not immune. And these scams tend to be a bit more advanced.
The world of fraud is growing. The “industry” makes billions of dollars every year. The numbers are getting bigger and the “downsides” are getting “longer” and darker.
Considerable effort is being put into social engineering. Scammers start following you on social networks and build relationships with you, and these days they aren’t even afraid of Zoom or Google Meet calls.
It is important to remain alert at all times. You can help prevent fraud by following UpWork’s Terms of Service. The platform also outlined guidance on how to prevent these types of attacks.
Here are three common types of these scams: If you believe you have been scammed by UpWork, you should report it immediately.
Fake website FTP login
The scam involves encouraging applicants to start working at UpWork early, before their contracts begin. A conversation is initiated through the UpWork system, but a contract is not initiated.
Perpetrators try to take advantage of the fact that many freelancers are required to conduct due diligence on a project and begin research and work before a contract is signed. This is because preparation is necessary to be effective as a freelancer.
Scammers will usually show you an “ecommerce” store (or indeed another website) with strange URLs, product listings, and various errors on the website. Often the less frequently used CMS is what scammers use for these fake stores.
Once the site and initial task details are provided, the “client” will be asked to provide login details and scope via FTP. They know that logging in gives them a chance to install malware on your computer.
Don’t log in to your FTP client (or any other hosting provider) unless your contract has started on UpWork.
Rev Share Scam
This is a scam offering a revenue sharing deal. The scammer offers that he will do all the work and that he can keep around 20% if you allow him to bid on projects using his UpWork profile.
Scammers will throw away a lot of the money they are trying to take. They know their eyes will light up if you tell them they can make at least $10,000 a month and keep 20%.
They will target American workers, whom they know are more likely to work in the first place and have access to the lucrative American market. They might also ask you to buy a cheap $300 laptop and use a service like TeamFinder just for the purpose of logging in and offering contracts.
What actually happens is that scammers bid on numerous hourly projects and bill customers, but never actually perform any work. This leads to unusable UpWork accounts, terrible reviews, and many other problems.
This would actually be a pretty good idea if it weren’t for the fact that it was a scam. But it’s too good to be true. It’s also important to note that this is against UpWork’s Terms of Service. You must not allow anyone else to log in to use your account.
The most common industry suggested by fake developers is – you guessed it – the cryptocurrency industry. Individuals will pose as blockchain developers, and the industry in general is highly vulnerable to fraud.
Side note: In Zeke Faux’s book “Number Go Up,” he details his experience with a scam company in Cambodia where employees were not allowed to leave and were forced to text all day.
Google Drive Offer Scam
Google Drive offer scams take place through Gmail and Google Drive. In other words, it’s more common for scammers to have a vague Gmail address, while in other scams it’s more common to have a Hotmail address or an address that can’t be traced to G.
All the scammer has to do is send you an email explaining what amounts to a fake project details document. Thank you for your “interest” in the project with a Google Drive attachment link.
Don’t click this link! It is used to install malicious code on your computer.
Here are some common signs of an UpWork/Freelancer scam.
- Requesting work before being hired for a project
- The first contact is outside the platform.
- Contrary to UpWork’s Terms of Service
- Weird-looking websites, design components, or web properties that *feel* fake.
- regular email address
- The “too good to be true” factor
- Aggressive following on social media (following on Github, liking tweets, etc.)
- Strange words while communicating
In 2024, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant. Fraudsters have infiltrated many of the tools we use today.
UpWork is no different. This is a platform that scammers target because they know that the platform’s employees are actually making money.