Is Upwork safe , here are some tips for new freelancers to stay safe and avoid scams on Upwork. Please read this carefully before applying for a job to protect yourself from scams.

Is Upwork Safe? : General assumptions

Don’t assume this because the job posted on Upwork has been checked and secured. Upwork does not check jobs before posting them.
Don’t assume that Upwork has tested clients. Upwork does not test clients.
Don’t assume that a verified payment badge means it’s not a scam. It is not uncommon for scammers to verify their payment methods, and we are seeing more and more reports of scammers with this badge.
Don’t assume that Upwork Plus means the client is checked and secure. It’s a subscription plan like Freelancer Plus, and Upwork doesn’t test the people who buy it.
Don’t assume that “Interesting Job” and “Featured Job” badges mean work is safe and secure.
- –“Interesting Job” seems to be provided by an algorithm that doesn’t know if the job is legitimate. I’ve seen jobs with “interesting work” badges that were clearly scams.
- “Featured Job” is a badge that clients pay for. There is no reason why scammers can’t do that.
Don’t assume that Upwork will refund you if you have been deceived. They will not.

Is it safe to take Conversation outside from Upwork?

Since June 2020, the terms of service of Upwork restrict conversation outside of Messenger or its zoom integration earlier than you have an agreement. Some customers simply do not know the policies, so in case you are requested to interview on Skype, WhatsApp, their zoom, etc., simply remind them of the policies and inform them to hold up the dialogue on Upwork. If the client insists on being interviewed outside of Upwork, report the job and block the client. Removing an interview from Upwork is step one in most scams, and in case you refuse to do so, you’ll prevent the scam. Refusing an Upwork interview is the # 1 issue you may do to keep away from scams. Except Clients with “Enterprise” badges are permitted to interview Upwork. The badge is clear on job posting.

Is it safe to deliver payment to the client?

If the client asks you to send them any kind of money, it is a fraud. This includes cash. Transfer via PayPal, Wise etc; Gift Cards Cryptocurrency In-game currency such as PUBG UC Financing a Casino Account Etc.

They will promise to compensate you and pay a bonus on top of that amount. You will not see any payment from them and any remittances you send will be lost. If they pay the bonus, it will disappear because the payment method is wrong.

Basically, if it can be used as money and the client asks you to send it to them or add it to an account, you are being deceived and this is one example of scam on Upwork and not safe.

Here are some ways they will say to try to do this for you:

Pay a security deposit to get the job.
Buy a premium ID card.
Their uncle is sick (or child or spouse or whatever) and they need help.
Their child or their boss’s child needs currency in the game and they are not allowed to buy it directly
Not allowed to buy crypto or gift cards or anything from where they live.
Check your virtual card recharges.
Need you to check out the casino.
They Need help to send money to a relative or friend in another country.
Say they check to buy in-app items (such as jewelry) with virtual credit cards (the cards will be stolen or fraudulent, and they will be linked to your App Store account).

Once they get some money from you in this way, they can try to get more by adding more fake fees that you have to pay (such as “Confirmation of Payment Fees”).

Again, never agree to send any kind of money to a client and protect yourself from scams on Upwork and stay safe. Money always comes towards the freelancer, not from the freelancer.

Buy goods (or something else): A scam on Upwork

When the client says that you need a special computer, printer, scanner, whatever , this is one of the oldest scams in freelancing. They say they’re going to email you a check to print out and submit, then you have to use the money to buy goods from the store they trust (which they really own). The check is counterfeit, and the bank will withdraw money from your account. If you spend it on goods, you run out of money and you will not get any goods.

Also, taking any kind of money outside of Upwork is against Upwork’s terms of service.

Is it safe to submit payment via PayPal etc.?

Any payment outside of Upwork is against the Terms of Service, and you will lose all Upwork offers. There is a good chance that you will not be paid. It also includes money for expenses.

Is it safe to buy or lease your account?

Some clients will claim that they cannot set up an Upwork account for any reason, usually because it is banned in their country (with very few exceptions, this is incorrect) or because they have no reason to do so. Has been banned (there is always a reason, not that it makes a difference). They want to buy or lease your account altogether. First, it’s against Upwork’s Terms of Service, so you’ll be banned when (if not) it is discovered. Second, because your name and identity information are on the account, you are responsible for what the other party does to it. Their bad reviews will be on your profile. Fraud against real clients will be linked to your name and identity. Your earnings will be your responsibility when it comes to taxes. Oops, and you probably won’t be paid for using your account.

Install the app through the link they give you : A scam on Upwork

Some scammers will ask you to install the app via an obscure link (such as a tinyurl) to confirm that you can do this before sending the offer. It is possible that the app is malware. It is also common for this to lead to another scam, often related to cryptocurrency.

I’ve seen it recently with scammers that they need you to translate the app. This is not how translation works.

To register businesses to use your address : A scam on Upwork

Some clients will ask you to receive a postcard delivered to your address from Google or any other directory and enter the code from the card or give them that code. All you are doing is associating your physical address with the scammer’s business. Guess where the police will come when the swindler snatches someone?

Is it safe to use your information to set up the storefront?

Clients have asked freelancers to set up a storefront on Etsy and use their bank account to access their freelancer information, including credit card payments. The idea is that you will have to deduct from the sale and you will pass on the rest to the scammer. People who shop from the storefront will never receive their orders and will eventually charge back. The money will be refunded from your account, including the portion you have already sent to the scammer.

Is it safe on Upwork to use your developer account to submit apps to Apple or Google’s App Stores?

Apps will be fake copies of malware or other apps. The client has already banned their developer account or they do not want their developer account to be banned – it is better for them to have your developer account banned instead, which will happen very soon.

Invitation to Bid

It is rare for freelancers without a history of Upwork to receive a valid immovable invitation to bid; this can happen, but unless there is a solid date on your profile. Don’t worry too much about invitations. They will probably be scams.

Selfies / Passport / ID photos

Clients who are requesting selfies and / or copies of your passport or ID, presumably to verify your identity for their own security purposes, most likely verify your user information at banks or crypto exchanges. Trying to use your identity for things like passing. You are associating your identity with their scam.

They may also try to get your identity for other reasons, such as getting a credit card in your name.

Post property ads (for rent or for sale)

In this scandal, the client will ask you to post advertisements for rental property or house for sale. The ads will often be on the Facebook Marketplace, although I’ve seen the Craigslist version. They do not actually own the property but are trying to collect deposits from people trying to rent or buy. By posting ads from your Facebook account, you are associating your identity with their scam.

Employment contract

As a freelancer, you are not an employee and employment contracts for Upwork freelancers are nothing. This is a prelude to scams or identity theft.

Contact their HR department or hiring manager

Unlike employment contracts, talking to an HR department or hiring manager is not a legitimate thing for Upwork clients. This is a prelude to fraud. This is also with the first point, as it will usually be requested that the person be contacted via Skype, Telegram or WhatsApp outside of Upwork.

Let you know that they have paid the opt-out fee so that they can pay out of Upwork. Upwork requires that you keep your contracts and payments on Upwork for up to 2 years.

Pressuring you to get a job or start right away

Some clients will try to pressure you to take a job, often out of your skills. This could be a prelude to a bait and switch in a scam. Once you accept the agreement, they may use feedback blackmail to prevent you from canceling it.

Unless you’re in one of those rare places where 12 people in the world know how to do it and 9 of them work for the government, there’s no reason for any client to pressure you. Yes – they have 50 other suggestions.

If the client is pressuring you to start work immediately after the contract, they may be trying to find out and get the scandal done before the contract is canceled. They can be just a legitimate client who is in a hurry.

Hire you from another account.

Clients are not allowed to have multiple accounts like freelancers. If they’re trying to hire you from another account, it could be because they’ve tarnished their reputation on their main account, so they need to make a bet and switch. It is another example of scam on Upwork, keep it in mind and protect yourself from online scams۔

Coincidentally escrow funding for less

Clients will send offers at a fixed price for less than the agreed amount, often with the promise that the remaining amount will be paid on delivery. This is probably a lie. You can be sure that you will receive all the funds provided in Escrow. Always verify that the offer is funded by what you think. Don’t accept an offer if it doesn’t.

Refusal to talk about tasks ahead of time

Some clients will refuse to give you a job description before signing a contract, often citing confidentiality. Never accept that. This is probably the bait and switch in the scam like above.

Demanding free work or working without a contract

First: It is against the terms of services for clients to demand free work. Some clients may not be aware of this, but many people are trying to get you a free job without the intention of paying you.

Clients will sometimes ask for free samples, such as test logos or a few pages of article or sample edits. When they do this over and over again or with many freelancers, they can get their whole project done for free. If you are in a creative position, consider having a solid portfolio so that you can show samples of what the client wants to do for you for free instead of agreeing.

Another trick is for clients to claim that there is a reason they can’t make a deal or fund the milestone or confirm their payment method right now, but the deadline is immediate. So they will ask you to work and they will take care of the paperwork later. Don’t fall for it If you change jobs without a contract or funded milestone, you may not receive compensation.

Vague job description

Many job posts are very vague and do not give any real details about what the client wants. This is not necessarily a scam, as legitimate clients can only be lazy or busy, but scammers use obscure posts in the hope of attracting new freelancers. Pay close attention to any of the other red flags, especially if they want to hire you and tell you what you need later.

Numerous duplicate job posts: A scam on Upwork

Clients will sometimes post the same task multiple times. It is not necessary to have scams. There are some businesses that rely on a constant stream of freelancers for their business model or they are just trying to focus on their post.

But, scammers do it for the same reason – they need a constant stream of people and attention to their posts. The more people they can catch before their jobs are recognized as scams, the better (for them anyway). When you see the same thing are posted over and over again, be careful and look for other red flags.

Clicking on short links in job posts, Is it safe on Upwork?

Scammers sometimes include short URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, etc.) in the job post and ask you to click on it to get information about the job. These links may be to phishing or malware sites. They may also have referral codes or refer to advertising sites. Another variation is to point to YouTube, perhaps to increase feedback on a video. Be very anxious to click on such links in the job post.

Offer hefty rates for work

It may be just a client trying to get attention to his work, but it is often a scammer trying to attract people. So beware to stay safe on Upwork.

Sending hourly offers at the wrong rate

The client may send you an offer less than the rate you agreed to, and may say that it is a mistake, they will correct it once you accept it. Don’t assume they will. Once you accept the agreement, they may try to blackmail you to maintain a low rate by threatening to give you poor feedback (feedback blackmail).

Offer low trial rate per hour

Clients will then provide a decreased hourly price as a “trial” with the promise of increased rates. This is fine if you agree with the trial rate, but assume from the outset that the client will never agree to increase it.

Especially wants new freelancers

Some clients will explain that they only want new freelancers. Maybe they’re just good and trying to give a newborn a break. Or they may be trying to get a lower price. Or, they may be looking for people who are unfamiliar with scams and may be more sensitive to them.

Upwork is legit and safe if you follow these points and protect yourself from scams on Upwork. Please keep all these points in your mind before applying for jobs on Upwork.

Trust your gut. If something seems off, it probably is. As long as you think you need to ask in a forum if something is a scam, this is probably it. If this sounds good, then maybe it is. They offered you a huge bonus or premium in proportion to your work, this bonus may never appear. This is often part of the “Buy Crypto / In-Game Currency / Gift Cards / etc.”. Scams