Staying Safe On Freelancing Gig Platforms, Like Upwork, Fiverr and People Per Hour.
Freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com offer incredible opportunities to connect with clients worldwide. But with these opportunities comes the risk of scams and fraudulent activity, often targeting new and even experienced freelancers. From suspicious payment requests to projects that mysteriously disappear, freelancers can encounter pitfalls if they’re not vigilant. Understanding these common scam tactics and knowing how to protect yourself can help you make the most of freelancing platforms safely.
Recognising Common Scams on Freelancing Platforms
Across the RWE community we have seen repeated examples of all of these, on otherwise reputable platforms:
Advance Payment Scams: Some scammers may lure freelancers with promises of unusually high payments upfront, only to disappear once work has begun. They may suggest paying outside the platform, which voids the platform’s protections and risks leaving freelancers without recourse if the client vanishes.
Fake Job Postings: Fake listings, often with vague descriptions or promises of substantial pay for simple tasks, are increasingly common. Scammers often use these to collect personal data or lure freelancers into conversations that lead to other forms of scams.
Out-of-Platform Payment Requests: A telltale sign of a scam is a client asking for payment via another platform (like PayPal or direct bank transfers). Freelance platforms have payment protections in place that help resolve disputes, and escrow funds in advance.. Agreeing to payments off-platform puts freelancers at risk of not getting paid and losing the support of the platform’s dispute resolution process.
Phishing Links and Requests for Personal Information: Some scammers may send links or files that contain phishing attempts or malware, which can compromise the freelancer’s accounts or device security. Freelancers should be cautious when clicking on external links, especially if the client seems overly persistent.
Best Practices for Avoiding Freelancing Scams
Use the Platform’s Messaging and Payment Systems
Freelancing platforms have built-in protections to help freelancers secure their work and earnings. Keeping communication within the platform provides a record of interactions, which can be invaluable if issues arise. For payments, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer secure payment processing, ensuring that funds are held in escrow until both parties confirm work has been satisfactorily completed.
Verify Client Profiles
Always review client profiles before accepting a job. Established clients typically have a history of past reviews, a verified payment method, and clear project descriptions. While newer clients may be legitimate, they are generally riskier due to their lack of platform history. Avoid working with clients whose profiles raise red flags, such as an unverified payment method, inconsistent job descriptions, or poor reviews from other freelancers.
Remember you are not limited to the platform for your investigations - LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Wellfound.. there many other places you can investigate whether they are who they seem to be, and if the company is new, then it is the founders you need to investigate for their personal track record.
Avoid Jobs with Vague Descriptions or Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers
Genuine clients typically provide detailed project descriptions, including specific deliverables and deadlines. Listings with overly generic descriptions, such as “Need help with a simple task,” or offers that seem suspiciously high for minimal work, are often bait for scams. If a job sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Be Cautious with Free Test Tasks
While some clients may legitimately request a sample to assess a freelancer’s skills, scammers often misuse this tactic to get free work from multiple freelancers. To avoid this, request compensation for any test tasks or offer to provide portfolio samples instead. On platforms like Upwork, paid test tasks are more common for genuine clients.
Building Your Defences: Essential Tools and Techniques
There are a number of measures you can and should take to protect yourself on these platforms, even when working with a client who checks out as legitimate.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Platforms like Upwork offer two-factor authentication as an extra security measure to protect freelancer accounts. Enabling 2FA adds an additional layer of security, making it more difficult for scammers to gain access to your account or personal information.
Keep Sensitive Information Secure: Avoid sharing sensitive information such as your personal phone number, email, or any banking details with clients. Use the platform’s built-in communication channels and secure payment methods to avoid compromising your personal data.
Know the Platform’s Policies on Dispute Resolution: Each freelancing platform has its own policies regarding disputes and conflict resolution. Familiarising yourself with these procedures helps you understand what protections are in place and how to proceed if an issue arises. Knowing your rights under the platform’s dispute resolution policy will help you avoid costly mistakes, especially if payment disputes occur. And being knowledgeable about the policies means that clients cannot threaten you for legitimately blowing the whistle on bad practice or outright fraud.
Responding to Potential Scams and Fraudulent Requests
What should you do if you find your dream gig on Upwork, Fiverr, or People Per Hour - but you’re concerned that something isn’t right, or it’s too good to be true?
Trust Your Instincts and Walk Away if Something Feels Off: If a project or client doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to decline the offer. Freelancers sometimes feel pressured to accept jobs out of fear of missing out or damaging their platform rating, but prioritising safety and professionalism is far more important. Trust your instincts, and remember that reputable clients will respect your caution.
Report Suspicious Activity: Most freelancing platforms have systems for reporting suspicious activity. If you encounter a potential scammer, reporting the client or job listing can protect other freelancers from falling into the same trap. Additionally, flagging any communication that suggests payment or activity outside the platform can help keep the community safer.
Keep Records of All Communication: Maintaining records of every interaction with clients helps in dispute situations. If a client tries to dispute payment after work is completed, having a clear record of project discussions, agreed terms, and any milestone approvals can be helpful. Platforms usually rely on these records to resolve disputes in a fair manner.
Staying Informed: Keeping Up with Platform Updates and Scam Trends
Many freelancers make viable livings offering work to both regular and new clients through these platforms, and by taking sensible precautions you should be able to as well. Indeed you arguably have greater protection against non-payment than you may do working directly with end clients internationally.
Follow Community Forums and Platform Blogs
Freelancing platforms often update their security policies to address new forms of scams and improve user safety. Following official blogs, forums, or newsletters from these platforms helps freelancers stay informed about any updates, as well as hear about new scam tactics that other freelancers have encountered.
It’s one more thing to be across, but if you become the expert on how your platform of choice really operates you will find it much easier to spot and avoid scams, and also to act collectively with others to get the bad actors removed.
Connect with Other Freelancers
Freelancer communities, such as Facebook groups or LinkedIn freelancer networks, are excellent resources for learning from others’ experiences. These communities can provide early warnings about new scams and offer advice on how to handle tricky situations. Freelancers often share insights and tips on detecting and avoiding scams, and being part of these groups can help you stay ahead.
Do ask in our social media communities and Connected forum, if you want the wisdom of the crowd on checking out something that is not what it may seem.
Educate Yourself on Online Security
Awareness of basic online security practices, such as recognising phishing emails, spotting fake URLs, and using secure networks, can further protect freelancers.
These simple yet effective measures go a long way in keeping your account, financial information, and projects safe, and really represent essential digital hygiene for remote workers in any environment.
A Safer Freelancing Experience
Freelancing platforms can provide valuable opportunities, but it’s essential for freelancers to remain vigilant. By understanding the most common scams, applying best practices, and utilising the platform’s resources, freelancers can safely grow their careers and establish trust-based client relationships. Avoiding scams ultimately comes down to a mix of awareness, caution, and leveraging the platform’s built-in security measures. As freelancing continues to evolve, staying educated on security will help freelancers enjoy a successful, scam-free experience on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
Don’t forget about our own publications and support - our Remote Work Safety Net is specially designed to expose and identify the scammers, from old school classics to the latest trends in exploitation of remote workers.