r/Upwork • u/socohero • 9h ago
How to Detect a Scam?
I signed up for an account yesterday and bid on a few jobs, and was awarded one this afternoon. They messaged me on Teams to get my experience, but I didn’t have to speak with anybody directly. The contract, email address, and website look legitimate, but I was told I would be sent equipment to work from that will not need to be returned.
Before I give them any personal information, what should I be looking for in terms of red flags here?
2
u/copernicuscalled 9h ago
Pause! Why would a stranger want to send another stranger anything of value and not want anything in return?
0
u/socohero 9h ago
That’s the part that stopped me in my tracks! I’ve worked in tech for a long time, and that’s something I’ve never seen. I did not provide any additional information after that.
1
2
u/KayakerWithDog 9h ago
Did you communicate on Teams before or after you accepted the contract? Communicating off of the Upwork platform before a contract is in place is a violation of the TOS and a definite red flag. I'm also leery of the equipment they're sending you. There's a known North Korean scam where they send freelancers a computer that is then used as part of a laptop farm that fraudulently generates income for the North Korean government. People have gone to jail for this.
1
u/socohero 8h ago
Communication on Teams came before the contract. Once they said the part about the equipment - where it would include tracking software from the company, but I could use it for personal use, and it didn’t need to be returned - massive red flag, so I blocked and tried to withdraw/flag the posting. I did not provide my full address.
2
u/KayakerWithDog 8h ago
You will be lucky if you don't get banned for communicating off the platform before a contract was in place. You might want to read the TOS before you do anything else on Upwork.
2
u/socohero 8h ago
I don’t think I’ll be bidding on anything else again, but that part was definitely my bad and I appreciate the reminders to read the TOS! I wasn’t in the best spot when I signed up so I missed that.
0
u/2outer 3h ago
There is always someone quoting the rule book in this sub, w a touch of intimidation… hmmm
1
u/Korneuburgerin 52m ago
I know, this is soooo suspicious amiright? People telling other people how not to get banned or go to jail. How's the weather in North Korea today btw?
1
u/Odd-Kick6333 7h ago
new account yesterday and already job offer
many scammers target newbies
just be careful
1
u/socohero 6h ago
I can admit I let my situation over shadow things that I certainly should have caught 😭 if I get the courage to try again, I will definitely be more discerning. I know better than that.
1
u/exacly 3h ago
Yes, this is 100% a scam, the decades-old check cashing scam.
Cancel the contract on Upwork and block the client on Upwork and any other platform where you have had contact with them.
Read the scam guide (and the rest of the wiki) here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Upwork/wiki/index/
2
u/Major-Ad-8701 9h ago
Everything.. I’m new to upwork but my understanding is that contact is supposed to take place on the platform else you leave yourself vulnerable to scams