Venturing into the world of freelancing can be daunting, and it can be a great challenge to even know where to start. Utilizing resources like UpWork can lead to valuable opportunities. It can provide a way to get your foot in the door and produce more work for your portfolio (not to mention provide some extra padding in your bank account).

Recently, I was really interested in branching out on my own, in a way. I wanted to see if I could use what I know about Google Ads to drive traffic to my personal website and convert new customers that way. So, I created some ads, set my budget, and let Google do its thing. Within a day I had a lead (or so I thought), and began my correspondence with my very first client.

What transpired over the next week or so provided some bizarre insight into the world of internet scams, and although it could have left me feeling extremely naive (which, I won’t lie, it did for a little bit) I’m glad to have experienced it firsthand to know exactly what to keep an eye out for in the future.

With that said, I’ve compiled my top 5 red flags to watch out for when you’re approached by a potential client.

1. The Client’s Language and Communication Seems “Off”

It’s important to remember when you’re communicating with clients via email that what they say and how they say it matters. There is always a chance that your language is not your client’s native language, so there is some room for error. But, if you’re consistently noticing poor grammar and confusing word choice, it’s certainly something to make note of.

2. The Client Won’t Communicate Over the Phone

Although it’s not necessary to discuss a project over the phone – email works just fine for simple or straightforward assignments – be wary of clients who refuse to talk on the phone.

Hiding behind emails and text messages is an easy way for a scammer to pretend to be someone they’re not. A client who is relying on you to get a job done should be open and available for a quick call for questions or concerns you may want to run by them.

3. The Client Provides As Little Information As Possible

When you’re working for a client, they should be fully focused on making sure you have any and all information you need to get the job done well. If the instructions for the project they’re proposing do not seem clear, be sure to circle back and ask for specifics.

Clients who are legitimately interested in hiring you and paying their hard-earned money will want to be 100% sure you understand their expectations for the task at hand. There should be no question about the purpose and guidelines for the work you’re producing. After all, you’re investing time and the client is investing money – everyone has skin in the game.

So, if the client you’re communicating with doesn’t seem to prioritize giving you all the specifics you need, that’s a major indicator that you’ll want to proceed with caution.

4. The Client Insists on Mailing a Check

This is arguably one of the odder (and, in hindsight, more obvious) red flags to keep an eye out for. In my experience with a potential scammer, I suggested using PayPal as a secure way to receive payment, but they insisted that they could only send payment via a cashier’s check in the mail.

This felt off, but I couldn’t understand how it could backfire. It wasn’t like they wanted my bank account number or routing information, all the information they needed was an address. I could help but wonder, “If this is a scam, what’s the end game?”

The Scam

In cases like this when a scammer sends a check in the mail, they will likely insist that you deposit it immediately. They will ask you to let them know as soon as you’ve deposited it in your bank. The catch, however, is that they have sent you a fake check.

What happens next? They follow up with you and alert you to the fact that they’ve made a mistake (sent you too much money, the project was cancelled, etc.), and they need you to send some or all of the money back to them.

The end game? If you agree and send money back, you’re sending them your own money because the check you “deposited” was fake. You never got any of their money, and you sent them some of your own.

So if a client requires sending a check in the mail, keep in mind that it’s 2021, Venmo and PayPal exist, and you need to be on alert.

5. It Just Seems Too Good To Be True

If a client is pitching work to you and, right off the bat, it seems too good to be true, that’s probably because it’s too good to be true. If you feel uncomfortable because something just doesn’t seem right, it’s probably because something really isn’t right. If you think you need to walk away from a job but you’re afraid of leaving money on the table, just walk away because there will be more jobs.

The great thing about being a human being is that we have gut instincts that we are able to trust. So, at the end of the day, the number one tip is to trust that gut instinct and don’t allow yourself to be a victim of these internet crimes.

What To Do If You’ve Been a Victim of A Freelance Scam

If you’ve been taken advantage of by a scammer posing as a freelance client, you need to file a report with the following agencies:

• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Take these red flags to heart and share them with your freelance community. The more educated you are about potential scammers, the less vulnerable you will be to their tactics.