“Congratulations! click here to claim your bonus”
“You have won the lucky wheel”
“Data entry job!!! 10k per week!!! Limited period deal!!! Click here!!!”
Wait wait, we are not them. Don't worry; you are on Xlancr's site. Aren’t we tired of telling
our parents not to trust such forward messages? We can't be more wrong if we think that the
tech-savvy youth can't be fooled by these scamsters. Hold your breath as studies say, "Gen-Z
is three times more vulnerable to online scams than baby
boomers."
“Where there is will, there is way” has now become “Where there is tech, there is scam.”
In this blog post, let's delve into various scams aimed at freelancers:
Being the most predominant scam, clients with unverified payment systems may, in many cases ask you to make the payment personally. Once their UPI soundbox sings, the project will be called off, citing poor work . Since making payments outside the platform is against the guidelines, you won't be able to get the support of the platform. Making payments outside might seem like a simple deal. But it’s a honeytrap. Beware freelancers!
In certain cases, some fishy clients may ask freelancers to send deliverables through WhatsApp or any other means. They may even beautifully narrate a reason like, “Hey, the format of the file you have sent is unsupported; please send it across through xxxx.” You may think that it’s a genuine consent. Sadly, neither the consent nor the intention are genuine! Once they get hold of the deliverables, the order will be cancelled. Again, as it’s against the guidelines, you’re thrown under the bus. Some clients may even leave you with negative reviews. So, a big no to anything under the table!
Newbies who are beginning their freelancing journey are targeted in this scam. Scammers usually approach and manipulate you. They may ask you to pay them for say, $20. After receiving the payment, a job will be posted and you'll be hired. You will be asked to send some random deliverables through that platform only (honesty, it seems). In return, the so- called client will pay you around $15 for the so-called work, along with a nice rating, which may sound like a sweet deal. But this activity is strictly prohibited on all platforms as it is against the guidelines. Once you get caught, eventually you may end up getting your account banned. So, dear folks, beware!
This is another well-known scam where scammers take the form of clients and offer high payments for simple tasks such as data entry. It may sound unrealistic and like a great deal at the same time; but it’s not (no freedom mobile is harmed here). As you all know, not all that glitters is gold! Once you approach them, scammers will demand some money in the name of a “security deposit fund.” Once you pay, you’ll be given a task that is impossible to complete within the given time. Upon incompletion, you’ll be threatened with a lawsuit. At the end, you’ll be confiscated more money. Golden rule: Never ever pay for a gig! Alright folks, before wrapping up, a gentle reminder to stay aware and ghost such red flags at first sight for a safe freelancing xperience!
