How to spot a scam job for freelancers

Times have been tough for freelancers the last few years, and they aren't getting any better. You only have to look to see how many responses there are on any "Does anyone know a freelance XYZ" post on LinkedIn to realise that there are plenty of highly skilled, talented and experienced freelancers looking for work right now.

With so much competition, a fragile economy and rising cost of living, the situation for some people is honestly, quite desperate. And this desperation can sometimes numb our spidey-senses, particularly when it comes to the promise of work. Here's why freelancers should remain sharp and maintain their boundaries, even when work seems scare.....

Freelance SCAM jobs. They are real. They are very much a thing.

Just this morning, a fellow freelance friend has a "cold" outreach email offering her the chance to work on a copywriting project worth £5.5k. A figure like that is going to pique any freelancers' interest. She did her due diligence, asking questions and getting more information. And the "client" was very helpful in providing lots of information, being upfront about the budget and payment milestones.

But something still felt off. So she reached out to our community, the Female Copywriters' Alliance (FCA) for a second pair of eyes. I've spent 10 years working with cybersecurity brands and spotting scams from 50 paces is a bit of a hobby. It took me about 11 seconds to realise that it wasn't a genuine offer.

So, what were the red flags?

🚩 It was a cold outreach email, and when the "client" was asked where they found the freelancers details, they initially ignored the q, then eventually replying with "a trusted industry referral".

🚩 The "client" used both the freelancers first and surnames in the introduction.

🚩 The "client" gave the budget away upfront. Anyone who's freelanced a while knows that this almost never happens off the bat.

🚩 The project required a tight turnaround time. This is a common pressure tactic designed to stop the scam victim overthinking and encourage them to act fast, without doing their due diligence.

🚩 The "client" refused to pay a deposit for the work.

And just to be extra-sure, I googled the name of the company the client said they were from - and the first 10 search results all yielded responses that suggested they were a scam company.

Now, I can't guarantee what type of scam this "project" would have been, but it's likely that they would have required either personal details, a payment to set up an account, or an overpayment that you would then have to return. All I do know is that this isn't a genuine job, and somewhere down the line, anyone who falls for it is going to lose out.

I hope this post helps you to recognise some of the the biggest red flags when it comes to spotting scams masquerading as freelance jobs. If your spidey-sense is tingling, it's probably for good reason! And if you'd like a second pair of eyes, just drop me a message.