How do I avoid scams? Thread poster: Helena Ferreira
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Helena Ferreira
United States
Local time: 02:56
English to Portuguese
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Hello!
I have just gotten started at ProZ and have almost been scammed by clients twice already.
I used to work with platforms that took care of payment and contracts, so I'm unsure how to proceed.
What sort of payment should I accept, and would writing a service contract protect me against scams? Is there a way to receive checks safely?
Thank you so much
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 10:56
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
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| Adieu 
Ukrainian to English
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Proz is just not a particularly reliable source of clients
Agencies, direct corporate clients from traditional employment websites or their own corporate websites, and even bottom-feeder places like Upwork are far, far less suspect than stuff from Proz.
If you do stick with Proz for seeking clients rather than as an advice/venting forum, check feedback and verify that the people you are dealing with are the actual representatives of whoever they claim to be
[Edit... See more Proz is just not a particularly reliable source of clients
Agencies, direct corporate clients from traditional employment websites or their own corporate websites, and even bottom-feeder places like Upwork are far, far less suspect than stuff from Proz.
If you do stick with Proz for seeking clients rather than as an advice/venting forum, check feedback and verify that the people you are dealing with are the actual representatives of whoever they claim to be
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:38 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Joakim Braun
Sweden
Local time: 11:56
German to Swedish
+ ...
* Offers beginning "my name is X" (despite being signed) are scams. Especially if an academic title is added ("my name is Dr X").
* Offers containing irrelevant but glamorous details about the customer's professional engagements are scams ("I am currently at a conference in Singapore").
* Offers where punctuation is preceded by spaces are scams.
* Offers going into payment details are scams.
* Offers lacking the phrase "your best rate", or that don't request your Skype de... See more * Offers beginning "my name is X" (despite being signed) are scams. Especially if an academic title is added ("my name is Dr X").
* Offers containing irrelevant but glamorous details about the customer's professional engagements are scams ("I am currently at a conference in Singapore").
* Offers where punctuation is preceded by spaces are scams.
* Offers going into payment details are scams.
* Offers lacking the phrase "your best rate", or that don't request your Skype details, or that don't offer long-term collaboration as an inducement to lowering your rates, or that don't have a deadline the next day, are scams.
* Offers of reasonable rates are scams.
Exceptions apply, but these are surprisingly good rules-of-thumb! ▲ Collapse
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Helena Ferreira
United States
Local time: 02:56
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | What other platforms to use? | Oct 28, 2021 |
Adieu wrote:
Proz is just not a particularly reliable source of clients
Agencies, direct corporate clients from traditional employment websites or their own corporate websites, and even bottom-feeder places like Upwork are far, far less suspect than stuff from Proz.
If you do stick with Proz for seeking clients rather than as an advice/venting forum, check feedback and verify that the people you are dealing with are the actual representatives of whoever they claim to be
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:38 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:40 GMT]
I see, thank you so much. What other platforms do you suggest? I've been using Upwork but "bottom feeder" is a great name for it. I constantly talk to clients for 3 days then get offered HALF A CENT per word there, it's insane.
| | | | Helena Ferreira
United States
Local time: 02:56
English to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Joakim Braun wrote:
* Offers beginning "my name is X" (despite being signed) are scams. Especially if an academic title is added ("my name is Dr X").
* Offers containing irrelevant but glamorous details about the customer's professional engagements are scams ("I am currently at a conference in Singapore").
* Offers where punctuation is preceded by spaces are scams.
* Offers going into payment details are scams.
* Offers lacking the phrase "your best rate", or that don't request your Skype details, or that don't offer long-term collaboration as an inducement to lowering your rates, or that don't have a deadline the next day, are scams.
* Offers of reasonable rates are scams.
Exceptions apply, but these are surprisingly good rules-of-thumb!
Hahaha, this is hilarious and sad. So if it has a reasonable rate and deadline, it's fake. Nice. How do people even work, then? Not doubting you that it's that bleak, legitimate question.
| | | | | Use common sense | Oct 28, 2021 |
Just be sensible. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
| | | | Adieu
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
...they SHOULD request Skype?
I don't think I've ever used Skype in my life.
Or is this the part where you switch gears into full-blown sarcasm?
Joakim Braun wrote:
* Offers beginning "my name is X" (despite being signed) are scams. Especially if an academic title is added ("my name is Dr X").
* Offers containing irrelevant but glamorous details about the customer's professional engagements are scams ("I am currently at a conference in Singapore").
* Offers where punctuation is preceded by spaces are scams.
* Offers going into payment details are scams.
* Offers lacking the phrase "your best rate", or that don't request your Skype details, or that don't offer long-term collaboration as an inducement to lowering your rates, or that don't have a deadline the next day, are scams.
* Offers of reasonable rates are scams.
Exceptions apply, but these are surprisingly good rules-of-thumb!
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Adieu
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
| An odd truth | Oct 28, 2021 |
The longer you talk, the lower your final price and chances of closing
It applies to everything.
Formal employment, gig work, selling trucks or old furniture on craigslist, whatever.
Helena Ferreira wrote: Adieu wrote:
Proz is just not a particularly reliable source of clients
Agencies, direct corporate clients from traditional employment websites or their own corporate websites, and even bottom-feeder places like Upwork are far, far less suspect than stuff from Proz.
If you do stick with Proz for seeking clients rather than as an advice/venting forum, check feedback and verify that the people you are dealing with are the actual representatives of whoever they claim to be
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:38 GMT]
[Edited at 2021-10-28 15:40 GMT] I see, thank you so much. What other platforms do you suggest? I've been using Upwork but "bottom feeder" is a great name for it. I constantly talk to clients for 3 days then get offered HALF A CENT per word there, it's insane.
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Avoiding scams is about doing your homework and being aware of how scammers work. Don't trust someone's pitch without investigating it thoroughly. Be skeptical and search, search and search even more… Good luck!
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