5 examples when people lose time and money while looking for a remote work.

After the start of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the need for remote work increased: many lost their jobs or lost their salaries and were forced to urgently look for work without violating the self-isolation regime. Fraudsters have profited from remote workers and freelancers before, and now they are even more active, so you should be vigilant.

What schemes are used by scammers?

1. Performing an unpaid test assignment.

What’s going on?

You are offered to complete a large task: write an article, make a content plan, create a logo, and so on. On these conditions: if they like to test your work, they will pay and you will be hired by the company.

You have done this task, but they tell you that it isn’t good, or they just disappear. And then you discover results of your work somewhere online, while you were not paid for it.

How to avoid getting caught?

• Prepare tasks (especially large ones) only if you are confident in the employer. The company must have a website, social media pages and corporate mail. If it’s individual – surname, name, phone number and at least one «live» account.

• In case of graphic materials, send them in low quality and with watermarks.

• Try to check the name of the organization, information in blacklists of employers, channels and groups for remote workers and freelancers.

• Remember that there is nothing wrong with such tests. For an employer, this is a way to understand what you are capable of, and for you — to see if you want to do what you are offered at all. Just be careful.

2. Work now, money later.

What’s going on?

You have a new order. You discuss the terms, deadlines and payment. The person refuses to pay an advance – first the result, then the money.

You have done the work, send it to the customer, and he disappears: ignores messages and calls. Or he says that he does not like result at all and he will not pay.

How not to fall into the trap?

• Use the tips from the previous paragraph: look for information about the employer, don’t send full “file” before payment.

• Insist on prepayment, especially if there is a lot of work. Offer the customer to conclude a contract.

• Make a secure transaction. This can be done, for example, through freelance platforms (Upwork, Fiverr and other). The client places an order there, you respond and complete the task. When the customer confirms that he has received the result, money will be send from his account and transferred to you. Conflict situations (for example, if the client is dissatisfied and refuses to pay) will be resolved by the representatives of the site.

3. Issue a bank card

What’s going on?

You sent your resume, answered the questions, and did a good test assignment. 

But in this organization, the salary is transferred only to the card of a specific bank, which you don’t have.

And when the card is ready and you have already been charged for registration the employer disappears. And you understand that the fraudster just used you to get money from the bank under the affiliate program.

How not to fall into the trap?

Do not get any cards at the request of the employer. If you are told that they will pay only to the account of a certain bank, this is suspicious. The exception is state organizations.

4. Pay for the trainings.

What’s going on?

“We will hire you, but first you need to take some courses”. You take some paid courses and communication with the employer ends there.

How not to fall into the trap?

You shouldn’t pay for anything. A conscientious company will train employees at its own expense.

5. Send scans of your documents.

What’s going on?

You are hired and asked to send scans of your passport. When you send them, the employer disappeares. And after some time you will find out that your documents are somewhere in the Internet. For example, they are used by scammers or someone took a micro-loan in your name.

How not to fall into the trap?

To register a remote employee, they will really need scans of documents. Therefore, the only way to protect yourself is to look for information about the employer.

Here are the signs that should alert you:

1. Little information about the company

The employer says almost nothing about himself, does not give his first and last name, from contacts he gives only a nickname in Telegram or mail. In the text of the vacancy, the organization is designated as “a large Russian company”, “marketing agency”, “online clothing store” – without a name.

2. No specifics.

“We are looking for a copywriter to write different texts. If we work together, we will give assignments regularly. Payment based on interview results.

A responsible employer carefully prescribes the tasks of the future employee, the requirements for the candidate and the working conditions. Because he is interested in finding the right person as soon as possible, and not sorting through a million irrelevant resumes.

3. Low requirements and high salary

“We are looking for an SMM specialist, salary from 2000 euros. Work experience is not important. Requirements: basic knowledge of promotion in social networks, confident PC user. Employment – 3 hours a day”.

It is enough to look at how much employers offer jobs with minimal experience and it will immediately become clear that something is clearly wrong with such ads.

Have you ever dealt with fraudulent employers? Share your experience in the comments.