A new trend developing at Freelancer section?

Malcolm Max

Malcolm Max

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2016
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I am talking about newbies posting jobs and scamming? Its the opposite of regular trend, instead of freelancer scamming the client, client scamming the worker.

I got scammed by one newbie client yesterday, wasted some time and money. Another 2 almost scammed me and few other guys wasted tons of time of mine that was a serious loss. I'll be fine, its not like I depend on this. I have my own projects that are being developed, I try to do whatever I can in my free time, just to be busy more, added experience and some extra money is always nice. But may be many others are getting hurt seriously.

They don't have any reputation on forum or respectable post count. The trend is very simple, new accounts trying to get things from the HFL section without any real intention to pay. Most of the time freelancers trust the client and agree to deliver work first.

I have just seen some tk. website owner trying to get traffic for his website offering 80% rev share hahaha if that isn't a big fat red alarm then what is. One thing is clear, these people has another BHW id or many other, they are well aware of this forum and they knows their way around here.

Perhaps the BHW think tank can minimize the exposure of hard working freelancers by restricting OP privilege at Freelancer section to a minimum userclass? Or something else to prevent this?

For me, I've learned my lesson. If the client is new or semi new there is no way I am gonna work for him without an advance. If he is a respectable member then its safe.

I have many expertise to offer and I love the freelancer section. While I am working on my own blog network, I like to get involve in other projects, its fun it keeps me busy and the experience is always valuable. I am sure there are many others like me. We hope the freelancer section can remain clean and professional. But to others like me, stay alarmed. Don't jump on every newbie client you see without verifying his intentions or an advance.
 
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That section is a joke, just like dropshipping.
 
Malcolm Max said:
For me, I've learned my lesson. If the client is new or semi new there is no way I am gonna work for him without an advance. If he is a respectable member then its safe.
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You should have worked like that from the get go. It shouldn't matter that you are a new member or not. Labor is labor, period. When I first start with a freelancer I do half first half after, regardless of cost or how reputable the member is. If they say fuck off and run away with the money, I charge back, simple as that. I've never had to do that.

Check post histories of people you are thinking of working with/for. That helps a lot to determine the level of communication you will receive. And stay off Skype. It's a cesspool of bullshit scam artistry. Keeping things to PM's here is ideal, as if shit goes south you have a record of it, and mods also can go in and see what's what.

Respected member or not, this should be a commonality. A blue name doesn't mean shit around here. All it means is that they paid $97 to sell sig lines and camp for review copies and sell their shit for a year.
 
It's not new. It's been happening for ages. I got screwed on CL like this quite a few times. Granted that was years ago, but you probably noticed it now bc it directly affects you.

As freelancers we need to be adament about up front payment. People who refuse to pay up front are people you don't want to deal with.

So are people who would rather Skype you than use PMs. I did 99% of my business here through PM and no one had a problem.

People who are regularly on this forum shouldn't ever have a problem using PMs to work out business deals. You're already on the forum. There's no reason to take it outside of here.
 
If they have any trouble with you asking for upfront payment they are bad news. As I told a person yesterday, who wanted to pay after I delivered my service, you don't move into your house for a week to see if you like it and if they don't like that they can bugger off!
 
When not using an escrow service I always require at least 50% upfront. I don't particularly care if you're a client no one has every heard of or if you're the CEO of Wal-Mart. Unless I've worked with you before, I don't trust you to not pay me upfront. That's kept me safe.

I think common sense prevents 95% of scams.
 
alwaysinvisible said:
It's not new. It's been happening for ages. I got screwed on CL like this quite a few times. Granted that was years ago, but you probably noticed it now bc it directly affects you.

As freelancers we need to be adament about up front payment. People who refuse to pay up front are people you don't want to deal with.

So are people who would rather Skype you than use PMs. I did 99% of my business here through PM and no one had a problem.

People who are regularly on this forum shouldn't ever have a problem using PMs to work out business deals. You're already on the forum. There's no reason to take it outside of here.
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I see but I have a different opinion about skype. I always PM potential clients my skype so they can contact me instantly. I am not active at bhw all the time, if I only communicate via pm, sometimes it may take hours for me to reply .. and its the same for the other side. Live chat is much more easier for both parties to discuss faster and reach to a deal. Also the notification helps you to respond faster.

When you get scammed it doesn't matter if that was over pm or skype. For SL threads, we can always screenshot skype. and pm them to the mod. I understand communication through pm is much more secure and protected, but its not really convenient for deals why you need to discuss with the client over a few matters and make an agreement.

I would love to hear your opinion about this .. because if there is a way to make the communication work without skype through bhw pm only, I am totally down for that.
 
SEOMemj said:
When not using an escrow service I always require at least 50% upfront. I don't particularly care if you're a client no one has every heard of or if you're the CEO of Wal-Mart. Unless I've worked with you before, I don't trust you to not pay me upfront. That's kept me safe.

I think common sense prevents 95% of scams.
Click to expand...
Could you please suggest some online escrow service?
 
hasa1015 said:
If they have any trouble with you asking for upfront payment they are bad news. As I told a person yesterday, who wanted to pay after I delivered my service, you don't move into your house for a week to see if you like it and if they don't like that they can bugger off!
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The situation is not really same for everyone. Lets say the client is a Registered member and I am a registered member as well. Why he should trust me to send an advance payment and why I should trust him to pay me after I deliver? This is why I am considering paying the fee for jr vp .. so atleast I can make this counter argument about my rank. Still becoming a jr vp is not convenient for everyone and the problem exist.

It would be pretty awesome if bhw would offer some kind of middle man service for a fee ofcourse. Just like other freelancer sites. May be someone from sys op can shed some lights on this idea.
 
I don't deal with people who need me to reply to them instantly. I'm busy. If you can't wait a few hours for a reply then I'm not gonna do business with you. Simple as that.

I've waited 2 or 3 days for a reply from some clients. I don't care. They run a business. So do I. Their time is valuable. So is mine. We understand and respect that about each other. That's why we're a good fit for each other.

Idk where people get off thinking they need instant access to someone they're doing business with, but news flash: my life is not my buisiness. And if you're so needy and insecure you need to micromanage me, you can fuck right off.

You think clients have instant access to CEOs and company owners irl? Lol no. They will tell you the same thing: you are on my schedule. I'm not on yours.

Malcolm Max said:
I see but I have a different opinion about skype. I always PM potential clients my skype so they can contact me instantly. I am not active at bhw all the time, if I only communicate via pm, sometimes it may take hours for me to reply .. and its the same for the other side. Live chat is much more easier for both parties to discuss faster and reach to a deal. Also the notification helps you to respond faster.

When you get scammed it doesn't matter if that was over pm or skype. For SL threads, we can always screenshot skype. and pm them to the mod. I understand communication through pm is much more secure and protected, but its not really convenient for deals why you need to discuss with the client over a few matters and make an agreement.

I would love to hear your opinion about this .. because if there is a way to make the communication work without skype through bhw pm only, I am totally down for that.
Click to expand...
 
Malcolm Max said:
The situation is not really same for everyone. Lets say the client is a Registered member and I am a registered member as well. Why he should trust me to send an advance payment and why I should trust him to pay me after I deliver? This is why I am considering paying the fee for jr vp .. so atleast I can make this counter argument about my rank. Still becoming a jr vp is not convenient for everyone and the problem exist.

It would be pretty awesome if bhw would offer some kind of middle man service for a fee ofcourse. Just like other freelancer sites. May be someone from sys op can shed some lights on this idea.
Click to expand...

The fact that they don't offer a middleman service is great. Those sites charge sellers a hefty fee, which drives the price up anyway. Personally I would not trust you, because you've been around for less than a week, but when I was in your situation I did exactly what you did and bought Jr.Vip once I realized all I was doing was taking from the forum and never giving back. What I'm trying to say is that even though you may be very reputable because you are new people (Even me who has been in the same situation) will not trust you. Make some good contributions, stick around, upgrade your account if you want to give back but most importantly be patient.
 
alwaysinvisible said:
I don't deal with people who need me to reply to them instantly. I'm busy. If you can't wait a few hours for a reply then I'm not gonna do business with you. Simple as that.

I've waited 2 or 3 days for a reply from some clients. I don't care. They run a business. So do I. Their time is valuable. So is mine. We understand and respect that about each other. That's why we're a good fit for each other.

Idk where people get off thinking they need instant access to someone they're doing business with, but news flash: my life is not my buisiness. And if you're so needy and insecure you need to micromanage me, you can fuck right off.

You think clients have instant access to CEOs and company owners irl? Lol no. They will tell you the same thing: you are on my schedule. I'm not on yours.
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I like your attitude sir, Cheers for you :)
 
hasa1015 said:
The fact that they don't offer a middleman service is great. Those sites charge sellers a hefty fee, which drives the price up anyway. Personally I would not trust you, because you've been around for less than a week, but when I was in your situation I did exactly what you did and bought Jr.Vip once I realized all I was doing was taking from the forum and never giving back. What I'm trying to say is that even though you may be very reputable because you are new people (Even me who has been in the same situation) will not trust you. Make some good contributions, stick around, upgrade your account if you want to give back but most importantly be patient.
Click to expand...

Yeah agreed. I am strongly considering upgrading my account. But I still think bhw can act as a cheap middleman.
 
Malcolm Max said:
Yeah agreed. I am strongly considering upgrading my account. But I still think bhw can act as a cheap middleman.
Click to expand...

Imaging how much time that would take them? If a seller is in the marketplace their service has already been vetted by admins and trust me when I say, it's a lot of fucking work for their reviews. If someone scams you there post a SL, if not the marketplace use an Escrow service or pay with Paypal Business transaction.
 
hasa1015 said:
Imaging how much time that would take them? If a seller is in the marketplace their service has already been vetted by admins and trust me when I say, it's a lot of fucking work for their reviews. If someone scams you there post a SL, if not the marketplace use an Escrow service or pay with Paypal Business transaction.
Click to expand...

I see what you mean but they don't have to review everything, just for most part act as an escrow.

Let me explain.

First of all, if you are looking forward to scam someone, you wont agree to deal in a controlled environment where transaction is escrowed by an authority. This factor alone will keep the scammers away .. like 100 feet atleast.

99% of the deals will go smoothly and automatically. Freelancer section will remain as it is right now, whenever a client and a worker reach an agreement, client will fill up a form with work details, worker will approve it, then client will have to pay to bhw. When the payment is processed, worker will be informed and he will start working normally, deliver the work as well.

When the work is done and client is satisfied, client will notify bhw via the automated form/system that job is done and bhw can release the payment.

The conversation between client and worked doesn't have to be monitored all the time as other freelance sites do, they are free to exchange contact information, free to discuss offline. any way they feel.

So in most cases, bhw wont have to lift a finger, everything will be automated.

There will be few cases where client wont be satisfied, worker will say he did enough haha That's when a bhw mod will have to act, verify all info and make a decision.
 
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For the past few weeks, I've been in the Hire A Freelancer section trying to see if I can "clean it up a bit". That is to say, I've been reporting many previously banned members and members with multiple accounts here, the latter of which is because having more than 1 account is both suspicious and against the forum rules.

Anyway, it's not just the newbie accounts you need to look out for. I've found many previously banned members here who have accounts that have been marinating on the forum for years. There was even 1 Jr. VIP with a 6 year old account I reported who had several active new accounts here posing as a new member.

The Hire A Freelancer section isn't terrible as even I've done a couple of jobs there in the past with no problems, but just do what @Sherbert Hoover said and be smart about who you're working with and stay off of Skype.
 
Malcolm Max said:
I am talking about newbies posting jobs and scamming? Its the opposite of regular trend, instead of freelancer scamming the client, client scamming the worker.

I got scammed by one newbie client yesterday, wasted some time and money. Another 2 almost scammed me and few other guys wasted tons of time of mine that was a serious loss. I'll be fine, its not like I depend on this. I have my own projects that are being developed, I try to do whatever I can in my free time, just to be busy more, added experience and some extra money is always nice. But may be many others are getting hurt seriously.

They don't have any reputation on forum or respectable post count. The trend is very simple, new accounts trying to get things from the HFL section without any real intention to pay. Most of the time freelancers trust the client and agree to deliver work first.

I have just seen some tk. website owner trying to get traffic for his website offering 80% rev share hahaha if that isn't a big fat red alarm then what is. One thing is clear, these people has another BHW id or many other, they are well aware of this forum and they knows their way around here.

Perhaps the BHW think tank can minimize the exposure of hard working freelancers by restricting OP privilege at Freelancer section to a minimum userclass? Or something else to prevent this?

For me, I've learned my lesson. If the client is new or semi new there is no way I am gonna work for him without an advance. If he is a respectable member then its safe.

I have many expertise to offer and I love the freelancer section. While I am working on my own blog network, I like to get involve in other projects, its fun it keeps me busy and the experience is always valuable. I am sure there are many others like me. We hope the freelancer section can remain clean and professional. But to others like me, stay alarmed. Don't jump on every newbie client you see without verifying his intentions or an advance.
Click to expand...
I love you my man XD I know that you are talking about me in your thread. And there are reasons why i use a .tk domain. And i told you why. It's not because i dont got the money for a "real" domain. But when you run a movie streaming site you have to stay under the radar.
 
Uh no just never ever ever work without upfront payment.
 
SEOMemj said:
When not using an escrow service I always require at least 50% upfront. I don't particularly care if you're a client no one has every heard of or if you're the CEO of Wal-Mart. Unless I've worked with you before, I don't trust you to not pay me upfront. That's kept me safe.

I think common sense prevents 95% of scams.
Click to expand...

I tell new clients i need half of the cash for me to even start.
I got burn one time, (well dint loose it was more of a principle ) a lot of the stuff i do is by word, dint loose my work i was able to profit. If you ask for half upfront it motivates you to do a fast job job plus you just did a sale. Nice!
 
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