Spotting Scammers – and not jumping the gun until you’re sure
September 7, 2007 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
If you’re a regular to FWJ, you’re probably aware of the whole Laray –Carr controversy.
While I’m so happy to see everyone posting their concerns and thoughts regarding Laray Carr, let’s get one thing perfectly clear, we don’t know they’re a scam. They do however, raise some red flags, which means it’s a good idea to proceed with caution.
Some scams are easy to spot, while others aren’t so obvious. Let’s talk about some ways to spot scams, and also jobs of a questionable nature:
Generic email addresses – Business owners don’t and shouldn’t use a gmail, yahoo, hotmail or any other disposable email address. With that said however, a yahoo or hotmail address doesn’t necessarily mean the job isn’t on the up and up. Indeed I use a gmail address myself. I do use a different email when conducting business though.
Little or no contact information, vague with details – I don’t care who you are, everyone you employ should have your contact details. Not just an email address but name, address and telephone number. If you own a business, you’re not obligated to give out a home address, but if you don’t own a separate office your should privately give your details to those who you hire.
You have to pay out money – You should never have to spend money to work, and that includes training. Anyone who wants you to buy training materials, job lists, or any other service is a scammer.
The job targets work at home moms or college students – Lots of scammers target the most vulnerable. People such as WAHMs, Seniors and college students who desperately want too work from the comfort of their own homes
The ad uses lots of exclamation points!!!!! – The more exclamation points, the bigger the chance you have a scam on your hands.
Now, with the exception of asking for money, just because a job uses any of these red flags doesn’t make it a scam. If something doesn’t look right, do yourself a favor and check it out. Do a Whois search on the company’s domain to find out about the owner. Research both the owner and the business name to make sure there are no marks against them. Check with the Better Business Bureau and talk with other writers.
Also, never label a business opportunity as a scam unless you’re absolutely sure. If you’re doing anything that can be perceived as slander, you may have a hefty lawsuit on your hands. Avoid witch hunts, unfounded accusations and random finger pointing.
By the way, I’m always wary of places that have to state “this is a legitimate opportunity” in their ads. It’s my experience that legitimate opportunities really don’t need to take such pains to make sure everyone sees them as such.
Be on your guard, go with your gut, do your research, and hopefully you won’t be taken. And don’t forget the cliché…if it sounds too good to me true, it probably is.
Hi Deb,
Thanks so much for posting this. I will do the Whois search and the BBB search when things seems suspicious from now on.
Deb, I know you said a business shouldn’t use gmail or yahoo, or other freemails, but I own a couple of domains and know the email programs with them aren’t always up to par. I prefer gmail since it keeps all emails of the same subject in one section. I know you said that it doesn’t mean a scam if someone uses it, just wanted to point out why some may for other readers.
Great post and really informative.
I have had 4 clients who use freemail servers, one is the owner of the site my link points to. Even with that said, I’m really leary of taking on a client who doesn’t have any other contact info other than one email address.
Thanks for posting this, Deb! Yesterday, someone here accused me and my blog of being a scam simple because their email bounced. Technical problems do happen! I think before accusing someone it’s SO important to take some time to actually look at the situation fully. I think the Laray Carr situation could go either way, but it they don’t turn out to be a scam, you’re right–that’s slander and they *could* sue. Bottom line, be VERY careful at who you call a scammer.
I guess it’s a gut feeling sort of thing, but there are things you can do to protect yourself upfront from scammers.
Always ask to see their contract, what rights they are purchasing and what rates they are paying. Companies on the level respect your business sense and will get right back to you with answers to your questions.
Usually a scammer doesn’t even reply to this request because they certainly don’t want to deal with any writers who are too smart to be scammed. And, of course, their “no response” is all the answer you need to know to run the other way.
Also, never and I mean NEVER write pieces up front about their requested subject matter. This is a typical scam to get free work. If it is just a “test” to see your writing skills, then ANY topic can do that. It doesn’t have to be a piece on a topic specific to their site.
Actually, I never, ever send free work. I refer them to other work I have online and to my clips but that’s it.
In all my years writing, I have never had a reputable company ask for samples. They have looked at what I already have and made their decision to hire me on those pieces.
If the newer writers would just realize that if you are a good writer, you will get the work. It may not happen overnight, heck it definitely WON’T happen overnight, but it will happen. Be patient, stick to your guns, and don’t give you talent away for free or for pennines a word….aren’t you worth more than that?
I agree with everything, of course. Though I must point that even if a potential client gives you their name, address, phone number, and uses a business address — it’s important to still be vigilant. I’ve been cheated before by someone who gave me all of the above. SO practice due diligence and well, always keep your fingers crossed.
I agree with everything that Deb said but don’t the craigslist postings often fall under the “generic email” category?
@Miss Buck>> I completely agree about the sample. I’ve been burned before with sending out samples. Thank god for this community because I swear, not many newbies know you DON’T have to write samples for potential clients. I didn’t know that before either.
I’m with you Mariella, I didn’t realize that you shouldn’t send out samples before reading this site and a couple of others.
Thank you for the post, Deb. It’s very helpful.
Haha, you know one thing I was thinking, you guys? LCP Media, LC Publications, WHATEVERR…they would be bold and outright CRIMINALS/DECEIVERS not to pay us now after all of this!!
Don’t you think??
Something I was just thinking of…that is kinda why I said on the other thread, it gives me some heart that they go through all these changes to defend themselves and at least appear to legimate.
I said it once, said it twice, and will say it again–here’s top hopin!!
What exactly do you mean when you say you should not send out samples? (Mariella and Tiffany)
Do you mean that if the ad asks you to apply by sending them a sample like what you’d be doing, that you should avoid it? For example, today there was a job on Deb’s list for part-time freelancer that asked for a 1-2 paragraph sample of a summary of an op-ed.
Right on wavelength again Deb! I’m learning things everyday about freelancing. I definitely won’t work for pennies. Though I have seen many jobs that want to do just that. The samples of my writing I have learned to only send what’s already out there also.
Peggy:
When I am asked to send writing samples, I send copies of works I have written for other publications that have already appeared. That allows a legitimate business to see what type of writer I am, without giving a fraud free goods.
They can publish that sample under a new name, but they are not dealing with just me. They are dealing with Boy’s Life, or Osprey, Ltd, or some other magazine that has a legal staff. And believe me, when I say if I see my previously published work plagiarized on the Internet I tell the magazine that originally published it.
If you lack those kind of clips, use part of a school paper or part of a manual you wrote at work, or something you contributed to a church newsletter, or whatever. Never, ever write a sample article that they can use unless you have a contract or cash in hand.
Deb,
I know what you mean about not jumping the gun. However, from my understanding of libel law, we are perfectly free to say that we think it looks like a scam, even if it hasn’t been proven yet.
Of course, there very well might be proof now. An anonymous commenter over at Writer Beware claims to have insider knowledge that the reason the LCP website is not up yet is because the designers have not been paid for their work. If Anonymous could provide proof of that, I would say that is tentative proof of a scam, wouldn’t you?
We won’t be 100 percent sure until the writers’ paydate comes and goes, of course, but if the designers are getting paid why would the writers?
By the way, Deb, I hadn’t really thought of Gmail email addresses as in the same class as Yahoo or Hotmail. It was my understanding that a Gmail account required either a cell phone number or an invitation from another Gmail address holder.
It seems to me that requirement would make it more difficult to use Gmail as a throwaway address, one to dump once you’ve played out your scam. However, maybe Gmail has done away with that requirement. I don’t know, as I have never used a Gmail account.
thanks mark. i’m still working on published clips.
If you don’t mind my interjecting a thought here, I have a solution for all of this.
There’s no reason to spend time debating about what is or is not a scam.
If you don’t trust someone 100%, don’t do work for them. Period.
There are plenty of reputable businesses out there. Make your choice. Do your work. And forget the rest. One of the most important skills you’ll ever learn is how to walk away.
The Gmail requirement for an invitation used to exist when the Gmail client was in beta, but now that it’s been released to the general public anyone can get a Gmail account without having to supply any real information.
So technically it’s a “suspect” email client.
But since my current favorite client uses a Gmail address I’m not going to say anything bad about it!
I think an email address alone isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm in any given situation. If it’s combined with other warning signs, though, then the email address does make the situation more suspicious.
When just starting out it is difficult to go with a client and know the “how to’s” right away though. I think this kind of post is VERY important for new freelancers.
$$$Aside from having too many exclamation points, too many $ sign is a sign of scam, too.$$$
You guys are such a great help to us newbies! I am learning quickly not to send out more samples than what I have previously published. The other day I sent 3 samples of previous work and they asked me to send another based on something from their topics. Thanks to you guys and your advice I didn’t do it. I don’t mind waiting a bit longer for my career if it means getting due credit and getting paid!
Peggy>> I usually send out samples that have already been published either on the web or in print. I specify where they have been published too. What we meant was, there are potential clients out there who ask you to write samples on their specified topic then publish them without paying you. You just wake up one day and your unpaid article has been published.
BUT even if my samples have already been published, I also take precautionary measures because like it or not, there ARE low-lifes out there who will publish your samples. So I regularly check my usual samples just to be sure they haven’t been stolen.
This discussion brings up another topic. These ads that only have a gmail or other “suspect” email as a contact.
It is my experience that a legitimate company will put the name of their firm, their company’s website, etc. in the ad. Afterall, would you be able to physically go on an interview to a company that didn’t give you their name and address? The same applies here.
If they don’t say the name of their company, give a web site address, or some other form of identification….here’s what I do.
If I haven’t been turned off to their ad by this point and am still interested in more information, I respond asking them to tell me more about their company. 99% of the time, these “blind” ads never do respond. The 1% who do, usually tell me how wonderful they are and if I would just send them this, this, and that, I too, can be rich like them! LOL
Also, and this should go without saying as I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but if they do put a “.com” or a “.net”, etc., address as their email, go to the site and check it out. If no site comes up……not a good sign. Yes, they may still be working on it, but its still “iffy”.
Also, go to Alexa.com and put their toolbar on your computer. It will give you a web rating of every site you go to. This way, the next time some site tells you about all the “exposure” you will get, you can see their ratings and know if they are actually getting the hits they are saying.
The way alexa works is the lower the number, the more popular the site. By the way Deb, congrats on getting under the 100K mark!
Here’s where you can check out if anyone has stolen your work.
copyscape.com
Just type in your URL and it will pull up everywhere it appears.
Also, you can put the “copyscape” logo on your pieces that says they are copyrighted. This tends to scare off most of the “pond scum”.
Regarding samples… Often scammers call them “trial” articles. It’s usually phrased like: “We’ll ask you to write a trial article on the topic of our choosing. If your writing fits our needs, we’ll then hire you for paid assignments.” That’s almost always a scam designed to get articles from writers for free.
However, I think sometimes legit companies who want writers will sometimes call them samples in the job ad, but they really mean “clips” (they just don’t know the lingo).
Just one comment regarding Alexa to judge the rating of a website. It is not really a great tool (in my opinion). Their stats are only stats generated from those who have the toolbar – so it’s not very indicative of the actual surfing population. Also, their toolbar contains malware/spyware (or at least it used to), so many people avoid it like the plague.
Has anyone noticed those newspaper ads for postal service jobs at $25-$30 an hour? You call and they tell you that you must pay a fee to get into the program. My attitude is, if I HAD money, I wouldn’t be looking for a job!
Oddly enough, an email address does not come with my ISP, so until I bought my own domain I used Yahoo, Googlemail, etc. Also that means you don’t have to change addresses to changer ISPs. Still, it is a flag, I agree. (I am however legit!)
I tried the Alexa. It’s nice to see the AC page views but it seems to mess with my pc so took it off. That may be the spyware but not sure.
I also have a question folks. Any ideas of how to make money from your blog? Newbie and I’m aware of ads for clicking but wondering what you guys have to say about it. Hope you are all having a good weekend.
Micah>> Other than google adsense, you could also try Text Link Ads and Auction ads. Referral Programs are another way, like Amazon’s (which Deb has, as you can see).
When your blog becomes popular, you can also start renting advertising space, if you wish.
In defense of writing samples, I would like to say that legitimate companies sometimes do ask for samples, but they PAY for the sample, whether you get the job or not and they make it clear that they pay for the sample up front.
I’ve wasted a huge amount of time on Craigslist lately, the scammer’s delight. It’s frustrating because, once in a while, there are legitimate jobs posted on Craigslist. But, increasingly, the scammers are taking it over.
I didn’t know about craigslist until coming here. That’s how I have two columns and both are legitimate.
Thanks Mariella,
Good advice. I decided to put one up for writing to have my own page people could go to. That will help with job openings too.
Thanks for the great advice–I hope it prevents some people from being scammed. Keep up the great work and keep those job postings coming!
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Micah, that’s great, but most of the free lance jobs on Craigslist are anything but. Depressing.
Hey All, I assume some of you write for WRG, which is a darn good, steady, simple content project with some MAJOR names attached to it…and if I remember correctly, they asked for a sample made specifically to their format. Also, B5 Media is a legit company that pays bloggers and they ask for a sample that it “like what you would write for our blog” (so a very specific sample)
~Allena
yeah, I’m pro craigslist, too. I’ve got some great gigs on there. Nothing recurring, just one time things, but good gigs.
where do you guys look for jobs BESIDES craigslist? i have been actively writing for about three months and am surprisingly making OK money at it (comparable to what i was making at my actual career), but do feel like craigslist is getting old. any ideas/suggestions on other places to look?
thanks! love this site!
Hi, writers weekly is a good place to look also and click on some of Deb’s blog links. I have found some interested prospects that way also.
To Sue S,
Also look at similar clients (but not competitors) to your current ones. Banks and other businesses do this to find customers.
If you’re unaware of the concept, it’s called profiling, from which they develop trarget marketing. So believe it or not, some of your junk mail typically comes from businesses who have customers who meet your profile (income, age, marital status, etc).
If you write for a PR firm, look for other PR firms. If you write for a consumer-oriented blog, look for others, etc.
Even if they don’t have anything now, you could very well have the lead when they do have something.
To Alley Cat: What is the publisher’s (WRG) full name? I’m not aware of WRG as far as I know of. Also, Craigslist is full of good legitimate writing gigs, but even the ones that do get in contact with me after liking my samples still disappear with a high frequency lately.
I will never write a free sample of any subject for a publisher that has not at least set up a Paypal account for me before I even write a 500-word article. I’ve done that twice before and got burned- maybe by LCP themselves. They informed me that payment is due me on the fifteenth of September, so if they don’t send me a check by that date, I will come here and post my updates for you all to check out.
I was told by LCP that since the launch has been “pushed back,” I will not receive payment until the beginning of October. At first, I was told mid-September, but I doubt this will be the case (should I ever see that money at all).
Thanks for the suggestions on other places to look for gigs!
Alleycat: Yes I would like to know about WRG also. I have not heard of them either.