Freelancing

Stage 7 · Lesson 6 of 8

Fake clients and unpaid tests

Getting paid, records and safety

Scammers target because freelancers expect work from strangers. A follows common patterns. The "client" asks you to install software or give to your computer.

They ask you to open accounts or receive money in your name. They want you to buy equipment or a licence from their supplier, or to pay a fee for training. Or they ask for a large .

Upwork lists free work requests and off-platform pressure as red flags. Fiverr warns never to let anyone control your device. Real clients pay you.

They never need you to pay them or lend them your identity. A small paid trial is fine; unpaid real work is not.

Common trapignoring the signs because the rate offered is exciting.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Practise

  • Zoho Invoice

    Numbered invoices, reminders and a record of what each client has paid

Keep handy

  • Payoneer

    The usual payout route for marketplace earnings in many countries; check fees in your account

  • Wise

    Multi-currency transfers; check what an account can do in your country before relying on it

Also worth your time

Mark this stage as not done?