Fake trial to get free seller

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Joelle

Hi everyone,

I won't even bother addressing this to PPH as our KellyBot is probably gonna thank me for my concern and "pass" it to their so-called product team.

Because I am a newbie with no experience, I simply don't get any job. That's okay. Fair enough. Maybe one day I will be able to prove myself.

However, what I DO get is fake buyers who have interesting and well paid translation project for me but they, of course, want me to undertake an unpaid trial to check my skills.

So the other day, I ended up translating a short app description and never heard of the buyer again. Looks like that is all they needed despite what they promised.

Yesterday, I have been asked to translate - create a gmail account on behalf of a real client of the buyer - upload pictures on airbnb - describe the product - even set up my own phone number to receive a text confirmation etc. etc. Obviously didn't do any of that as the seller refused to give me some security that this wasn't a scam.

I reported this user but still no action have been undertake.

My question to other sellers are : how are you guys avoiding to fall for those scammers ? I am scared that I will now see every trial as a trick to enjoy my French translations for free and maybe miss on interesting opportunities.

Is it ok to ask for a paid trial ? What solutions do you guys have ?

Thank you so much for your advices.

Joelle

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  • Official comment
    Permanently deleted user
    • Edited

    Hi Joelle,

    You should most definitely NOT complete 'free' work - this is against our terms and conditions. You are right to report buyers that ask you for such work. Unless you are happy to do an extremely small section of the maybe 100 words or so, but even then I would not be happy. See below for my advice on why:

    I have taken the time to look in your profile and application. I have a few suggestions for you to have a better chance of gaining genuine work:

    1) First of all complete your profile, write an overview of you and your hobbies etc (there must be a reason for you being in Australia so far from France etc.

    2) Include a banner that grabs people attention.

    3) Put up some portfolio samples. This is the single most important task as it will reduce the need for clients to ask for 'free samples' and will also give you an opportunity to showcase your talents.

    4) Post more Hourlies these are searchable and will enable you to have job invites on you dashboard that cost NO PROPOSAL CREDITS!!!

    5) Gather 5 endorsements (endorse others too) even if they are from previous people you have done 'freework' for and thought were scamming you. They may have just thought your work was not as good as someone else's but it may have just been that all they could go off was your one and a half line of statement 'about me' (not really selling yourself). They may have need some work from you to see how good you were.

    All together this will increase your CERT - our ranking system and you will see the invites flying in.

    Hopefully you will appreciate the effort I am going to here for you and will no longer think of me as a bot!

    Please let me know if I can help with anything else.

     

    PS - Your complaint to support regarding one of your sellers I can confirm they are no longer active on our site (they have been banned)

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