Gone are the days when the indicators for a scam are poorly written emails or pop-ups that contain explicit content. Expert scammers trick people for a living, and they continue to innovate how they carry out their “modus operandi.”

But did you know that as an individual, you actually hold power in preventing these never-ending scams? Yes you do! Distinguishing what's legit or not is enough to keep these scammers out of business.

To kick things off, I compiled a list of freelancing agencies or companies that are discussed frequently within our Freelancers in the Philippines (FLIP)- by Jason Dulay FB community. We will go over them one by one to see whether they are legit or scams.

Legit Check of Freelancing Companies

To set expectations, the data I have gathered are first-hand accounts and testimonials from our members in FLIP. Here's a quick review of five companies:

1. MyVirtuDesk
   • This company is legit and is a good starting point for aspiring virtual assistants.
   • What you need to know is that you will be trained beforehand before presenting yourselves to a pool of clients provided by the company.
   • There is a risk of floating - meaning you have yet to find a client that’s a perfect fit for your skills and abilities. For most cases, no client would equate to no pay.
     
     
2. Sharethrough
   • They will ask you to pay a $200 processing fee for you to receive your pending payment on Paypal. Do take note that Paypal won’t require you to pay anything just to expedite the availability of your on-hold funds. You can check out this blog to learn more about Paypal’s policy on on-hold funds: https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/funds-availability
   • Regarded as scam
     
     
3. Maxbpo
   • They will ask for an upfront payment for a company “ELITE ID.” They will give you a refund right after you complete the task/s assigned to you.
   • This technique is killing two birds with one stone. Not only do they get to scam money from you, but also get you to do free work for them at the same time.
   • For those who have been in the corporate industry before, you know that there’s no need to pay for a company ID. That alone is already a red flag you need to look out for.
   • Regarded as scam
     
     
4. Amazon Philippines Mission Platform
   • For you to get started, you need to deposit a minimum of Php 200 which will serve as your working capital.
   • Working and capital simply don’t mix. Take note that you are looking for a job and not starting your own business. Even though freelancing is technically your own business, you should never pay clients just to work for them.
   • Regarded as scam
     
     
5. Reverb
   • They will ask you to post a product on a specific platform. The catch is that whenever there’s a transaction on that particular product, you need to cover Reverb fees in the meantime.
   • The client promises to pay you back eventually for the fees covered. Take note that the platform requires you to pay via credit card.
   • The general rule of thumb is that clients will never ask you to pay anything on their behalf unless it’s thoroughly discussed as a part of your job description. Should there be a need to pay on the client’s behalf, you should use their account details and not your own.
   • Regarded as a scam.

Bonus Review: Cyberbacker

Due to numerous inquiries received, we’ll be including Cyberbacker on our list as well. I’m pretty sure you’ve encountered them at least once in your freelancing journey. With their aggressive marketing and recruitment strategy, they are a company that’s certainly hard to miss.

First and foremost, this company is 100% legit. Their screening process, however, is a bit different compared to other agencies. With this said, it’s always wise to follow the rules and regulations imposed. In my opinion, applicants who faithfully follow the instructions will help increase their chances of getting hired.

Like MyVirtuDesk, you will be trained before presenting yourself to a pool of clients. What’s special about Cyberbacker is that before you are even interviewed, you are required to take a personality test that will check your compatibility with their current clientele. This will ensure a higher chance of getting a client within their pool.

Cyberbacker takes pride in being one of the best freelancing companies in the Philippines. One might think that they uphold a ridiculously high standard when it comes to hiring. However, please do understand that at the end of the day, it’s a business. They too wouldn’t want you to work with a client that doesn’t share the same ideals or goals as you.

What You Should Never Do to Avoid Scams

The  above are just six of the countless agencies and companies that currently exist in the freelancing space. As much as I would love to cover more, I will instead provide you with important reminders to avoid freelance scams.

1. Never, ever, pay anything just to get a freelancing job, whether it may be in a form of a security bond, training bond, or any other fees.

2. Never, ever share your online banking or Paypal login credentials, at all costs. I couldn’t stress this enough as I’ve encountered several accounts of freelancers getting scammed just by entrusting their Paypal accounts to others. Keep in mind that clients only need the registered email address of your Paypal account to send payment, nothing else. As much as possible, never transact on anybody’s behalf.

3. Never, ever do any sample work for free. Your portfolio should suffice in presenting your skills and capabilities. If there’s a need to do project-specific tasks, be sure to watermark it before presenting it to the client. Be vigilant on tasks that will take an entire day or two to finish. Chances are, you are already doing the work for them.

4. Never, ever allow clients to send you payments via Western Union or payment options of the same nature. Be firm that payments need to be sent via Paypal or Wise for easy and real-time tracking.

5. Never, ever install or download any suspicious files, especially in the form of “.exe”.

6. Never, ever upload any ID or documents that show your personal and sensitive information. Your Upwork or OLJ (onlinejobs.ph) profile should be enough for the client to get to know you as a freelancer.

Tips and Best Practices for Staying Safe

Nobody is completely safe from these scams, and unfortunately, it’s the newbies who are the most vulnerable. I know from personal experience that encountering this firsthand can be alarming. We hear you and that’s why we gathered some of the best industry tips and practices provided by our seasoned FLIP freelancers.

1. Always be of sound mind and body when searching for freelancing jobs. Take note that these scam prey on those who are at their most vulnerable state. The presence of mind is key as you can easily spot red flags just by looking at the job post for the first 5 seconds.

2. Be clear with your client when it comes to payment terms. As much as possible, have the payments arranged every week. If it doesn’t work for the client, ask for a 25-50% upfront payment. Always be polite when negotiating and make sure that you are comfortable with what the client chooses.

3. Measure your skills for the job offered. A data entry job paying $10/hour? The offer sounds tempting but doesn’t it sound too good to be true as well? Do your research! How much does a data entry job usually earn in a day? What are its main duties and responsibilities? Does my current experience justify the salary offered?

4. Add a two-factor authentication/2FA feature to your social media accounts as this will prevent potential hackers from accessing your personal information.

5. Don’t overthink. There will be doubts when encountering suspicious job offers. If you’re still unconvinced after doing the necessary checks and research, you can always ask the FLIP community. It’s always best to seek someone else’s second opinion.

6. Lastly, listen to your gut feeling, because you are right about it most of the time.

Final Thoughts

Freelancing can be a terrifying career to pursue. Aside from its uncertainty, there’s a constant need to keep your guard up. What I covered so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what kind of schemes these criminals are brewing next?

There will be times when your spirit will be crushed because you haven’t received any feedback from clients even after tirelessly sending numerous proposals. Keep in mind that this is also the time when you are at your most vulnerable. You may be prone to accept any job offer that comes your way without doing your due diligence.

It's very important to understand that at the end of the day, you as a freelancer are responsible for your actions. Always keep in mind that there's no instant success in freelancing. Never fall prey to the promise of making a quick buck. Be critical when making a decision, do your necessary research, and don't be afraid to reach out to our FLIP community.

Together, we can work to keep the freelancing industry scam-free.