Staying safe

Job scam red flags: do not take the bait

Spot common job scam bait: upfront fees, off-platform messages, fake cheques and overpayment refunds. Pause, check the offer and report suspicious requests.

Drawn in 6 stages, the way an illustrator fills a field sketchbook. Press play to watch it drawn.

Job scam red flags: do not take the baitFreelanceSites sketchbook

Finished sketch: 6 stages, 100 pencil marks

Blocking in the hook, bait and shield
Messages and shield outlined, with a wash
Details: each promise earns a red flag
Texture: creases, fishing line and scales
Shading away from the upper left
Caption

What the sketch shows

A scam often arrives dressed as a wonderful job offer. The hook is urgency: pay a small fee, move the conversation somewhere private, or handle a payment before you have done any work. Slow down before sending money, documents or account access.

A supposed employer who asks you to pay them to release a job is a serious warning sign. That differs from a platform openly listing an optional subscription or a documented application charge. Check such costs on the real service's website; a recruiter's payment link is not proof.

The cheque that bites back A fake cheque can appear in your bank balance before the bank discovers the problem. If you send back an alleged overpayment, forward money to another person or buy equipment from the sender's chosen supplier, you can lose your own money when the deposit is reversed. Contact your bank through its official channel if you have already deposited a suspicious cheque. Do not arrange a refund yourself.

Pressure to abandon platform messages removes a useful record and may break that service's rules. A high rate alone proves nothing, but vague work, implausible promises and refusal to answer ordinary questions deserve scrutiny together.

Keep the offer and messages, verify the organisation independently, and report the account through official support. Staying in the app helps preserve evidence and eligible protections; it does not make every listing safe. The fishing hook is a metaphor, not a business opportunity.

Key points

A stranger asking you to pay to unlock a job is a major warning sign.
An available cheque balance does not prove that the cheque is genuine.
Never send an overpayment refund or buy equipment for an unverified employer.
Keep evidence, use official support and report suspicious requests.

Real numbers, from our listings

Upwork Fees: 0-15% per marketplace contract, Direct Contracts 5% or 0% with active Freelancer Plus Minimum payout: Varies by method, from $5 via Direct to Local Bank Payout speed: Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 days sooner for Top Rated), fixed… See it sketched
Freelancer Fees: 10% or $5 minimum on projects Minimum payout: $50 after withdrawal fees Payout speed: First withdrawal waits 15 days. After processing, PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer wit… See it sketched
Care.com Fees: Caregivers keep their full rate See it sketched

Figures in the drawing are examples. These are the platforms' own listed terms, checked by our editors.

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