Adventures In Freelancing

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I wanted to take a moment to warn you of some scams I've become aware of recently that target freelance writers. I received these "responses" in my inbox after applying for writing jobs online. Here's one such response:

Mary,

After reviewing your resume, I think you would be a great fit for the position.  The next step is a mandatory credit and background check.  You can access the website we use for this by clicking here now.  Please send us the file you receive so we can review it.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,
Christine Rawley
Hiring Manager

I found this email to be suspicious on many levels.

1. The email didn't specify what position I would be a great fit for. There was no mention of a company or website. Even the signature, "Christine Rawley, Hiring Manager" was vague. Hiring Manager for whom?
2. The email mentioned reviewing my resume. I rarely send resumes for freelancing jobs. Usually, I apply for jobs that ask for samples of my work. I'm pretty sure I didn't send any resume.
3. Mandatory credit and background check? I've only been asked for a background check once when applying for a writing job. That was for Examiner.com, which I ultimately decided not to pursue further when I realized that I wasn't interested in writing for revenue share. It's very scary to me that this person with no identifying credentials whatsoever is asking for my personal identity information.

Here's another email I received that I believe to be fraudulent.:

Hey Mary,

Thank you for your prompt response to the craigslist ad.  We got someone to write a decent percentage of the articles but that means we still need 30 more 400 word articles written before 1:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2009.  The pay is now $55 per article.  Full details are available on the freelance website GoFreelance which you can get to by clicking here.  We use this website for security reasons, to keep a record of our conversations, to make sure we get the articles and that you get paid in full and on time for your work.  You will be required to electronically sign a non-disclosure agreement on the freelance website.

Regards,
Brian Longfellow

My concerns with this one are:

1. GoFreelance.com seemed to ring a bell with me, but I clicked on it anyway. After reading through the site, it seems there is a monthly charge to use it after your 7-day free trial. Hmm...
2. So I looked around a bit and found that GoFreelance.com has been scamming writers for some time. Check out this article from Katherine at Swan's Blog for more informaiton about this scam site.
3. Not that the rate of $55 for 400 words is totally outrageious. I think it's a fair rate, actually. But rarely do I see this kind of pay on Craig's List ads. That, combined with the ambiguity of the types of articles that were to be written, caused me to wonder.

For the record, neither of these folks replied to my emails questioning them and their authenticity. Interesting. Also, I want to mention that I rarely apply for freelance gigs lately, as I"m putting a lot of my energy into my own personal blogs at the moment. The jobs I have applied for have been ones that truly seemed worthwhile and that I would be interested in. In addition, the sites that I use to search for jobs are very reputable, ones that I trust implicity. These are Freelance Writing Jobs and About Freelance Writing. If I was foooled into applying for these jobs, and they slipped past Deb and Anne's radar, you know these were well-worded ads that anyone could be tricked into applying for.

So please be careful when applying for writing gigs. Don't give any personal, identifying information unless you feel completely comfortable with the authenticity of the person or company offering the job. If you have any doubts, be sure to ask for references. Also, there is often a contract or tax documents that are required for legitimate jobs. Not always, but often. And never pay money for work. Check out this article by Deb on Top 10 Freelance Job Ad Red Flags for more things to be on the lookout for.

Always do your own due diligence and research. Don't let the scammers intimidate you into not applying for jobs. Just be aware that they exist and that the job boards aren't the only place to find paying gigs. Have you ever been scammed? Please share your tips for avoiding scams in the comments.