SCAMMING REMOTE FREELANCERS

1. The scammers have devised a method: a target value, and a duration. They work in groups with one member posing as the CEO of the anonymous “company”. They resorted to using white Caucasians to front for them and providing more credibility to their scams. These front men usually elderly, and women usually attractive and young, inevitably get a cut of the loot for being persistent in closing a “transaction”.
2. Their method is through predetermined and non-compromising steps in closing a transaction in the shortest delay possible, securing their target value, and then changing all their references for fear of being traced through cyber security.
3. They cast a target net for a maximum number of freelancers per day, attempting to score a large catch while securing a minimum revenue per day. They operate on various service platforms simultaneously while moving rapidly.
4. They slip their generic email in their request for freelance services, casting the bait for ambitious young professionals attempting to avoid commission payments to the platform.
5. The latest strategy is referring their victim to an interlocuter to diffuse doubts, usually through interactive messages on WhatsApp and most popularly on Telegram.
6. The head of the group refers the freelancer to his so-called “manager” or “secretary” to provide the victim with “instructions” regarding the assignment and a simplistic sample document at a luring price to get the victim interested and hooked. A frustrated and inexperienced candidate making failed attempts for endless weeks to get a job falls prey, assuming that he/she is working for a serious and large company.
7. Once the freelancer is in violation of the platform and compromised with them, they go for the “kill”. Usually their “registration fee” (non-refundable) of 50$ minimum to secure the assignment. Once he/she pays, all communication is automatically blocked.
8. The payment modality is a pre-set procedure stipulated by the scammer and is uncommon. They change the procedure each time they change their “company” name, contacts, and their names and move on to the next victim.
9. Whatever intelligent questions or inquiries the victim makes in the interim, are totally ignored. They are strictly concerned with achieving their procedures in the shortest delay possible. They are persistent in achieving their objective; the payment/transfer. The carrot-and-the-stick.

I have been exposed to scammers throughout my professional business career. With your permission, I would like to provide steps to be taken by my peers to circumvent them. Though the primary advice I can provide is: stick to the rules of engagement and maintain ALL communication through the platform.

Usually, I insist speak to the “boss” first. So far, I have traced one company 3 times and on 3 platforms by changing my voice through a smartphone app. Immediately I detected they were Nigerians through slight pronunciation inflections and typical words they commonly use.

I once trapped one by using their pidgin English. In complete panic, he retorted, “Can you catch the wind?” Meaning that operating anonymously online is so volatile and intractable.

I should be charging for this REPORT, and twice as much if is published. It will prompt many freelancers’ curiosity to know more. Below is my email for further consultations.

Sammy RNAJ — sammy.rnaj.writer@gmail.com