| Here are some tips. | | | | this is to use PayPal.This way, the employer doesn't |
| 1. Don't blindly give away your work. Many freelance | | | | have access to your bank accountdirectly. |
| scamartists will ask for unpaid work samples. For | | | | 3. Get everything in writing. If a client doesn't offer |
| freelance writers,they'll sometimes ask for a "trial | | | | you acontract, you should use your own contract or |
| article" from all applicants todetermine the best writer | | | | a letter of agreement. Ifsomeone is not planning to |
| to hire. However, most of these scammersaren't | | | | pay you or is otherwise trying to scam you,they will |
| actually ever planning to hire a writer. What they do | | | | be less likely to do so if you have the terms spelled |
| is takeall the free articles and use them on their own | | | | out ina legally binding document. It is common |
| websites or resell themillegally. As the original author, | | | | practice in freelancing to askfor partial payment in |
| you won't get credit for your workor ever get paid | | | | advance, especially for new clients. So, if youhaven't |
| for the articles. If someone asks for a writingsample, | | | | worked with a client before, and you are contracted |
| send them a link to something you've already written | | | | to do alarge amount of work, it is wise to secure at |
| that hasbeen previously published on a client's | | | | least one third of yourpayment up front. If the client |
| website. This way, if theperson requesting the writing | | | | is legitimate and can afford to pay youafter you |
| samples is running a scam, they'll beless apt to steal | | | | complete the work, they shouldn't have a problem |
| work that has already been published elsewhere. | | | | with payingyou a portion in advance. If you're signing |
| 2. Don't give away too much personal information. | | | | a client's contract, makesure the terms clearly spell |
| Scam artiststrying to commit social security number | | | | out when you will be paid. If the termsstate you will |
| scams, identity fraud scams orother business scams | | | | be "paid on publication" then make sure you know |
| will often harvest social security numbers andbank | | | | whenyour work will be published. Some scammers |
| account information by pretending they are a | | | | use a contract that statesthey will pay on publication, |
| legitimate businessowner hiring for a job. They'll ask | | | | but they haven't even launched apublication yet. If |
| applicants for their socialsecurity numbers and say it's | | | | the terms state you can't resell your work untilafter |
| for a background check, or say they needto have | | | | the publication date, you are ultimately going to have |
| this information on file for future tax purposes. If you | | | | to waituntil whatever time they may or may not |
| workfor a single employer and earn more than $600 | | | | decide to actually publish yourwork. It may be in |
| in one year, employersare required to report your | | | | several months, or it may be never. |
| earnings to the IRS and will therefore needyour social | | | | Looking for legitimate freelance jobs?Check the Go |
| security number. However, there is no reason | | | | Freelance job boards for all types of freelance |
| someone whohasn't even hired you yet should | | | | work,ranging from freelance writing jobs to graphic |
| require your SSN. Similarly, don'tgive away your bank | | | | design jobs, web sitedesign projects to virtual |
| account information. Under no circumstances | | | | assistant work. All jobs posted to GoFreelance are |
| shouldanyone need your account numbers before | | | | screened for legitimately before they go live on |
| they hire you. If they want topay you by direct | | | | thesite, so there is less chance of finding the typical |
| deposit after they've hired you and you've done | | | | work at home scamsyou'll find on so many other job |
| thejob, that's up to you. A safer way to go about | | | | boards. |