From the article: Freelance Writing Job Scams
Have you ever run into a freelance writing job scam? Do you know some signs to watch out for? Share with your fellow readers. Share Your Experiences
Have narrowly avoided scams a few times!
- I've come close enough to being scammed often enough that I wrote a post about how to avoid freelance writing scams on my blog. Not sure what the rules on posting links here are but if they are allowed here it is: http://www.changetheworldwithwords.com/how-to-avoid-freelance-writing-scams/ In the post I mention Angela Hoy's Whispers and Warnings over at Writers Weekly. It's a good place to go to check for sites or markets with 'known issues'. Again here's the link: http://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest_from_angelahoycom/006040_05122010.html (If links are not allowed I trust the moderator will remove them, or not publish the comment :)
- —Guest Karen
Watch out for perpetual royalties
- Many years ago I experimented with some low-paying sites that offer royalties on your articles. I stay away from them now. Associated Content, or what now is owned by Yahoo, has never paid me a royalty since their transfer. These kinds of things should be class action suits, except it's the web. Scam? Maybe not superficially, but Mahalo also has a class action suit against them about the same issue of royalties. Some of these sites have made a mockery of intellectual property rights. Stay away from royalties and stick with upfront payments is my suggestion.
- —Guest Royalties
Emerging Cast
- I am not calling them out as scam but it may be prudent for freelance writers who can't afford to spend too much time writing articles after articles for this site, to avoid EC altogether. I write a batch of 5 articles when I first joined, and although it didn't take that long, only one of the submitted articles was approved. They pay $1.8 to $2 per article and it was just not worth it. To me, at least. I need to go through such experience 25 more times to make the minimum payout of $50. Or perhaps it was just my writing skills. Other writers may well benefit from this site.
- —Shirley.Thomas
I might agree and disagree on some
- I have to admit that many serious writers do work for pay by view and that as a non US citizen I found out that many publishing sites do not allow me upfront payment. Associated Content for example does not give upfront payment to foreigners. But I am wary for those sites that you need to pay membership to get earnings. Some sites do not even allow foreigners and this makes it harder for writers like me.
- —Martine_Pauwels
THe one with a sign up
- I use craigslist a lot, so I almost always end up accidentally applying for that one where it bounces right back and asks you to sign up for something. NEVER SIGN UP!
- —Guest Cammie
