If you’re new to freelance writing, not only can it be difficult to tell a legitimate job from a scam, it may very well be downright inconceivable. This is because online freelance writing jobs scams are evolving. Like all criminals, the scumbags behind them evolve as increasingly more people develop into hip to their methods. So, how will you protect yourself? How can you avoid being taken advantage of? Following are 3 ways to take action.

1. Look for Contact Information: Not only must you search for it, but try contacting the corporate via the methods they supply.

While many companies post anonymously on sites like Craigslist to avoid being bombarded by job seekers, sometimes a legitimate company will get back to you to no less than acknowledge receipt of your materials within the event you apply.

Scam companies, then again, may contact you with “offers,” eg, join our membership site for only $2.95/month; subscribe to get job leads delivered directly to your inbox for only $1.95/month. Once they have access to your account, they’ll often debit your account for anywhere from $40 to $97 monthly or more – every month.

2. Look for Details: Speaking of presenting materials, scam companies operate at both ends of the spectrum – either they’ll ask you for specific things up front, or they’ll ask you for little or no. It all is dependent upon what their scam is.

Some want free content, in order that they might request “original” writing samples; others want money, in order that they’ll just ask you to send in specific (sparse) info to permit them to get your contact info and spam you later with their fraudulent offers.

3. Bulk Content Requests: If an organization contacts you with a big content order, and won’t pay a certain percentage up front, they’re probably a scam. Their game is to get free content.

I’m an SEO writer. One day, I received an email from an organization wanting 40 articles. I don’t remember what it was on. They provided me with a keyword list and asked after I could complete the order. I said within 3 days and that we require a 50 percent deposit to get began. They balked; I walked.

Many times, companies will say that they’re going to pay you after you’ve completed a certain number of articles. Only, you never hear from them after you’ve delivered the initial content.

There are more ways to identify online freelance writing jobs scams, eg, if they ask for money for job leads, or if they ask you to submit “original samples” for no pay, etc. Just do your due diligence and if it doesn’t sit right with you – for whatever reason – go with that. Don’t talk yourself into something. Your subconscious is at work here. Listen to it.