29/04/2022
Scammers Targeting Translators
Translators beware. We are seeing an increasing number of scammers targeting us.
Typical signs:
They submit a document for translation on a seemingly reasonable timeframe but they are asking for very specific information having to do with “banking, depositing checks, bank account verification,” or in today’s example “legal name, address, and phone number for a check that would have to be cleared first.”
Our strategy: We ask this potential client to provide the same information to us.
There is usually no response. But in this case, they seem to be working so fast that they probably thought we had already provided our estimate and… They insisted on wanting to pay (not sure what amount) and that we had to provide that information… We just asked for clarification again. Silence.
Please see attached images. If you use Gmail there’s an easy way to report a phishing scam. Or feel free to ask us.
Last year we actually started “the project” for about a week. Then they said the project was going to be even larger and had just sent us a check, which we had to deposit, but for some “reason,” we had to wire them money back to get on with it. Again, when asking for simple clarifications… Silence.
Please be careful. If you have a second, spread this message to our fellow translators.
All the best!
Victor Wouters
www.aetnia.co