Attention, freelance translators! We have an important alert regarding a scam targeting professionals in our industry. Fraudsters are posing as representatives of GTS Translation and engaging in deceitful activities that can jeopardize your hard-earned work and livelihood.
Hello, I have been contacted by email from your company. I have been working on a project for two days. As this is my first job with your company, I am worried about whether or not I was really contacted by one of your representatives.
We have received a number of these emails in the last few days, indicating an escalation of fraudulent activity.
The Scam: How It Works
The scammers contact freelance translators via email or online platforms, claiming to be from GTS. They often use convincing email addresses and professional language to appear legitimate. Once contact is established, they offer translation projects, providing documents for translation and detailed instructions.
After the work is completed and submitted, the scammers disappear without paying for the services rendered. This fraudulent activity not only wastes your time and effort but also causes financial losses and frustration.
Here is an example of a scam email that came to our attention:
Subject: Opportunity at GTS Translation Service
I hope this email finds you well. My name is Nathaniel Patricia, and I am pleased to introduce myself as a representative of GTS Translation Service. We are currently expanding our team and are looking to hire skilled translators who can assist us with various projects.
Your expertise in translating languages is highly valued, and we believe that you could be a valuable addition to our team. To proceed further, we kindly request you to provide us with a list of the languages that you are proficient in translating from English. This will enable us to match your skills with the specific project requirements and share further details with you.Thank you for taking the time to consider this opportunity. We look forward to the possibility of collaborating with you and working together on future projects. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.Thank you once again for your time and consideration.Warm regards,Nathaniel PatriciaGTS Translation Service
Identifying the Scam
To protect yourself from these fraudulent activities, here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Unsolicited Job Offers: Be cautious of unsolicited job offers, especially if they come from unfamiliar email addresses or lack proper contact information. GTS only contacts translators from our database. If you did not register as a translator on our database and receive a job offer-it is a scam.
- Too Good to Be True: If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often lure victims with promises of high pay for minimal work.
- Lack of Verification: Legitimate companies like GTS will have a thorough verification process. If the supposed representative is rushing you to start work without proper vetting, be wary. GTS will always provide a PO once the assignment is approved.
- Payment Terms: Be cautious if the payment terms are unusual or if they ask for personal financial information upfront. If a company asks you to wire funds for account verification, it is scam. NEVER wire a translation company or agency any money under any circumstances.
- Check Contact Information: Verify the contact information provided. Scammers often use fake email addresses or phone numbers that do not match the official contact details of GTS.
Steps to Protect Yourself
- Verify Authenticity: Always verify the authenticity of the job offer by contacting GTS directly through their official website or known contact information.
- Research: Conduct thorough research on the person contacting you. Check for reviews, complaints, or any reports of fraudulent activities.
- Use Secure Payment Methods: Use secure payment methods and insist on a written agreement that clearly outlines the terms of payment and work.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect you have been contacted by a scammer, report the activity to the relevant authorities and inform GTS immediately.
What GTS is Doing
GTS is committed to protecting freelance translators from such scams. We are actively monitoring and investigating any reports of fraudulent activities. If you receive a suspicious job offer claiming to be from GTS, please contact us directly at [email protected] for verification.
Conclusion
Your safety and financial security are paramount. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these scams. By taking the necessary precautions and verifying the authenticity of job offers, you can safeguard your work and ensure you are fairly compensated for your efforts.
For any concerns or reports of suspicious activities, please reach out to GTS immediately. Together, we can combat these fraudulent practices and maintain the integrity of our professional community.
Stay safe and be vigilant!
Updated on July 8, 2024
We received today an email from a professional translator that the scammers are not only cheating translators out of their work, but out of their hard-earned money as well. Here is the email:
I saw your article about the scam that some people are running on translators, and I would like to report that I got scammed by them. First, I did translation that valued at 1400$, and of course they didnt pay. Instead, they kept asking for money via various channels, something called Global Pay, and did ask for 80$ then 165 euro, then 350 euro, for me to open the account and get paid the transfer. and Sadly, I paid all of that, till they asked for a 1000 euro, and then I realized it is a scam.You will find attached an image of so called Global Pay account. Please advise if I can take any further actions against them, thank you.
