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Scammers are out there posing as GTS staff, offering lucrative job offers to innocent freelance translators. And it now appears that the scammers are using AI to craft well-written letters to abet them in their nefarious schemes. This is true not only for fake job offers, but also for scammers who pose as professional translators and apply for employment at translation companies.

Freelance Translators Beware

In the last few weeks, there has been a resurgence of translators who have reported fake job offers from GTS. The scam is simple: the scammers send an email with an attractive job offer. Once the translator accepts the job and delivers the translation, the scammer disappears without any payment nor trace.

How to spot the scam?

If you are a freelance translator, treat every job offer you receive by email with caution. Here are a few steps you can take to be safe:

The offer comes from a generic email address like Gmail. No serious job offer will ever come from a Gmail or Yahoo email account. Furthermore, any official email from GTS will come from a gts-translation.com email address. If someone send you an email from a gmail account and claims to work for GTS-these are 100% spam!
Beware of offers from unknown sources and from companies that you are not registered with. If you did not sign up with a company, assume that the job offer you are getting from them is fake.
Too good to be true. If the job offer is for a high word rate or a high fixed price, then it is probably too good to be true.
Perfectly crafted letters from non-English speakers. As most of you know, AI applications like ChatGPT can turn anyone into a Shakespeare. If you receive an email with beautifully written prose, it may be a scammer using AI for that effect.

Here is a typical scam attempt that has been reported to us:

From: Catherine Larry <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Subject: Professional Language Services Partnership – GTS Translation

We are pleased to extend to you a secure and confidential invitation to collaborate with GTS Translation Services (GTS)—a trusted leader in certified translation and localization solutions with over two decades of experience serving clients worldwide. We are proud of our strong track record and the positive feedback we receive from clients across various industries.

At GTS, we take pride in delivering translations that meet the highest industry standards. Our Quality Management System is ISO 17100:2015 certified, and we are a corporate member of the American Translators Association (ATA). With offices in the USA, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Israel, and with native linguists in over 100 countries, we are committed to building long-term partnerships with exceptional translators who can uphold the quality and reliability our clients expect.

Please note that there is no Catherine Larry that works at GTS, nor has there ever been.

Employers Beware

Scammers posing as freelance translators are sending out job applications under stolen identities. Here too, the scammers are using AI to craft beautifully written letters. If you are not already using ChatGPT or a similar AI application, try and familiarize yourself with the writing style that these apps generate. After a while you will be able to detect AI-generated content. While it is true that a legitimate applicant can be using AI, the use of AI in a cover letter is suspicious. Here is an example:

Dear Project Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Translator role at your esteemed organization. With over seven years of professional experience in translation, proofreading, and localization, I have honed my ability to deliver precise, culturally nuanced, and impactful content that bridges communication gaps across diverse audiences.

In my current role, I ensure the accuracy and consistency of high-priority projects, including medical device instructions and legal documents, adhering to strict industry standards. My expertise in Spanish and English translations, coupled with an in-depth understanding of cultural sensitivities, enables me to adapt content effectively for global audiences while maintaining its intent and integrity.

Beyond technical skills, I bring a commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and a passion for delivering results that exceed expectations. I am confident that my blend of linguistic proficiency and dedication makes me a valuable asset to any team.

Thank you for considering my application. I would be delighted to discuss how my skills and experience align with your organization’s goals.

Best regards,
Christabel

Notice how well-written this letter is. From a translator who says that he works in Portugal.

Should you receive such an email, open up the CV attachment (which is usually part of the application). Verify that the email written on the CV matches the email from which the application was sent. If they do not match up, it is 100% a fake. Also pay attention to the how the email address is printed on the CV. If the font, font size or color of the email address is different than the other text in the CV-it is a fake. The scammer uses a graphic redaction tool to white out the real email address and drops in a fake email. This is an example.