Scammers Up Game with AI

Scammers are still 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:

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.
The offer comes from a generic email address like Gmail. No serious job offer will ever come from a Gmail or Yahoo email account.
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: Gts Translation <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 7:03 PM

We are GTS TRANSLATION

IAPTI (International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters)

We are looking forward to working with versatile French translator who can bridge the linguistic gap in diverse scenarios ranging from medical, legal, community, to everyday interactions. The Lead Translator will be responsible for overseeing translation projects, maintaining linguistic quality, and collaborating closely with the team. This role involves working on translation project as well. Kindly give a reliable feedback, if you are open for collaboration.

Thank you for contacting our team

[email protected]

That’s our official group publishing webpage link. The project is a 55 pages document with approximately 11,305 in words count, that our team needed a reliable and proficient freelance translator to help translate from English to Spanish with a budget of $1965 as fixed price. Due to the complexity of the subject/texts and the vague nature of the patterns and designs of the document. The deadline is 4 days. We pay via Paypal, E-bank transfer, Wallets

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.