Advice needed: Potential Client asking me to start project prior to payment

[daniellerlarkin]

Hi,

I have a potential client that messaged me today. We had some back and forth about what I offer, what she needed, etc. standard stuff. But then she hit me with this message:

“Ok. I will be picking up my banking card within the next two days. My country is still in the pandemic. If I provide you with my manuscript and goals for this project, are you willing to start and receive payment shortly thereafter?”

Which instinct tells me that it’s a scam and that I should run, but I guess because I’m newer, I’m not sure. Has anyone else experienced similar? Are my instincts correct?

Thanks for your help/advice.

[graphtersawyer]

I believe one is supposed to wait until an order is placed to start work (according to Fiverr ToS), so you can tell the buyer you’ll wait until then. If they are a scammer, you dodged a bullet. If they’re not, it’ll just be a couple of days later.

[lloydsolutions]

Don’t do it!

A buyer orders, pays, and then you deliver.

If you bypass this you will have worked for free.

Suggest you check out the Terms of Service at the bottom of the Fiverr main page for the rules as to how Fiverr works.

Everything is explained there in great detail.

Check this out: Top 5 Tips to Protect Yourself from Badly Behaved Buyers

[barrisam]

Yes, your instincts are right.

But, you can still tell her you’ll start while you wait for her to pay. There is no case and Fiverr can’t hold you to anything if there is no countdown or late delivery.

[daniellerlarkin]

I believe one is supposed to wait until an order is placed to start work (according to Fiverr ToS), so you can tell the buyer you’ll wait until then. If they are a scammer, you dodged a bullet. If they’re not, it’ll just be a couple of days later.

Thank you! I greatly appreciate it.

[daniellerlarkin]

Don’t do it!

A buyer orders, pays, and then you deliver.

If you bypass this you will have worked for free.

Suggest you check out the Terms of Service at the bottom of the Fiverr main page for the rules as to how Fiverr works.

Everything is explained there in great detail.

Check this out: Top 5 Tips to Protect Yourself from Badly Behaved Buyers

Thank you, I ended up just telling the buyer per the terms of service I couldn’t start but I’d be happy to take on the project in a few days when she is able to make the payment.

[visualstudios]

You can start, just don’t deliver anything until an order is in place. If he is a scammer, he won’t be interested.

[benedictrm]

Run to the hills
Run like hell
Runaway
Run, run, run
🙂