I’m new here. Finally completed my profile and created my first gig over the weekend; I felt a sense of accomplishment.
It took a few days, but I got my first message. I was greeted with a bright “hello” and a request to click a link to a google drive for more information about a project. Hesitant to click any link, I asked for more information through Fiverr’s system. They were no longer available as the system noted they were removed for violations. I felt a little reassured knowing Fiverr was on it.
Then the next day I received another similar request from someone else. In less than 24 hours they too were removed.
Not even 24 hours later, I received yet another request for my voice over talents to be used for a web based talk show. It seemed plausible, so I inquired further. At first it sounded good and I asked them to send me more information. However, they seemed to indicate they were unable to do so through the system, instead asking for my email address. I suppose that was the first red flag. I provided them an email address, and then the correspondence began. I discovered the time stamp indicated 6 hours ahead of my timezone, and that the very favorable terms included them coordinating a recording session where all I do is just show up. I would be paid $400 up front, by check through mail, and the recording engineer would hand me the balance after completing the session. As the correspondence continued, they seemed to suggest they were going to send the check (to the fake address I gave them) and that after the check was deposited and allowed 24 hours to clear, I was to withdraw my portion, and then the balance I would send to the Sound Engineer - oh, by the way, I wasn’t allowed to see a script until the day before the recording session, which wouldn’t happen until after I had cashed the check and sent the balance to the yet to be disclosed sound guy.
I’ve submitted a report to the FTC, because what they wanted me to do is pretty much how money laundering works. My question is, what do I need to do in terms of notifying Fiverr?
I mean, as much fun as it is to troll scammers, I am not clever enough to figure out how to monetize this service. I think I need to go into making apps where millions of subscribers give me a small cut of their earnings for advertising on my platform. Now there’s a billion dollar idea!
Sincerely,
Not feeling very hopeful about this Gig-business
scam artists for a time, as they find that new sellers are the gullible ones who fall for this sort of scam.
