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mycoplasma
05-14-2012, 04:45 PM
I've been a user of this site since 2006, back when it was called getafreelancer.com, I've been working on and off the site along the years without much issue.

The problem started with my last project, I was selected as a provider for a project and I started working on it, as it was a big and long project, we agreed with the employer to use freelancer.com's milestone system and to divide the project in a set of goals, we started the project and paid all the site's fees.
As I finished each goal the employer paid diligently, and after about two months a certain amount of money started to accumulate in the account, in the number of a few thousand dollars.

I didn't have the need to withdraw at the time but the day came when I wanted to make a withdrawal of about one thousand dollars. I got an e-mail from freelancer.com that said that my account had been suspended, with no explanation as to what could be the reason or any previous warning other than saying it was for "security reasons", which were not detailed.

I checked and I found out that I couldn't access my account, nor my money. I just got a sign that said in big red letters "Account suspended". I only had access to the ticket support system. I opened a ticket to ask about this situation and as a reply they asked me to send a scanned copy of a government issued ID.
I did that and they asked me again for a picture of me holding my ID in one hand a secret code written in a piece of paper in the other. I did it too.

Then they began to ask questions, they asked me if I had a previous business relationship with the employer, which I didn't, if we lived in the same area, which we don't, and what was the project about and a detailed description. I diligently answered all of their questions but they kept asking insidiously how did I manage to contact the employer directly. It's in their TOS that once you're awarded a project you get the direct contact details of the employer. So the questioning was ridiculous.

In the meantime my employer account had also been suspended. I told them that I was in contact with the employer and that he was very upset and was going to issue a chargeback.
Then they apparently got nervous and my account was re-activated "magically". BUT, when I try to withdraw money, by means of creating a withdrawal request on the site, which, by the way, takes quite some time to process, after a few days each and everyone of my requests gets cancelled.
When I ask what this is about, they tell me that it's because my employer hasn't veryfied his identity.
It looks like they just want to withhold my money and prevent me from getting it with all kinds of excuses, requisites and questioning.

Why didn't they ask for all this BEFORE the employer started the project and why in all the 6 years I've been using the site they'd never had an issue or asked for any of this?
I asked the employer and he says he's already sent documentation to them and that he doesn't feel like sending any more ID's, and that he doesn't trust the site.
Do they have the right to hold on to funds like that? Their TOS keeps saying that they're just a "venue" and that they're not liable for anything, but when it comes to money they do feel like they own it and they won't release it because they're supposedly concerned about "security".

I hope something can be done to make this company pay, I'm a hard worker and I need the money which I earned through my own efforts. I wish I could get contacted with people who's also been affected by this company and do something together against it.

scratchycat
05-15-2012, 01:39 PM
I hope something can be done to make this company pay, I'm a hard worker and I need the money which I earned through my own efforts. I wish I could get contacted with people who's also been affected by this company and do something together against it.

You need to report them to Better Business Bureau and file a report with IC3 (http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx) and perhaps with FTC (https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/)

Personally, I would get online and degrade this company through every channel you can by telling how they have scammed you. Twitter, Facebook, social networks, etc. AND I would let them know that you plan on doing all these things - filing compliants with government agencies and relating your story to the networking community.

Hope that helps and you get your money.

scratchycat
05-15-2012, 01:40 PM
If the company has a forum, try posting there.

Shazy677
05-16-2012, 05:09 AM
Hello, Sorry to hear what Freelancer.com did. I'm on the same page just now and was wondering if you can give any suggestions. An employer made a payment which was outside of a project. I had no idea that this could result in suspension, so the next day I log in and it said temporarily suspended. I submitted a ticket and they replied in about 12 hours asking me these 3 questions,


• A full description of what the project is about.
• Any information regarding the relationship or business affiliation you may have with neiljou82.
• An explanation on how you were able to accomplish the said project and what the overpayment was for.

I answered them instantly. Now I haven't heard from them sisnce 2 days and I have just a little over 1K in USD sitting in my account. Can you suggest me what should I do ? Will I at least get my money I earned on this stupid outsourcing website ?

Please Help !!!!

THanks

Shazy

littleroundman
05-16-2012, 06:29 AM
Hi, Shazy and welcome to REALSCAM.com (www.realscam.com)

* Do you have any sort of contractual agreement with Freelancer.com ??

* Does a user agreement exist that precludes you bypassing Freelancer and dealing direct with clients ??

* If a user agreement exists, is there any provision in it allowing Freelancer to withhold payment, if so, under what circumstances ??

* Are you in the same jurisdiction as Freelancer ??

Emir@freelancer
05-18-2012, 12:23 AM
I've been a user of this site since 2006, back when it was called getafreelancer.com, I've been working on and off the site along the years without much issue.

The problem started with my last project, I was selected as a provider for a project and I started working on it, as it was a big and long project, we agreed with the employer to use freelancer.com's milestone system and to divide the project in a set of goals, we started the project and paid all the site's fees.
As I finished each goal the employer paid diligently, and after about two months a certain amount of money started to accumulate in the account, in the number of a few thousand dollars.

I didn't have the need to withdraw at the time but the day came when I wanted to make a withdrawal of about one thousand dollars. I got an e-mail from freelancer.com that said that my account had been suspended, with no explanation as to what could be the reason or any previous warning other than saying it was for "security reasons", which were not detailed.

I checked and I found out that I couldn't access my account, nor my money. I just got a sign that said in big red letters "Account suspended". I only had access to the ticket support system. I opened a ticket to ask about this situation and as a reply they asked me to send a scanned copy of a government issued ID.
I did that and they asked me again for a picture of me holding my ID in one hand a secret code written in a piece of paper in the other. I did it too.

Then they began to ask questions, they asked me if I had a previous business relationship with the employer, which I didn't, if we lived in the same area, which we don't, and what was the project about and a detailed description. I diligently answered all of their questions but they kept asking insidiously how did I manage to contact the employer directly. It's in their TOS that once you're awarded a project you get the direct contact details of the employer. So the questioning was ridiculous.

In the meantime my employer account had also been suspended. I told them that I was in contact with the employer and that he was very upset and was going to issue a chargeback.
Then they apparently got nervous and my account was re-activated "magically". BUT, when I try to withdraw money, by means of creating a withdrawal request on the site, which, by the way, takes quite some time to process, after a few days each and everyone of my requests gets cancelled.
When I ask what this is about, they tell me that it's because my employer hasn't veryfied his identity.
It looks like they just want to withhold my money and prevent me from getting it with all kinds of excuses, requisites and questioning.

Why didn't they ask for all this BEFORE the employer started the project and why in all the 6 years I've been using the site they'd never had an issue or asked for any of this?
I asked the employer and he says he's already sent documentation to them and that he doesn't feel like sending any more ID's, and that he doesn't trust the site.
Do they have the right to hold on to funds like that? Their TOS keeps saying that they're just a "venue" and that they're not liable for anything, but when it comes to money they do feel like they own it and they won't release it because they're supposedly concerned about "security".

I hope something can be done to make this company pay, I'm a hard worker and I need the money which I earned through my own efforts. I wish I could get contacted with people who's also been affected by this company and do something together against it.

Hi Mycoplasma,

My name is Emir and I work for Freelancer.com. I came across your post here. We are sorry that you had a bad experience. We would like to help and we have looked into your case for you.

We understand that you went through the account verification procedures. We’d like to assure that this Freelancer.com procedure is in place to verify the user's identity and to create a safe environment for freelancers and employers. Freelancer.com will not disclose sensitive information unless to comply to legal obligations or with your express consent.

As you discussed the employer has raised a chargeback for the funds that were associated with this project, these funds are now frozen on Freelancer.com, and there is an investigation being conducted into the reason for these chargebacks.

We will contact you via email to ensure you are kept up to date with the progress of this investigation.

Thank you very much.

scratchycat
05-18-2012, 12:19 PM
Hi Mycoplasma,

My name is Emir and I work for Freelancer.com. I came across your post here. We are sorry that you had a bad experience. We would like to help and we have looked into your case for you.

We understand that you went through the account verification procedures. We’d like to assure that this Freelancer.com procedure is in place to verify the user's identity and to create a safe environment for freelancers and employers. Freelancer.com will not disclose sensitive information unless to comply to legal obligations or with your express consent.

As you discussed the employer has raised a chargeback for the funds that were associated with this project, these funds are now frozen on Freelancer.com, and there is an investigation being conducted into the reason for these chargebacks.

We will contact you via email to ensure you are kept up to date with the progress of this investigation.

Thank you very much.

How did you 'just happen' to come across this post here? It seems to me that you could have made these 2 freelancers aware that an investigation was being conducted due to charge backs and they would not have had to seek outside help.

There was a time back when that I was signed up with your company.

I hope they get the money they have worked for.

Emir@freelancer
05-30-2012, 10:41 PM
Hello, Sorry to hear what Freelancer.com did. I'm on the same page just now and was wondering if you can give any suggestions. An employer made a payment which was outside of a project. I had no idea that this could result in suspension, so the next day I log in and it said temporarily suspended. I submitted a ticket and they replied in about 12 hours asking me these 3 questions,


• A full description of what the project is about.
• Any information regarding the relationship or business affiliation you may have with neiljou82.
• An explanation on how you were able to accomplish the said project and what the overpayment was for.

I answered them instantly. Now I haven't heard from them sisnce 2 days and I have just a little over 1K in USD sitting in my account. Can you suggest me what should I do ? Will I at least get my money I earned on this stupid outsourcing website ?

Please Help !!!!

THanks

Shazy

Hi shazzy677. Emir here from Freelancer.com. I came across your post here and I’d like to address your concerns.

Freelancer has an obligation to conduct our business in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations or laws. As stated in our Terms and Conditions (Freelancer.com | Online Jobs | Freelance Employment | Outsourcing Services | Programmers | Web Design | Freelancers (http://www.freelancer.com/page.php?p=info/terms)), users can’t accept payments outside of a project.

We’d like to assure that Freelancer.com will only freeze or suspend accounts to further validate a user’s identity or investigate the transactions done through our site.These policies and security procedures are in place to create a safe environment for freelancers and employers. The questions the Contact Support Team has sent to you are intended to discern the nature of the transaction you made with the employer.

I’d like to help you further. I’d like to ask if you can send your ticket ID/ number to emir@freelancer.com. I’ll forward the information to our Customer Support Managers so we can resolve your account issues.

Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon.

Emir@freelancer
06-07-2012, 08:47 PM
How did you 'just happen' to come across this post here? It seems to me that you could have made these 2 freelancers aware that an investigation was being conducted due to charge backs and they would not have had to seek outside help.

There was a time back when that I was signed up with your company.

I hope they get the money they have worked for.


Hi scratchycat . I’ve recently been employed by Freelancer.com and tasked to actively reach out to communities discussing Freelancer.com to ensure people’s issues are dealt with immediately. That’s on top of our goal on educating the public on the best ways they can use Freelancer.com to earn money and outsource work.

Please be further assured that mycoplasma’s concerns are being handled with the utmost care and we’re also investigating the issues raised by shazzy677. We will get their concerns resolved at the soonest possible time.

Thank you very much.

scratchycat
06-08-2012, 08:32 AM
Hi scratchycat . I’ve recently been employed by Freelancer.com and tasked to actively reach out to communities discussing Freelancer.com to ensure people’s issues are dealt with immediately. That’s on top of our goal on educating the public on the best ways they can use Freelancer.com to earn money and outsource work.

Please be further assured that mycoplasma’s concerns are being handled with the utmost care and we’re also investigating the issues raised by shazzy677. We will get their concerns resolved at the soonest possible time.

Thank you very much.

That is good to know and perhaps if and when the problems are resolved they will be updated here as this affects your online reputation.

barcelonans
10-31-2012, 09:46 AM
I've been a user of this site since 2006, back when it was called getafreelancer.com, I've been working on and off the site along the years without much issue.

The problem started with my last project, I was selected as a provider for a project and I started working on it, as it was a big and long project, we agreed with the employer to use freelancer.com's milestone system and to divide the project in a set of goals, we started the project and paid all the site's fees.
As I finished each goal the employer paid diligently, and after about two months a certain amount of money started to accumulate in the account, in the number of a few thousand dollars.

I didn't have the need to withdraw at the time but the day came when I wanted to make a withdrawal of about one thousand dollars. I got an e-mail from freelancer.com that said that my account had been suspended, with no explanation as to what could be the reason or any previous warning other than saying it was for "security reasons", which were not detailed.

I checked and I found out that I couldn't access my account, nor my money. I just got a sign that said in big red letters "Account suspended". I only had access to the ticket support system. I opened a ticket to ask about this situation and as a reply they asked me to send a scanned copy of a government issued ID.
I did that and they asked me again for a picture of me holding my ID in one hand a secret code written in a piece of paper in the other. I did it too.

Then they began to ask questions, they asked me if I had a previous business relationship with the employer, which I didn't, if we lived in the same area, which we don't, and what was the project about and a detailed description. I diligently answered all of their questions but they kept asking insidiously how did I manage to contact the employer directly. It's in their TOS that once you're awarded a project you get the direct contact details of the employer. So the questioning was ridiculous.

In the meantime my employer account had also been suspended. I told them that I was in contact with the employer and that he was very upset and was going to issue a chargeback.
Then they apparently got nervous and my account was re-activated "magically". BUT, when I try to withdraw money, by means of creating a withdrawal request on the site, which, by the way, takes quite some time to process, after a few days each and everyone of my requests gets cancelled.
When I ask what this is about, they tell me that it's because my employer hasn't veryfied his identity.
It looks like they just want to withhold my money and prevent me from getting it with all kinds of excuses, requisites and questioning.

Why didn't they ask for all this BEFORE the employer started the project and why in all the 6 years I've been using the site they'd never had an issue or asked for any of this?
I asked the employer and he says he's already sent documentation to them and that he doesn't feel like sending any more ID's, and that he doesn't trust the site.
Do they have the right to hold on to funds like that? Their TOS keeps saying that they're just a "venue" and that they're not liable for anything, but when it comes to money they do feel like they own it and they won't release it because they're supposedly concerned about "security".

I hope something can be done to make this company pay, I'm a hard worker and I need the money which I earned through my own efforts. I wish I could get contacted with people who's also been affected by this company and do something together against it.

I had a similar experience. I had been a member of Freelancer or getFreelancer for a couple of years. I ran a project through them, paid my contractor and was midway through a second. I had deposited a "milestone payment" of $600. Suddenly, I find that my account is "restricted" and I cannot pay my contractor. Freelancer demanded photos of me holding a passport or drivers license and a scan of the ID in order to "un-restrict" my account. Freelancer had my credit card details including the security code. In todays world of security theft problems, it is absolutely nuts to provide that sort of information to a company....especially one that appears to be scattered across several countries.

I tried to find a phone number, but none is available. The person their website is registered to has a false phone number listed, and their physical address is a harbor in Sydney Australia. Looking at Googles Street View, the address could be a boat! I could not find a legit address, phone number or decent email address. All postings to their ticket system or technical support resulted in a form response, that Freelancer requires the ID documents and photos due to Australian law.

Next I tried to close the account and withdraw my balance. Again, Freelancer responded to my ticket with "not without a scan of your Drivers License, Passport and photo of you holding them Fortunately my credit card was from American Express. I raised a dispute against Freelancer with them. They have credited my account, and miraculously, Freelancer has agreed to refund my balance, close my account.....if I drop the dispute through American Express.

Their terms and conditions do say that Freelancer may take steps to verify your ID. I have no problem with that, but scans and copies of private documents is beyond reasonable and should be done up front on registration. Of course they would not get many people signing up if they did that.

Don't do business with this company.

scratchycat
11-02-2012, 08:23 AM
There is no way I would give that information to these people. Did you sign a contract? Since you are here, you must have read the info above from the 'supposedly' representative of Freelance.com.


"I’d like to help you further. I’d like to ask if you can send your ticket ID/ number to emir@freelancer.com. I’ll forward the information to our Customer Support Managers so we can resolve your account issues."

I would be contact emir and also filing reports to governmental agencies. We are hearing more and more people being ripped off by these free lance companies now.

ChaimS
11-07-2012, 04:02 AM
After their staff geniuses published my name and surname (yes, taken from user database) on Wikipedia, this became personal. Btw: could anyone of you imagine a bank publishing his customer's personal data on purpose? Just forgot: Freelancer.com is sophisticated and keen on security. /sarcasm

1936


In my humble opinion, making it official is only one of many ways to go. Look at their attention whoring and hit there.

1. Wikipedia - no matter their staff guards it. This belongs to public domain so you are entitled to add well-sourced information. They change it? Undo it. And again... and again... At least SOME people will learn the truth meanwhile. BTW: almost all legit corporations have "controversies" or "critique" section. But Freelancer.com is just beyond clean...

2. Google - their attempts to cover the truth are becoming more and more desperate. They went into plain spamming and abusing the search engine. See Google results for: Freelancer.com with associated sentences (spam an review are examples only). See how heavily coered with useless results from Freelancer.com's domain the results are. Apart from that it looks that they are trying to fool the engine creating fake review websites/entries. Not in mood to discuss it all... you can investigate it on your own. Solution? Report, report, report: Google -> report webspam. One fine day it may turn out that Freelancer.com doesn't exist in Google's index anymore.

3. Media - the company helps a lot. They got their media section. Google (news search function) helps as well. What to do? Send an email to every blog, portal, newspaper, radio and tv that even mentions the name of this company or does something similar. Tell them about your experience, give a few links to websites discussing it, ask them not to engage in promoting the unethical company. Haven't said that everyone will remove the infomercials and/or publish anything about malpractices, but some do... provided that you are patient (which means: send hundreds of inquiries). Even if they do not respond, in the long run they will heavily consider repasting Freelancer.com's marketing fluff.

Want even more? Visit my blog... and start your own:)
Look for:
CAN THE FREELANCER.COM'S MICE ROAR? - HOW TO GET YOUR REVENGE MOST EFFECTIVELY

scratchycat
11-07-2012, 02:26 PM
Get a Hindu (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/08/can-freelancer.html#!/2012/08/can-freelancer.html)

Have you reported these people to the authorities?

ChaimS
11-07-2012, 06:42 PM
Scratchycat, please refer to private message.

For all the other folks: I am not letting it go. They went just too far.

littleroundman
11-07-2012, 07:09 PM
We'll probably get a visit from one of the Freelancer bots "emir@freelancer" or "max@freelancer" soon with the same cookie cutter response it leaves on any forum a dissatisfied Freelancer client complains.


Hi Kushagra Mittal. My name is Emir and I work for Freelancer.com.

We appreciate the feedback.I’m here to address and resolve any concern that you may have about Freelancer.com. Please be assured that Freelancer.com will only suspend or freeze account to verify a user’s identity or the transactions done through the site. Once an account has been verified, we will lift the suspension. I’ve also looked into your case for you and your account issues have been resolved. You may now continue on with your projects. Should you have additional concerns or enquiries, please send an e-mail to emir@freelancer.com and I’ll assist you.



Hi. Emir here again from Freelancer. I got to read your comment on deepakp118’s article and we appreciate the feedback.

I’d like to address your concerns.
Again, I’d like to assure that Freelancer.com will only suspend or freeze accounts to validate a user’s account or investigate the transactions made through the site. A part of those procedures requires users to submit high resolution photos of their IDs together with other documents. Once we receive the requirements and the investigation reveals no unauthorized transactions, we will immediately unsuspend the account. The money inside these suspended accounts will not go anywhere and once the account verification procedures are done, it’ll be made available to the user. These policies and procedures are in place to provide a safe environment for freelancers and employers alike.
Freelancer.com Support Teams dedicate themselves to get account issues resolved as quickly as possible. Have no doubt that we are working on getting your concerns resolved.
In regards to your concern about project fees and commissions, please be assured that the fees are taken as part of the charges for our services -- most of which are nominal. Freelancer is always transparent with our fees, listing them clearly throughout the site. For more details, please visit our Terms and Conditions, FAQ , our How Tos & Articles sections at Freelancer.com.
Also, we’ve taken into account your suggestions on improving account verification procedures.
I’d like to completely assure you that Freelancer.com aims to provide the best customer experience. We value all the feedback that we get and we don’t take it against anyone if they post negative comments. We take the time to address their concerns and help them get their issues resolved.
I’d like help you further. Please send your username to emir@freelancer.com and I’ll personally escalate your concerns to our Customer Support Managers and sort out the issues around your account immediately.
We hope we’ve addressed your concerns and I hope to hear from you soon.

ChaimS
11-07-2012, 09:21 PM
Problem is they are spewing lies (my thoughts are in order of reading this copy-paste stuff):

- They DO NOT appreciate our feedbacks. There is like 3 years history of complaints and the intensity of those is on the rise

- Strangely, there is high chance they will need to verify you when the see... you have money on your account. What's more, some users report they been through it a number of times (!)

- Personnel seems to be... more caring when complaint is made public. What kind of policy is it?!

- There is no law a company may extort your private data under threat they will not give you your money. Security etc. just excuses here. A lot of companies deal with money. Strangely, only scam companies (including Freelancer.com) are criticized so widely. Legitimate companies adjust their procedures as soon as they notice those spark controversies.

- Having in mind the company used this sensitive data without user's consent and been redoing it ignoring user's protests means the company cannot be trusted. Period.

- Freelancer.com's customer support doesn't know the word "immediately". Sometimes it takes them days, weeks or months to respond to ticket. They do not respond if they don't feel like it. Don't know whether it is the matter of bad oversight (HQ is in Australia while customer support is in Philippines), personal problems (pure laziness), directives from the top (it would be rational to charge interest on suspended funds and, thus, prolong the periods of suspension) or any combination of those issues.

- Even when accounts are not suspended, there is a number of dirty tricks to prolong the payout processing. (quite a long story)

- Freelancer.com is anything but safe environment. Problem is it could have been provided that legitimate business model had been run properly, not turned into a black box. Freelancer.com could have been a great example and standard setter for each and every outsourcing market in the world. Unfortunately it had been hijacked by a bunch of individuals who turned it into a swamp. Both employers and freelancers complain. (congratulations: at least this is equal opportunity and neutral scam)

- There are no, I repeat: no signs of improvements. Customer support is unprofessional, using generic statements and fake Western names. They require you to send them your ID's scan and your own mugshot holding this ID: http://oi56.tinypic.com/2ufam4i.jpg (!) while you know you have only some "John" or "Cristine" at the other end. Company gives no customer phone support number and doesn't feel like giving its Manila branches' address. And Manila seems critical there having in mind that even fraud division is outsourced there: Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM - FRAUD DIVISION MANAGER NEEDED (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/freelancercom-fraud-division-manager.html)

- There are at least 5 types of fees you can consider to be hidden or illegal. Examples are currency exchange fee. Company claims it uses FX rates while customers report almost 10% damages due to it: http://www.scam.com/showpost.php?p=1156802&postcount=46 Even funnier fact is that the exchange may take place even without your will. You pay your commission even if your customer defaults which is just disgusting (not only you get scammed by your customer but by Freelancer.com as well and end up with... negative balance). The list goes on... Anyway, Freelancer.com has no single list with ALL fees outlined.

- Having in mind their Rules and Regulations:
Freelancer.com has no responsibility for enforcing any User rights.
That's fair enough. But I have no responsibility for Freelancer.com's reputation. Apart from that: civil and penal codes are above such trashy code of conduct. Let's say: me and Mr. Smith had a bet. If he wins, I have to pay him $50,000. If I win, I can strangle him with a cheesewire. Let's say I won and killed Mr. Smith. I get arrested and show the contract with Smith. Would it give me legal immunity? You know the answer.

Let me guess: were those Rules of Freelancer.com written for 10 bucks? Anyway: such statement may be used by number of businesses as critical safety valve. Never on daily basis.
Even more: you are informed about some rules while... clashing with them. An example would be a withdrawal fee. You learn you have to pay while... wanting to make a withdrawal. So this is like a restaurant with a choice: you can eat or not.

- Freelancer.com seems to be unwilling to make any pro-consumer changes. The company seems to ignore its reputation, long term revenue effects or overall entreprise's value. Problem is this is not how legitimate companies operate. This is like more like packing the bags.

- ...cherry on the top.

Emir wrote:

I’d like to completely assure you that Freelancer.com aims to provide the best customer experience. We value all the feedback that we get and we don’t take it against anyone if they post negative comments.

While Danu Davenport Customer Support Manager, writing from mailbox of support@freelancer.com, ticket: #EWQ-697-92677), Customer Service Manager wrote to me:


We ask that you immediately remove these posts or we will take action against you as well as contact the
relevant authorities in [my hometown].

[QUOTE]Please respond to this email by 5pm CEST or we will commence action against you.

Declined of course, it was in August. Googled the name, seemed to be fake (no surprise here). So you got a company threatening its customer and suggesting that authorities of independent country are their minions. Law consultation's and research's result was simple: it could be considered as unlawful/illegal threat according to penal code of my country (European one).

After they had no respect for my privacy or even dignity at large, started investigating this company. Like 5 months passed, know much more and don't feel bored at all. Fun fact is that there seems to be a double (or even triple) bottom there (even more shocking that th above). Sooner or later it will be out and in the open.

My blog about the scams of Freelancer.com:
Get a Hindu (http://www.getahindu.blogspot.com)

Lesson for all the businesess around the world. No matter whether you are scam or legit, big or small, local or international:

NEVER DECLARE A WAR ON YOUR CUSTOMERS - YOU WILL ALWAYS LOSE


God bless
Chaim

littleroundman
11-08-2012, 03:12 AM
We ask that you immediately remove these posts or we will take action against you as well as contact the
relevant authorities in [my hometown].

HaHa, now that's downright funny.

I'm guessing they are too cheap to pay for their publicity and they think by making threats like that, their name will be spread all over the internet in a matter of days.

Well, it will certainly work if publicity is what they want, but I can guarantee it won't be the sort of publicity they're hoping for.

Silly little amateurs.

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:00 AM
Freelance.com/en

Registrant:
Freelance.man
P.O.Box 227, Clinch's House, Lord Street
Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1RZ
GB

Domain name: FREELANCE.COM


Administrative Contact:
Martinie, Andre @freelance.com
P.O.Box 227, Clinch's House, Lord Street
Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1RZ
GB
33155621234 Fax: 33155621230

Technical Contact:
Hostmaster, easyDNS @easydns.com
304A-219 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario M6K 3E3
CA
+1.4165358672


Registrar of Record: easyDNS Technologies, Inc.
Record last updated on 09-Jan-2012.
Record expires on 18-Nov-2017.
Record created on 19-Nov-1998.

Registrar Domain Name Help Center:
EasyDNS Support Centre - Mediawiki.easydns.com (http://helpwiki.easydns.com)

Domain servers in listed order:
DNS1.EASYDNS.COM
DNS2.EASYDNS.NET
DNS3.EASYDNS.ORG


Domain status: clientTransferProhibited
clientUpdateProhibited

This domain is being managed via EASYDNS

Thanks for the message Chaim and welcome to RealScam. I feel sure members will get involved and help to expose the travesity going on with this company.

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:04 AM
A one stop shop platform for freelancers and employers (http://www.freelance.com/en/)

Who are we? (http://www.freelance.com/en/contents/about-freelance)
"freelance.com showcases the skills of qualified contractors/freelancers to companies in the areas of IT, marketing and communication, journalism, translation, training as well as consultancy. These companies – or employers – use the services of freelance.com to help them evaluate, select and recruit the right contractor for every job. With freelance.com, both parties benefit from the expertise of independent Business Managers, whose job it is to shortlist, verify qualifications and support freelancers during the selection process. They also support employers by checking jobs, assessing potential candidates for the job, and ensuring further communications and follow-up between the freelancer and the employer. This is the only freelancing platform to offer the assistance of Business Managers, thus ensuring that the bid and the job offer are suitably matched, as well as facilitating the accomplishment of the project itself. Freelance.com charges each party directly, meaning therefore that there is only one single port of call for all administrative and financial tasks."

"A message from the CEO (http://www.freelance.com/en/contents/A-message-from-the-CEO)

Dear visitor,

Since its creation in 1995 in Paris, France, the freelance.com group has generated business for more than € 234,300 million and has managed more than 20,000 jobs for freelancers, many of them on behalf of large, world-wide companies such as HP, DHL, IBM, Microsoft, France Telecom, L' Oréal and Airbus.

With the launch in 2010 of its new website, freelance.com becomes the one-stop-shop for freelancers and employers who want to work independently but reliably, regardless of their size and their geographical location. This one-stop-shop strategy is supported by the two complementary business models: 1.the "direct model" (Get in touch directly with freelance providers worldwide. (http://www.freelance.com/direct)) connecting employers and freelancers who wish to work together directly through our platform and 2.the "corporate model" (A one-stop shop for job management and structured procurement (http://www.freelance.com/corp)) devoted to large companies or employers who limit the number of their suppliers through outsourcing. In this latest model, freelance.com becomes the single online reference point, both for freelancers and employers, managing the whole process of selection, short-listing, contract management, follow-ups and invoicing.


The one-stop shop online service is now available in both English and French, and other major languages will follow to allow contact to be made between contractors and employers worldwide. No matter what the size of the company/contractor may be, freelance.com can offer the right solution for each and every job.

Today, working online is much more than a trend – in fact, it has become the norm, particularly for services requiring intellectual know-how and expertise. It acts as a door to the worldwide job market, allowing access to professionals with valuable qualifications and backgrounds from all walks of life. There are also numerous advantages: no extra fees for transportation (thus also reducing the environmental impact) and access to employment for freelancers living in remote areas or for those with a handicap.


Today, many people combine freelancing and a steady job as a complete opportunity for career advancement. Freelance.com is the first international online platform that brings together independent professionals applying for jobs though the website A one stop shop platform for freelancers and employers (http://www.freelance.com) and/or those interested in a wage-earning status with an ability to solve HR problems via our networks Prower.com France (http://www.prower.com) and Portage salarial - valor société de portage salarial - rémunération du travailleur indépendant (http://www.portage.com).

Freelance.com warmly welcomes all of you who want to work differently!

André Martinie"

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:09 AM
Just did a Google search using "complaints about freelance.com - came up with a whole page full of links!!

Here is just one of the complaints made 10/12/2012

Consumer Reviews of Online Businesses and Websites - SiteJabber (http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.freelancer.comThis) is actually the worst out of all the freelance sites! They have a very very bad payment system set up where you put money in escrow/milestone until the the person is done with the project. The problem is, if the person never completes the project and never logs in to their profile again, you money will sit in escrow and it cannot be removed until the other person cancels the project! This means you have to file a dispute and then pay for arbitration if nothing happens after that. That on top of the fees you lose for posting and awarding a project are ridiculous. This website is a joke and basically a cash cow for the people who are running it because they make their money off fees and stupid $#*! like that! I $#*!ing hate this website and am in the process of bringing a lawsuit against them as we speak!


Wow, these people are MAD!! I hope they get action and soon!

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:14 AM
Freelancer.com Complaints & Reviews (http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/freelancercom-a208769.html)

Domain name: FREELANCER.COM

Registrant Contact:
Freelancer Technology Pty Limited
Matt Barrie ()

Fax:
Suite 501
35 Lime Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
AU

Administrative Contact:
Freelancer Australia Pty Limited
Customer Service (customer-support@freelancer.com)
+61.292793305
Fax: +61.292793305
Suite 501
35 Lime Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
AU

Technical Contact:
Freelancer Technology Pty Limited
Matt Barrie (noc@freelancer.com)
+61.292793305
Fax: +61.292793305
Suite 501
35 Lime Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
AU

Status: Locked

Name Servers:
dns1.getafreelancer.com
dns2.getafreelancer.com
dns3.getafreelancer.com

Creation date: 18 Aug 1995 04:00:00
Expiration date: 17 Aug 2020 04:00:00

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:26 AM
Freelancer.com Management Team (http://www.freelancer.com/info/management.php)

Matt Barrie

Chief Executive Officer

BE (Hons I) BSc (Hons I) GDipAppFin MAppFin MSEE (Stanford) GAICD SEP

Matt Barrie is an award winning entrepreneur, technologist and lecturer. He is Chief Executive of Freelancer.com, the world's largest outsourcing marketplace connecting over 4.4 million professionals from around the globe, and in the top 250 websites globally.

Freelancer.com primarily connects small businesses and individuals from the western world with freelancers in the developing world, empowering entrepreneurs on both sides of the globe. To date, over 2.6 million projects have been outsourced through Freelancer.com.

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences awarded Freelancer.com the "Internet's highest honour" in the 15th Annual Webby Awards as best Employment Site of the Year, as well as the Webby People's Choice Award for the same category - from a field of 10,000 entrants from 60 countries.

Matt is serial entrepreneur, previously as founder and CEO of Sensory Networks Inc., a vendor of high performance network security processors. Prior to this he founded a telecommunications hardware company. Matt has raised over $40M USD in financing from venture capital, strategic investors and through government grants while running or assisting technology companies.

For the last ten years has been an external lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of Sydney, teaching Network Security, and starting in 2010, Technology Venture Creation. He is the co-author of over 20 US patent applications.

Matt is a prolific speaker and has spoken at or featured in the Summit Series, the New York Times, Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, The Atlantic, Switzer, BRW and The Economist. In 2012 he was selected out of a field of 600 presenters to be one of 20 featured speakers at South by South West in Austin, Texas (SXSW), which is one of the world's largest interactive, music, film and technology festivals.

In 2006, he was awarded the State Pearcey Award for contribution to the IT&T industry. In 2010 he was named Alumnus of the Year for the Faculty of Engineering and IT at the University of Sydney. In 2011, Smart Company named him in the 10 most influential Australians in IT. In 2011 he was named inaugural BRW Entrepreneur of the Year, by Australia's most prestigious business publication. He was also named the Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year for 2011. In 2012 he was named in the top 100 most influential engineers by Engineers Australia, and a 2012 Man of Influence by Men's Style Magazine.

Matt is regularly invited to speak at the world's leading entrepreneurship, internet and business conferences/forums. His schedule is very full, but if you have a request for a speaking engagement, please email speaker@freelancer.com.

scratchycat
11-08-2012, 10:29 AM
When I did the Google search, it came up with more for freelancer than freelance, so here is a quote:

I believe this is the major issue with freelancer.com when accounts get suspended for absolutely no reason. They have suspended my account even without giving a prior notice of why they are doing so. They did give explanations when I requested, but got silent with no further actions. It’s indeed a frustrating experience for me since I have worked with other websites and had no even the slightest hint of such an inexplicable behavior. And I don’t think I would ever want to work through freelance.com again. Btw, I’ve read many other similar reviews and it seems like this is a trick in order not to give the money people earned. It’s a scam!!!

Reply
27072012
rkseid (02:25:25) :


Please be careful, freelanceR.com and freelance.com (without the R) are two different websites.

Okay, will be careful but seems like there are complaints against both companies.

AlaisterLow
11-09-2012, 01:34 AM
Hi sratchycat,

Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


Regards,

Alaister Low
Director of Customer Experience
Freelancer.com

littleroundman
11-09-2012, 01:45 AM
Alaister, mate,

if you are happy riding around the 'net trying to pretend a company which asks people to hold up home made signs in front of who-knows-who, as some sort of "verification process" then, more power to you.

That would have to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen on the 'net since I watched as 419ers baited Nigerian scammers by playing the same trick on them.

"Yes, we are a multi million dollar company with over four million members and the best we can come up with to supposedly verify identities is to make people take pictures of "themselves" holding a sign"

I don't know about you, Alaister, but, I sure as hell can think of a squillion good reasons why Freelancers' story explaining why it delays payments is nothing but male bovine excreta.

ChaimS
11-09-2012, 02:46 AM
Hi sratchycat,

Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


Regards,

Alaister Low
Director of Customer Experience
Freelancer.com

Alaister. Baby, at least learn to write the word 'scratchycat'. I know all the rest is copy-paste. But pleeease... at least one word.

Tell me. What security measures made Freelancer.com to outsource your fraud department to Philippines?

Job :: Fraud Division Manager :: Best Jobs Philippines (http://www.bestjobsph.com/bt-jobd-freelancer123-78628.htm)


Not mentioning that the country got blacklisted due to money laundering, guessing you know about it:

Philippines risks joining money-laundering blacklist | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/07/us-philippines-moneylaundering-idUSBRE8560CL20120607)

ChaimS
11-09-2012, 09:15 AM
*got at risk of being blacklisted. But you got the idea.

To give people some valuable additional information while gproducing two posts in a row:

Your verification procedures are pure disgrace. Do not remember any bank or, say, PayPal requiring me to do something like this (official instruction):
http://oi56.tinypic.com/2ufam4i.jpg

If someone wanted to fool you, he certainly would. You know well about it. What's more, you know that you could totally drop this ID scheme and have your company working in complaince with the law. How? If I could figure it out, you could have done it many years ago. You know the way, but you prefer to have an excuse for freezing the funds. Not mentioning that when customer declines to give you what you want (having in mind you are holding his funds, this is extortion), you just delete his or her account. With no procedure for bringing the money to him or her. If customer's account gets deleted, he doesn't even get the mail notice!

Apart from that, sensitive private data are just not safe in your hands. See Wikipedia's article about Freelancer.com. See the history of editions for August the 13th...

scratchycat
11-09-2012, 11:11 AM
Hi sratchycat,

Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


Regards,

Alaister Low
Director of Customer Experience
Freelancer.com

Hello Mr. Alaister Low and welcome to RealScam.

Is this you or your boss?

1942

Interesting article:

"The man behind Freelancer, Matt Barrie, strides in past the geeks, fizzing with energy. He's a tall, solid, bald man of 38, and several friends gleefully point out to me his resemblance to the Mike Myers character Dr Evil. Barrie has been on the international conference circuit "keynoting" and, as we sit in the meeting room, I get his spiel. "A tectonic shift to society is under way and this shift is going to be so significant it is going to change the way that we live our lives, the way we do business," he says in a spitfire delivery. "It is going to change everything. I will tell you why. The reason is that 70 per cent of the world is about to join the internet. They are poor. They are hungry. They are driven. They are self-skilled. They are self-motivated. They want a job."

The Aussie making a motza from offshoring white-collar jobs (http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/the-aussie-making-a-motza-from-offshoring-whitecollar-jobs-20120220-1thyc.html)

Care to tell us more about your company? Oh and it is ScratchyCat by the way.

scratchycat
11-09-2012, 11:15 AM
Freelancer.com

Fraud Division Manager

Freelancer.com is the world's largest crowd sourcing marketplace, is the largest Australian-run website in terms of global traffic and is growing at an exponential rate! We're now in the top 250 websites worldwide with over 3.3 million users.

Our CEO recently won BRW Entrepreneur of the Year, so come learn from the best in the industry!

This is as close as you will get to working in a Silicon Valley tech company. There's no other opportunity like this in the Philippines.

If you're a high achiever with talent who is looking for something more than a boring job, doesn't need to be supervised, and wants to be in at ground zero with a company that has a shot at being one of the biggest sites on the internet, then join our team!

Taken from here. (http://www.bestjobsph.com/bt-jobd-freelancer123-78628.htm)

Eligibility note:

It is unlawful to employ a person who does not have permission to live and work in the Philippines. Unless the advert states otherwise, please ensure you have this permission before applying.

hmmmm

ChaimS
11-11-2012, 03:16 AM
One of things Freelancer.com cannot cover with its SEO are complains sent directly to media. Below you can find a mail that is ready to send. You got to just input your name twice (field: [...] ). Of course you do have to read it before you send it - you are signing it after all. Also feel free to edit it ; put there any information you consider to be of value.

Here is a bunch of 10 mail addresses. Of course you can send it anywhere you can see the toxic waste from the company. Planning to add some addresses from time to time.

mia@thenextweb.com
scoop@brisbanetimes.com.au
tips@techcrunch.com
tips@wired.co.uk
rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com
lham@theage.com.au
itbeditorial@itbusiness.ca
mkelly@bizbookpr.com
sjean@dallasnews.com
newsdesk@smh.com.au



Here it goes:

--------------------------------------------------------



Hello. My name is [...]. I have noticed you published an article about the company of Freelancer.com.

I would like to inform you that contrary to company's PR, marketing and media messages, its policies are more than questionable.



Examples:
- money processing procedures are nothing similar to those you can see in banks, companies like PayPal or Moneybookers; those involve extorting sensitive personal data at the threat users will not get their monies provided that they do not cooperate (for example: send hi res ID scans together with own mugshot taken while holding the documents ; official instruction: http://oi56.tinypic.com/2ufam4i.jpg ). Problem is that contrary to company's statements (using security reasons as an excuse), such standards are unprecedented for any legitimate financial company (freelancing portal or financial institution). Apart from that, Freelancer.com never disclosed its standards of data processing and hadn't declared itself to be a typical financial company or listed the authorities it is subject to. What's more, those harsh and abusive procedures do not help to make the market safer - it won't be any exaggeration to describe the marketplace organized by Freelancer.com as most dangerouf of all freelancing markets.

- hidden, rip-off and potentially illegal fees and charges (for example: currency exchange rates ; project delete fee ; withdrawal fees ; credit card fees ; project delete fee)

- abusing the social media (for example threats sent to bloggers Kent Mauresmo: Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/comment-page-3/#comment-8081) and Chaim Kovalsky: http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-withholds-my-money-1281/#post32525 ; deleting all Wikipedia editions even mentioning the controversies associated with the company ; hiring the writers to create fake reviews ; spamming the Google search engine to cover the bad reviews)

- spamming the Google search engine to cover the bad stories (see results for queries like >freelancer.com scam< and >freelancer.com review<)

- using the customer database to abuse the privacy of at least one former customer (Wikipedia editions history for August the 13th: Freelancer.com: Revision history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freelancer.com&offset=&limit=500&action=history) )

- arrogance and ignoring users' complaints (for example CEO labeling the complaining ones as "crazies": Freelancer.com founder dismisses scam claims - Sydney Business Month (http://sydneybusinessmonth.com/freelancer-com-founder-dismisses-scam-claims/) or suggesting that the complaining user is... racist Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM, FACEBOOK ...AND SWASTIKAS (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/freelancercom-facebook-and-swastikas.html) )

- number of other unprofessional and abusive behaviors (please refer to sources list at the bottom of this mail)



Freelancer.com uses the undisclosed laws as excuses to mistreat, rip off and abuse the privacy its users. Even official CEO's statements seem to be more and more inconsistent. For example on August he stated that:
"We have sophisticated antifraud software and a dedicated team [but] with four million users you always will have complaints about something, as well as a few crazies." (search: "Freelancer.com founder dismisses scam claims")

while on November we read that:
"The original software for this business came from acquisition, it wasn’t built by us from the ground up, so there’s lots of things to fix." ( Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/) )

Note that such inconsistencies can be found in a number of company's statements. Probably most insolent ones are copy-paste messages on discussion forums that are desperate attempts to calm down all the users that are upset due to company's policies and lack of professional customer support. (look for: >Emir from Freelancer.com< and >Max from Freelancer.com<)


Even though there is more than 2 years history of complaints the company is perfectly aware of, the number of disgruntled users seems to rise faster and faster. For example: since spring 2012 the company feels free to suspend the freelancers' accounts because... their customers' accounts were not verified.

Company has no official phone number and has at least its customer support and fraud departments outsourced to Manila, Philippines. ( Job :: Fraud Division Manager :: Best Jobs Philippines (http://www.bestjobsph.com/bt-jobd-freelancer123-78628.htm) ) Philippines faces the risk of joining a global money-laundering blacklist after it failed to approve all required amendments to legislation on illegal movement of money.

All the above is even more sad while noticing that most of them are poor people from countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh which (distance, costs) prevents them from undertaking official actions against the company. It is highly probable that this issue has been taken into account while planning company's operations.

More and more Freelancer.com's current and former customers scream for justice and are fed up with Freelancer.com's lies communicated to the general public.

Having that in mind I would like to ask you to not only cease company's infomercials dissemination, but to investigate its background and dissatisfied users' claims. I do ask for actions because it seems that the biggest and still growing risk factor for freelancing market is... Freelancer.com itself.

sincerely
[...]


some sources (note you can find hundreds of those):

Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)
The trouble with*Freelancer.com « Lisa A. Martin – Freelance science copywriter/editor (http://lisaamartin.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/the-trouble-with-freelancer-com/) [note that the article's author used to cooperate with the company creating Wikipedia article about it]
freelancer | Ripoff Report | Complaints Reviews Scams Lawsuits Frauds Reported (http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/freelancer.com.aspx)
Freelancer.com Review- Is Suspending Accounts With Money a Good Policy? (http://expertscolumn.com/content/freelancercom-review-suspending-accounts-money-good-policy)
Freelancer.com Reviews - Legit or Scam? (http://www.reviewopedia.com/freelancer-com-reviews?sort=high_rated)
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356
Freelancer.com Complaints & Reviews (http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/freelancercom-a208769.html)
Freelancer.com Website Reviews - Page 1 | SiteJabber (http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.freelancer.com)



------------------------------------------------

source:
Get a Hindu: FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE - ASK THE MEDIA ABOUT FREELANCER.COM (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/fight-fire-with-fire-ask-media-about.html)

Soapboxmom
11-11-2012, 08:58 AM
Very well written. Talented bloggers like you will cover the first pages of Google and expose this company for what it is!

ChaimS
11-11-2012, 03:19 PM
This is really nice of you. Even more when having in mind I am not a native English writer.

The problem is that there is at least one thing this company does really well: playing with the search engine. This is a crucial element helping them to stay alive.

Need a good example?
http://www.imgnook.com/nE8LS.png

Screenshot taken a few months ago. If you compare those results with ones from present day, you will see a HUGE change. No expertise needed to say the company loves to abuse the freedom of information. As I said: recieved illegal threats from them ; essentially the company's representative suggested I have commited a crime and provided that I don't play the ball, they will report it to my local authorities (yes, company offered to act as accessory to purported crime provided that I will cooperate). Not mentioning the Wikipedia, free press abuse (journalist removing her article 'Freelancer.com Founder Dismisses Scam Claims') and other forms of violation (for example causing my publisher to remove my article and ceasing contact with me: Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM SCAM: WHY ARE YOU LYING, MATT BARRIE? (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/10/freelancercom-scam-why-are-you-lying.html) ).

Other form of messing up with search engine?
For a number of months, if you been typing 'Freelancer.com' into Google window, it would suggest you "Freelancer.com scam" as a best guess. Now? No such suggestion unless you type "Freelancer.com s[cam would be suggested]".

So I have to tell you: Freelancer.com's behaviors are unethical, abusive and criminal. Yes, criminal. Even if they have changed their behaviors, the company has already engaged in criminal acts. Illegal threats, privacy abuse, property abuse (if you took my money and gave it to me in a few days, you would still be a thief), defacements and many more (this is not a fluff phrase ; will publish articles about it soon).

This is so funny... just wanted to make my point in August. If they did nothing, I would give it a go. But their unprofessional personnel (including the CEO) wanted to play strong. Published my personal data (imagine a bank or even a discussion forum doing it ; even though I was protesting, they have repeated those actions making their abuse even greater and more arrogant), unjustly accused me of defacement, distributed a smear note among my customers, threatened me with authorities of my country (according to local Penal Code this can be interpreted as illegal threats), closed my user account using security as an excuse (even though acount got suspended and deleted within 48 hours after I have published my second article - together with the account they have deleted all the evidence and a few pennies there ; still have no refund ; no matter it was like one dollar - it is about the rules!), killed my relation with the publisher (Business2Community portal) and put accusation of public racism on top of it.

Congratulations: now you got a really angry whistleblower on the loose. This is even worse news for you when having in mind your company is a can of worms and I am more than plain obtrusive about that...









P.S. After about three months recieved spam mail from them asking me to take part in their... customer survey (!)

Want it even funnier? Read the attached screenshot...

http://oi46.tinypic.com/c7ubr.jpg

Wizzard7
11-11-2012, 03:34 PM
We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


I don't know about you, but that really makes me feel better....

scratchycat
11-12-2012, 09:25 AM
We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


I don't know about you, but that really makes me feel better....

Uh, NO! Don't think I will be signing up to do any freelancing through freelancer.com and caution others to stay away!

EagleOne
11-12-2012, 04:48 PM
One of the first things I would have done is to check with whatever agency is responsible for licensing and registering companies in Australia to see if they are even registered as a company, and if so is it current.

The next thing I would do is to see what agency in Australia is responsible for enforcing sanctions against companies that are not in compliance with Australian law. Here in the US it is the FTC. I would think that Australia has a consumer protection agency of some kind.

I had to laugh when they made the threat of legal action. While that may have worked years ago, today it is almost proof positive that the operation is a scam. They think intimidation will resolve their problems. I would have replied sue me as I will gladly see you in court.

I think that AlaisterLow would have been better served here if he had explained what has been done to resolve the issues with everyone that has complaints rather than trying to blow smoke up everyone's skirts here. Obviously he has no clue who or what most of us do that post here. But I just love it when the shills come out trying to deny their company has done anything wrong without any proof.

One thing is for sure, Alaister, is that freelancer.com is now getting publicity, just not the kind you want, but sounds like it is what it deserves. But your claim: We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe, is laughable in light of all the complaints that people have against freelancer.com. Forgive us for not buying it, but do come back and explain how all these complaints are being resolved by freelancer.com.

grumpyoldfart
11-13-2012, 06:57 PM
This is really nice of you. Even more when having in mind I am not a native English writer.

The problem is that there is at least one thing this company does really well: playing with the search engine. This is a crucial element helping them to stay alive.

Need a good example?
http://www.imgnook.com/nE8LS.png

Screenshot taken a few months ago. If you compare those results with ones from present day, you will see a HUGE change. No expertise needed to say the company loves to abuse the freedom of information. As I said: recieved illegal threats from them ; essentially the company's representative suggested I have commited a crime and provided that I don't play the ball, they will report it to my local authorities (yes, company offered to act as accessory to purported crime provided that I will cooperate). Not mentioning the Wikipedia, free press abuse (journalist removing her article 'Freelancer.com Founder Dismisses Scam Claims') and other forms of violation (for example causing my publisher to remove my article and ceasing contact with me: Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM SCAM: WHY ARE YOU LYING, MATT BARRIE? (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/10/freelancercom-scam-why-are-you-lying.html) ).

Other form of messing up with search engine?
For a number of months, if you been typing 'Freelancer.com' into Google window, it would suggest you "Freelancer.com scam" as a best guess. Now? No such suggestion unless you type "Freelancer.com s[cam would be suggested]".

So I have to tell you: Freelancer.com's behaviors are unethical, abusive and criminal. Yes, criminal. Even if they have changed their behaviors, the company has already engaged in criminal acts. Illegal threats, privacy abuse, property abuse (if you took my money and gave it to me in a few days, you would still be a thief), defacements and many more (this is not a fluff phrase ; will publish articles about it soon).

This is so funny... just wanted to make my point in August. If they did nothing, I would give it a go. But their unprofessional personnel (including the CEO) wanted to play strong. Published my personal data (imagine a bank or even a discussion forum doing it ; even though I was protesting, they have repeated those actions making their abuse even greater and more arrogant), unjustly accused me of defacement, distributed a smear note among my customers, threatened me with authorities of my country (according to local Penal Code this can be interpreted as illegal threats), closed my user account using security as an excuse (even though acount got suspended and deleted within 48 hours after I have published my second article - together with the account they have deleted all the evidence and a few pennies there ; still have no refund ; no matter it was like one dollar - it is about the rules!), killed my relation with the publisher (Business2Community portal) and put accusation of public racism on top of it.

Congratulations: now you got a really angry whistleblower on the loose. This is even worse news for you when having in mind your company is a can of worms and I am more than plain obtrusive about that...









P.S. After about three months recieved spam mail from them asking me to take part in their... customer survey (!)

Want it even funnier? Read the attached screenshot...

http://oi46.tinypic.com/c7ubr.jpg

Hi,

Sorry to see that the problem hasn't been resolved, I am thinking of starting a similar type of website but I don't know if it would be better to charge a fixed fee or a commission percentage?

I would appreciate your views on this!

Thanks
John.

ChaimS
11-13-2012, 11:15 PM
EagleOne:
- company is registered:
ABN Lookup - Current details for ABN: 81 134 845 748 (http://abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=134+845+748)
https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/adf.task-flow?adf.tfId=panelSearch&adf.tfDoc=/taskflows/panelSearch.xml&searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchText=134845748

- number of entities that may be interested in current situation:
ACCC Home (http://www.accc.gov.au/)
Home - OPC (http://www.privacy.gov.au/)
SCAMwatch home (http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/)

...and more



John:
please see the private message:)

scratchycat
11-15-2012, 10:21 AM
More comments on Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com

Posted: 2012-11-12 by

Woogante

Stay away from this website

Complaint Rating:

Terrible - Matt Barrie cannot know what is going on ! He cannot know about all the fake IDs and fake emails and proxy servers that are being used on his site - he claims to be up there with the likes of Richard Branson - well he needs to emulate Sir Richard and get back in control of his Freelancer.com...

Comments

United States

Internet Services

Freelancer.com

Posted: 2012-11-11 by
Samplesafe

No Support for Members

Complaint Rating:

I recently won a dispute on Freelancer.com. The freelancer who lost the dispute is now targeting me by posting fake projects which I am awarded and then the client vanishes - not only have I paid a commission to freelancer.com at the outset of the project (which they refuse to refund!), the...

Freelancer.com Complaints & Reviews (http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/freelancercom-a208769.html)

scratchycat
11-15-2012, 10:26 AM
"freelancer.com blocked my account as soon as I was paid for my first job. I struggled and sent 1000 mails to freelancer support requesting them to explain me why my account is blocked and why am I not able to with draw funds. As they done it with no reasons so no response was given by freelancer team. I believe they are doing this to consume money of users.

Finally, I got a below mail after 1 month saying that my PayPal account has done some wrong transactions and my account is blocked due to security reasons. This was a complete shock for me as I never used my PayPal for transactions. How they can send me such fake excuse."
Freelancer.com is a SCAM (http://esteemhostec.blogspot.com/)

We will continue to list as many complaints against this company as possible. What happened to Alaister Low?

Poyol
11-15-2012, 11:02 AM
Freelancer.com Reviews - Legit or Scam? (http://www.reviewopedia.com/freelancer-com-reviews)
freelancer-com | Ripoff Report | Complaints Reviews Scams Lawsuits Frauds Reported (http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/freelancer-com.aspx)

scratchycat
11-15-2012, 11:25 AM
Freelancer.com Reviews - Legit or Scam? (http://www.reviewopedia.com/freelancer-com-reviews)
freelancer-com | Ripoff Report | Complaints Reviews Scams Lawsuits Frauds Reported (http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/freelancer-com.aspx)

Thanks Jason, there are so many complaints yo would think something would have been done by now. Check some more of these out.

Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)
The trouble with Freelancer.com « Lisa A. Martin – Freelance science copywriter/editor (http://lisaamartin.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/the-trouble-with-freelancer-com/)
freelancer | Ripoff Report | Complaints Reviews Scams Lawsuits Frauds Reported (http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/freelancer.com.aspx)
Freelancer.com Review- Is Suspending Accounts With Money a Good Policy? (http://expertscolumn.com/content/freelancercom-review-suspending-accounts-money-good-policy)
Freelancer.com Reviews - Legit or Scam? (http://www.reviewopedia.com/freelancer-com-reviews?sort=high_rated)
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356
Freelancer.com Complaints & Reviews (http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/freelancercom-a208769.html)
Freelancer.com Website Reviews - Page 1 | SiteJabber (http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.freelancer.com)
myLot - freelancer.com----scam or legit? (http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2243209.aspx)
AUTHORS BEWARE!!! Freelance Scam Alert « J.S. Wayne (http://jswayne.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/authors-beware-freelance-scam-alert/)
Freelancer.com is full of scammers, has no support (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=2045154)
scam Protection, scam Reports, Email List, Report scam Email, scam News and Information | scamInformer.com | freelancer.com (http://www.scaminformer.com/?search=freelancer.com)
Victim of freelancer.com account suspension fraud. How can I get my money (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Victim_of_freelancer.com_account_suspension_fraud. _How_can_I_get_my_money)
Freelancer.com is a SCAM (http://esteemhostec.blogspot.com/)
http://5uperman.com/bitch-moan/freelancer-com-are-nothing-less-than-scammers/

ChaimS
11-15-2012, 01:16 PM
Alaister Low is smart... but not smart enough to discuss the real issues. Or is too busy with his abroad trips.

Proof? Here ya go:
Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM, FACEBOOK ...AND SWASTIKAS (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/freelancercom-facebook-and-swastikas.html)

It is also possible he doesn't know what are real reasons of bad standards stuck to the company for like 2 years. Neither knows the general public. And those reasons may be pretty... umm... interesting, you know.


The company's representatives use very fine excuse pattern while questioned:



1. Deny everything, copy-paste the premeade, meaningless statements.

Google:
max from freelancer.com
emir from freelancer.com



2. Blame users. Her blog may seem to be criticizing the company, but if you are able to read between the lines, you will notice the girl defends and tries to pretend it is not the company to take the blame for most problems:
The trouble with Freelancer.com « Lisa A. Martin – Freelance science copywriter/editor (http://lisaamartin.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/the-trouble-with-freelancer-com/)

...have I mentioned that she has been hired by Freelancer.com at least once (create company's Wikipedia entry)?
The problem with that approach is that when company is criticized so often and with such strong words, it changes its policies (or most of those) immediately. Of course most of corporations will have some issues reported by a few people. In case of Freelancer.com you got a whole catalogue of abuses and a considerable number of complaining people. Confirm it to any other major freelancing website (Elance, oDesk etc.). Apart from totally different numbers, you will notice that usual complaints in case of any other market is the quality of the cooperation with your counterparty (freelancer or customer), not irregularities concerning market's organizer.



3. Tell that all was in the contract with the user anyway. Let me put it this way: those documents look like outsourced to some freelancer agreeing to write them for 50 bucks. No single one (a number of papers scattered around the website), blurry, without any procedure outlined clearly and... company defaulted on them anyway (examples: affiliate program changed unilaterally by the company even for old members ; revealing my personal data from customer database).

And I can tell you why most such contracts allow the corporations to do a lot. It is usually a safety valve for defense against scammers, hackers etc. (especially important for companys dealing with automated money transactions processing). Been preparing the procedures for an escrow company, so I know what's the deal. But those 'valves' are to be used as very last resorts only and with considerable imprications for company's systemic structure. In case of Freelancer.com, the company does whatever it likes.

Apart from that, company's actions cannot be beyond general business rules. With special attention paid to: users' monies, users' privacy and services' quality.



4. Use security as an excuse. Seems legit at first sight. But is very fishy indeed when compared to web entities dealing with money (banks, PayPal, Skrill, other freelancing websites). Producing your own mugshot or resending your documents' scans a few times is nothing like that. Money laundering prevention? Anti-terrorism rules? While are core branches outsourced to Philippines then? Why all information you got about your customer support representative is that his name is "John"? Why isn't the company oficially registered as a bank or hedge fund (it is important while analyzing a few other odd issues there)? Why hasn't it even provided full list of laws and authorities it is subject of? ...and if only it helped to security there. But for a few years we had the most dangerous freelancing market there with no signs of improvement.



5. Pretend they do improve their processes. Got some promises as old as an year while company deals with specialists able to wonders within weeks (example to put sone hard facts here: "Freelancer have told me that they will be bringing in a compulsory milestone payment “pretty soon” which must be set up in advance of starting the project and will be a minimum of $5 or 10% of the project fee" ; got kicked out due to my articles about 4 months ago - don't remember anything like that existed). Reason? As I wrote... you can be surprised what can they be.



6. Pretend that being scam or legit is a beauty contest, not a matter of law and morality. Example: let's said I have robbed $2M from a local bank. Gave $10,000 to each of my 100 neighbors. Have $1M all for myself. While bank owner complaints, I say "hey, look how many people are happy with me... you must be crazy". Problem is that even ONE offense is enough to put me behind bars. And I can testify in any court that Freelancer.com engaged in about 10 types of actions that have harmed me personally (examples: my name and surname revealed, distributing smear notes among my customes, me thretened illegally from local Penal Code's point of view).



7. Hush it up. At all costs:

- Google.com spammed with results from the domain of freelancer.com (see: freelancer.com scam ; freelancer.com review ; freelancer.com complaint)

- Wikipedia to be looking like company's private ads board ; all proposals to discuss the controversies around the company dismissed as 'vandalism' ; 'controversial' ; 'irrelevant' etc.
Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM, PRIVACY POLICY ...AND GERONTOPHILIA (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/freelancercom-privacy-policy-and.html)

- at least one discussion forum killed the thread about the company due to legal concerns
Google still has it: access world forum freelancer.com

- at least one journalist writing about controversies deletes her article ; next articles of her praise the company and its CEO
Freelancer.com founder dismisses scam claims - Sydney Business Month (http://sydneybusinessmonth.com/freelancer-com-founder-dismisses-scam-claims/)

- a considerable amount of tweaked reviews created circulating around the web

- independent bloggers (at least Kent Mauresmo and me) threatened with "legal actions" or "informing the local authorities" (basically the company informed me I have engaged in criminal activities but they won't rat me provided that I remove my articles). In case of Kent, we had an attempt to take down his entire large blog due to... copyright matters (used company's logo in article discussing it):
Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)



This last thing infuriated me. Copyright? So let me spill some beans here. When I was company's customer, had a conversation with Matt Barrie and been discussing some of my ideas concerning potential amendments of website. Gave no official permission to use them, but saw at least one implemented (only financial part of account is suspended, but the users can keep on looking for jobs and getting them).

The big boss seems to believe that the world is his oyster and is not afraid to use other people's ideas without any specific "thank you" ; "we would like to offer you a compensation since we are for profit legitimate business" ; "would you like to take credit for it?" or even "goodbye":
Get a Hindu: SPEAKING OF COPYRIGHTS... (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/speaking-of-copyright.html)




Congratulations Matt, congratulations Alaister, congratulations 'Danu Davenport', congratulations [put a few generic names here]

If you haven't been harassing me, I wouldn't even learn how rotten this whole scheme is...

ChaimS
11-15-2012, 03:32 PM
6a. If saw that your some of your misbehaviors get exposed, act legit/play stupid and pretend that past does not exist. Responsibility? What is it?
Quite disturbing having in mind that allegedly mature men are in charge there...

scratchycat
11-15-2012, 04:11 PM
1.Avoid Freelancer.com like the Plague! If you’re looking to outsource some work, I recommend using “Elance.com“
2.Customer Service is KING! Treat your customers good and your business will flourish. Treat your customers badly, and someone just might write and SEO optimized article about you that shows up on the first page of Google

-Kent Mauresmo

Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)

scratchycat
11-17-2012, 10:41 AM
Read more about Matt Barrie and see the pictures.

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/#post33051

EagleOne
11-18-2012, 04:20 AM
I wonder if the editor for Good Weekend was contacted, would s/he be interested in having one of the reporters do a story on all the issues and problems Freelancer.com is having with so many people? I'm sure if a reporter would do a story, Mr. Barrie would not be able to blow smoke up the reporters skirts, but actually have to resolve all the complaints. I bet he wouldn't threaten to sue the magainze for doing the article based on facts. If he did, it would be fun to see the clash of the titans. Just a thought.

path2prosperity
11-18-2012, 07:57 AM
Freelance.com/en

Registrant:
Freelance.man
P.O.Box 227, Clinch's House, Lord Street
Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1RZ
GB

Domain name: FREELANCE.COM


Administrative Contact:
Martinie, Andre @freelance.com
P.O.Box 227, Clinch's House, Lord Street
Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1RZ
GB
33155621234 Fax: 33155621230



Isle of Man is a small island in the Irish Sea. Why on earth would they want administrative contacts there? Crimestoppers are a powerful force in UK and there is even a special division for crime which is specific to the Isle of Man . You can pass on any information and remain anonomous.

Crimestoppers UK. (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?gclid=CJO1m4DH2LMCFaTMtAodvncABw)

Crimestoppers Isle of Man (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/in-your-area/isle-of-man)

scratchycat
11-18-2012, 09:33 AM
Isle of Man is a small island in the Irish Sea. Why on earth would they want administrative contacts there? Crimestoppers are a powerful force in UK and there is even a special division for crime which is specific to the Isle of Man . You can pass on any information and remain anonomous.

Crimestoppers UK. (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/?gclid=CJO1m4DH2LMCFaTMtAodvncABw)

Crimestoppers Isle of Man (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/in-your-area/isle-of-man)

P2P, this was my mistake and has been stated previously. I realize you are just becoming acquainted with this one. There are 2 companies, but the one we are really discussing here is freelanceR.com

After doing some searches, they have similar complaints about each one but for now, use the one with R on the end. Thank you much for joining in.

scratchycat
12-03-2012, 03:47 PM
As you may have noticed, haven't been publishing anything for like 10 days. Yup, Freelancer.com came up with a great idea for success - just shut the whistleblowers up.

Been running this blog for as long as 4 months and the Freelancer.com people have been reading it since the very beginning.

And the trigger was quite specific.

Dec 1


INSULTS, INJURIES, STATEMENTS... (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/12/insults-injuries-statements.html)

scratchycat
12-10-2012, 02:12 PM
I wonder if the editor for Good Weekend was contacted, would s/he be interested in having one of the reporters do a story on all the issues and problems Freelancer.com is having with so many people? I'm sure if a reporter would do a story, Mr. Barrie would not be able to blow smoke up the reporters skirts, but actually have to resolve all the complaints. I bet he wouldn't threaten to sue the magainze for doing the article based on facts. If he did, it would be fun to see the clash of the titans. Just a thought.

The woman-chasing guru of Freelancer.com is a favorite of Good Weekend and it is probably not smoke he blows but money he got from all those contracted people he decided to not pay. They really need to let the world in on the game this company seems to be playing.


The circulation of your host newspaper continues to fall by about 40,000 each audit period and the response from the editorial brains at GW is to put Lara Bingle on the cover? When the boys moved in recently to run the show I thought we might have seen the last of this type of sh*t. But you've jumped the shark. Goodbye GW. What a great read you once were.
A comment from someone on their FB Page
https://www.facebook.com/GoodWeekendMagazine
Deer in the Headlights (http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/deer-in-the-headlights-20121119-29kx0.html)

scratchycat
12-10-2012, 02:23 PM
Just going by some other articles from cover pictures I would say that maybe Matt Barrie's articles fit right in.



Beautiful figures ... Malcolm Day and Bree Maddox have each made millions from businesses ranging from phone sex to online erotica. Photo: Frances Andrijich

Malcolm Day wishes people would stop calling him a porn king. Granted, he has made a fortune selling videos with titles like Deep Lust and Great Big Tits. Yes, he is a mass-marketer of inflatable dolls, fake-fur handcuffs and glow-in-the-dark personal lubricant. But "porn king"? What kind of job description is that? "I believe the most appropriate terminology is 'adult-product retailer',–" he says.

At 46, Day is a fit, sharply dressed man with centre-parted dark hair swept back from his face. In photographs, he can look slick and devil-may-care - like a porn king, in fact - but when I meet him, he has the conscientious air of a hard-working businessman. "I try to distance myself from any likeness to Hugh Hefner or anyone like that," he explains in his vast, Hefneresque apartment overlooking Perth. "That's not me, and it's not the way I'd like to be perceived."


Read more: Malcolm Day & Bree Maddox Article In Good Weekend (http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/culture/naked-ambition-the-business-of-pleasure-20111024-1mfba.html#ixzz2Eg8ADKAi)

Malcolm Day & Bree Maddox Article In Good Weekend (http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/culture/naked-ambition-the-business-of-pleasure-20111024-1mfba.html)

littleroundman
12-20-2012, 06:32 AM
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2873/39712741.gif

Freelancer.com Scam 2012 website (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/comment-page-3/#comment-12649)

littleroundman
12-20-2012, 06:38 AM
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5802/scamone.gif

Freelancer.con Scam 2012 webpage (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/comment-page-3/#comment-12649)

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:03 AM
2366

Has anyone else been losing money like this to Freelancer.com?? We welcome you to come to RS and comment on this??

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/index2.html#post36941

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:09 AM
Freelancer.com - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer.com)

Background

Freelancer.com is a "roll up" of several outsourcing marketplaces including GetAFreelancer.com and EUFreelance.com (founded by Magnus Tibell in 2004, Sweden),[3] LimeExchange (a former business of Lime Labs LLC, USA),[4] Freelancer.co.uk (United Kingdom),[5] Scriptlance.com (founded by Rene Trescases in 2001, Canada)[6]- one of the early pioneers in freelancing, Freelancer.de Booking Center (Germany),[7] Webmaster-talk.com (USA), a forum for webmasters,[8] and vWorker (founded by Ian Ippolito, USA).[9]

Freelancer.com categorizes its users as either employers or freelancers. Employers are individuals or companies who wish to outsource their work.[10] Once registered, users are able to bid for projects, or post their own. To help employers decide which user to select, Freelancer allows providers to take exams and prove their skills.

The major categories of work posted on the site are Websites, IT & Software, Mobile Phones & Computing, Writing & Content, Design, Media & Architecture, Data Entry & Admin, Engineering & Science, Product Sourcing and Manufacturing, as well as Sales & Marketing, Business, Accounting, HR & Legal.

As of 26th October 2012, the company has set up 22 regional marketplaces with local language, customer service and currency support including the United States (Global), United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Philippines[11] and India [12][13]

Other sites that provide similar services are oDesk, Guru, and Elance.

[edit] Criticism

Some reviewers have classified the site as a (partial) scam, [14] [15] [16]

Some users also report that they do not receive remuneration as agreed [17] [18]


Type
Australian Proprietary Limited Company (Private)

Foundation date
Australia
2009

Headquarters
Sydney, New South Wales,

Area served
Worldwide

Founder(s)
Matt Barrie

Key people
Matt Barrie, CEO
Darren Williams, CTO
Neil Katz, CFO
David Harrison, Vice President of Engineering
Willix Halim, Vice President of Growth


Industry
Freelance Marketplace
Online Jobs


Employees
200 (October 2012)

Website
Freelancer.com

Users
6.6 million[1]

Available in
English, German, French, Indonesian, Italian,


Of course Freelancer.com representative came and killed the edit.
Problem is that this time the fellow Wikipedians came and recovered
it... and again... and again...:

History shows how much they have edited:
Freelancer.com: Revision history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freelancer.com&action=history)

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:22 AM
https://getsatisfaction.com/freelancercom/topics

One very upset freelancer writes: Profanity bleeped by me!

Freelancer S**KS Now


I bid on a project and client paid me and projects finishes successfully, then i withdraw funds on sunday but freelancer cancelled my withdrawal and when i contact Sh*t Freelancer Support they said" there is problem with your employer account ask him to resolve this issue then they will resolve my account withdrawal..

What the (bleep) is this?? they are Blackmailing Freelancer (providers) your should (bleep) the employer whose had problem with you.. why you stopped my withdrawal.. Hey Matt are you Blackmailing freelancers??

update your Mind and change these terms and stop blackmailing freelnacers..

and chage your sh*t support workers they su*ks too ..

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:25 AM
Here is Emir of CS replying to one of the 36 comments!

Emir (Employee) 2 months ago


Hi Allen. We appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately, we can't stop users from making chargeback claims. Once the employer does so, we limit his account and withhold all payments made to the freelancers that he worked with.

Our Support Team will immediately conduct an investigation into the reason for the chargeback and ask them how we can help in resolving this particular issue.

Most of the time, these concerns are resolved quickly with the freelancer getting the payment. But in certain cases, we have no recourse but to reverse the payments made to the freelancer. At this point, we will ask the freelancer to settle directly with his/her employer. But be assured that we will help the affected user in informing the employer about their project payments.

I hope I've addressed your concerns. As always, we've taken note of your feedback about our site's services. We will continue to improve on the work that we do to serve you better. Thank you.

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:39 AM
If you go back to the first page of this thread you will see other comments from Emir@freelancer.com. Much the same as what they respond to all who complain of not getting paid.

So, freelancers are paying fees for be scammed

These people should form an alliance and start a major campaign against this company before many others are ripped off!!!

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 09:49 AM
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356

They had this one going but nothing since November 2012.


http://i.imgur.com/P63XJ.png (same as picture in #55)

Freelancer is a big Fraud and not professional and responsible for our money, every client can easily reverse his amount after work done and take source code.

this is my profile over freelancer sunztech | Freelancer.com - Web Develpement PHP Asp net Data (http://www.freelancer.com/u/sunztech.html)

we were developing a very complex desktop application and freelancer suddenly grab out my $4500 :S, saying its been reversed to client CC, and closed client account too, this was for my paid work, how come we can say client to resend us, and if they don't settle their issue with client, why my money was been reversed without any intimation, where we are not responsible to verify Client credit card, rather Freelancer, what type of objection it is, how i can work with it any more, i am an old user i have more then 40 reviews over there, my clients are there, how come they can do it with me HOW THIS CAN BE DONE TO ANYONE ????


We should ask those people in Scam.com to come over to RealScam and give us more information.

littleroundman
12-20-2012, 09:54 AM
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/thelittleroundman/Scams/robot.gif

scratchycat
12-20-2012, 10:17 AM
That just what I thought LRM!! They are all robots in the CS department according to what I have been reading. Here is one copied conversation with their CS:

Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/comment-page-3/#comment-12649)
Artinearth

December 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm

Hi everybody, I’m a freelancer victim as well. I’m an illustrator, worked about a year with freelancer, won MANY contests and some good projects, had no problems at all, all money was in my bank account in time UNTIL YESTERDAY! I won’t say more. Just read my conversation with help desk. It’s hilarious!

21:45Monica P.: Hi, this is Monica. How can I help you?
21:46ME: Hi Monica, my account was charged with a reversal of awarded prize on a contest !
21:47Monica P.: Can I have your username?
21:47ME: xxx
21:49Monica P.: Thank you for providing that information. I will be checking your account. Please hold on.
21:49ME: Ok
21:52Monica P.: Kindly give me more time to check your account. Hold on.
21:53ME: Ok!
21:55Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
21:55Monica P.: Can I have the contest ID?
21:56ME: Yes, hold on please.
21:56Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
21:57ME: “Illustration Design for Staff Pencil Drawings” created by xxx
21:59Monica P.: Thank you for providing that information. I will be checking your account again. Please hold on.
21:59ME: Ok!
22:00Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
22:02Monica P.: Your account shows that the prize money of $ 190 USD on the contest “Illustration Design for Staff Pencil Drawings (ID xxx)” was returned to your employer, xxx’ account because they are currently facing an account issue.
22:03ME: What does that mean?
22:03Monica P.: We have no option but to reverse the payment that they have made.
22:03Monica P.: Your contest holder has an account issue with us that they need to settle first.
22:03ME: Why? What do you mean? They have a problem and you take my money????
22:03Monica P.: The funds will become available again once the issue is settled.
22:04ME: Please explain to me how I’m involved to their problem.
22:05Monica P.: As previously mentioned, we have no option but to return your contest holder’s funds until they settle their account issue.
22:05Monica P.: At this point, we highly encourage you to keep communicating with your contest holder to inform them about your concern and their account issue.
22:06ME: Please explain to me what kind of problem they have and why dio I have to pay for that!
22:06Monica P.: I am unable to disclose further information about this matter to preserve the security and privacy of the other party.
22:07Monica P.: As mentioned in my previous response, I am unable to disclose further information about this matter to preserve the security and privacy of the other party.
22:07ME: Why do I suspect that you just took my money?
22:07Monica P.: Your contest holder is currently coordinating with the proper department to settle their account issue.
22:08Monica P.: Rest assured that your funds will be returned to your account once they have already settled their account issue.
22:08ME: Look, Monica, I’m not an idiot! I want you to explain to me WHY don’t you solve your problem with his account without taking my money! This is crazy!!!
22:10Monica P.: We have to return their payments made to undergo in a validation process and we have no option but to return your fudns from them.
22:10Monica P.: Your understanding on this matter will be much appreciated.
22:11ME: Are you a robot? Don’t you understand what I’m asking? I don’t want your appreciation, I want my money!
22:12Monica P.: As already mentioned, your earned funds will be returned to your account after your employer has settled their account issue.
22:12ME: Ok. If the problem is not settled?
22:13Monica P.: Your employer is currently coordinating with the proper department to settle their account issue.]
22:13ME: How much do I have to wait?
22:13Monica P.: If they fail to settle it, it is possible that your funds will remain to their account.
22:14ME: Do you find this fair or logic? I’m sorry but I still believe that freelancer just stole my money.
22:14Monica P.: I cannot give you an exact time frame because the proper department handling this kind of concern has their own proceedings.
22:15ME: Do you find this fair or logic? I’m sorry but I still believe that freelancer just stole my money.
22:17Monica P.: Freelancer.com does not steal your money because those funds were on your employer’s account.
22:17Monica P.: It is our protocol to return funds to the sender if they have an account issue that they need to settle.
22:18ME: How is that possible since I was paid and I withdrew this amount to my paypal account?
22:19ME: If this is your protocol, return YOUR money to the sender, not mine!
22:21Monica P.: Your earned funds were from your employer who has an account issue with us; therefore, we have to put on on their funds and transactions temporarily.
22:22ME: Do you think that I’m stupid?
22:24Monica P.: Please do understand that we have to do that to ensure that all transactions are legitimate.
22:25Monica P.: Meanwhile, kindly contact your employer about your concern.
22:25Monica P.: Is there anything else I can help you with?
22:26ME: I understand all these. What I don’t understand is why do I have to pay for other peoples’ mistakes or problems. If my employer is not legitimate, go after him. Not after me!!!
22:31Monica P.: We have no option but to return your earned funds from them, and they will be returned once they have already settled their account issue.
22:34ME: You’ve told me that about 10 times. It would be more honest from your part to accept that you’re stealing users’ money. I’m sorry but this is what you make me believe.
22:34Monica P.: Again, we do not steal any funds of our users and we have no privilege to do that.
22:35Monica P.: Your funds are only returned your employer’s account and will be available again after the settlement of their account issue.
22:37ME: Again, appcreators has a problem with his account and you return to him my money! If you return money to someone that means that you owe him money. So you should return him YOUR money, not mine!
22:38Monica P.: I’m sorry, but I have to end this chat with you as you’re refusing to follow the rules which have been explained to you. Please feel free to email support@freelancer.com if you’d like to discuss this matter further.
¬¬¬

Don't you just love conversations like this when you report a problem?!!!

prasad90
02-14-2013, 05:17 AM
Theoretically Freelancer is just an introduction agent. They can not hold anybodies money or decide to whom they have to pay??. Not only that they are not supposed to discuss or ask any details about the project to any person as they are purely third party. How ever they think that they have judicial powers. I had a big fight about exchanging contact information as they asked me to discuss everything in their forum.

Why should I discuss my business secrets on their Forum??




Hi sratchycat,

Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


Regards,

Alaister Low
Director of Customer Experience
Freelancer.com

melissamac
02-24-2013, 05:51 AM
What scum! They can't scam you like that and withhold hard earned money!!

scratchycat
02-24-2013, 11:02 AM
What scum! They can't scam you like that and withhold hard earned money!!

Welcome melissamac, but they do!

Indeed, the HIDDEN CLAUSES in their user agreement which have no base or rationale are the main causes of concern for this pathetic site.

Clearly, all they want to do is exploit people much like the situation in some nations with high population density.

What surprises me to no extent is the fact that the Australian Government is quiet even though there is not a single review which is in favor of this site. The number of complaints, going by the sheer number of posts on the scam sites should be enough of a red flag for any government to start investigations.

However, the ill gotten gains are put to use in getting pro Matt Barrie articles printed in various media.

I am in fact thinking of starting an online petition for launching investigations into this scam website.

Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/)

scratchycat
03-01-2013, 09:10 AM
For everyone wanting to actually get something done about this company, here is your chance!!!

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/australian-government-stop-the-attrocities-of-freelancer-com

ChaimS
03-06-2013, 07:46 PM
Free market at work... pardon its dust:

3290

freelancer.com UVs for January 2013 | Compete (http://siteanalytics.compete.com/freelancer.com/)



In my opinion the whole diversification of domains (launching Freelancer.com under alternative addresses like Freelancer.in , Freelancer.de etc.) is a sad attempt to cover the fact that the customers and potential customers are just fleeing from this company.

How it works?

Basically the most popular tool to assess website's popularity is Alexa's traffic rank (position a website has among all most popular websites in the world).

What will it tell you about Freelancer.com?

3291

Freelancer.com Site Info (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/freelancer.com)


Horrible, huh? But there is an important fact. As I have mentioned, Freelancer.com launched itself under like 20 or 30 regional domains. And if an uncaring visitor them, he would say "not bad, while Freelancer.com is declining, its regional addresses get a huge spike in popularity":

3292


Well... problem is that the display is of a logarithmic scale. This produces a kind of optical illusion. But let's see data presented with linear scale. It shows that the increases for associated domains are just kinds of pimples compared to fall on the main one:

3293


As you can see, this is something more than ripoff/salami slicing type of scam. This is an audacious and self spinning hoax presented to the media and general public. By blowing own trumpet and causing all the media buzz, the John Doe has a problem with understanding how mislead he is while signing up ("Hey, 7 million people couldn't be wrong"). Check out the "Wag the dog" movie, it tells the whole story of dumbing down the general public.


What's the funniest thing of all? If they hadn't abused me in such aggressive manner, I just wouldn't care to investigate this company...


=========

Thank you for all your ongoing support. Please don't forget about us:

Get a Hindu: HOW (F*CKING) DARE YOU? (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-fcking-dare-you.html)
Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)


Chaim

scratchycat
03-08-2013, 09:04 AM
For everyone wanting to actually get something done about this company, here is your chance!!!

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/australian-government-stop-the-attrocities-of-freelancer-com

You are correct Chaim and it is just going to sit there unless more people take the time to do something about it.

Thanks for updates in here. Everybody is fighting 'investments and ponzis, etc.' so we have little attention to a 'company' scamming millions from its users!

alizap
03-10-2013, 01:03 PM
Thank god there is still people who cares!
So here is my situation: Have worked for 2 month on freelancer and made about 2000$ ... 20 days ago I've requested to withdraw 200$ of my money, and then there was a 17 days of request pending (due to it was my first withdraw! they said) at the day "16" I've received an email saying that my account has been limited... security reasons!!! They have asked me to pass 3 steps of id verification:
1.Government Issued Document
2.Proof of residential address
3.Mugshot of me holding my ID Card and the Verification Code they gave me.
I've sent them the documents today and hopefully I should receive their reply by next few hours.

I hope they solve it in most peaceful way, otherwise I will join to massive amount of unhappy people against them! and help to make Matt's nightmare comes true sooner than he thinks. -_-

Will let you guys know about the result by the next hours. ;)

scratchycat
03-10-2013, 03:29 PM
Hello alizap!! Welcome to RealScam!

Very sorry to hear of freelancer.com withholding YOUR money that YOU worked for and claiming it as their own. This has been the case of thousands of others and no matter how many documents, ids, pictures, proofs, they have sent VERY few have stated they received any of their money due them. What is wrong with this company that they can continue to claim victims and get away with it?? Why are they not at this moment in a courtroom defending their illegal actiions. IMO if a person has worked and completed a job performance with a reliable company and that company has agreed to pay and PAID the employee (freelancer), it is totally illegal for the negotiating company (freelancer.com) to be able to 'freeze' those earnings.

From what I have read of what has happened with other people, there is no way they are going to settle this to your benefit. However, if you complain to them you will receive a robotic letter from their (most horrible) customer service telling you that YOU have done something wrong, not this company - oh no!!! Matt Barrie does not make mistakes, only others make mistakes while he spends YOUR money on his wining and dining the sex models of his choice. I would not be putting this here except it has already been presented in other comments in several of the threads in Real Scam and even proof on his own Facebook page.

We have tried to get the word out about this freelancer.com and warn people to not sign up with them but we are not making enough 'noise' to cause an investigation UP TO THIS POINT!! Please do sign that petition and contact everyone you can to do the same!!

Please read more here of this malpractice.

Get a Hindu: AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM – WHERE IS FREELANCER.COM’S FINANCIAL SERVICES LICENCE? (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2013/03/an-elephant-in-room-where-is.html)

scratchycat
03-10-2013, 03:36 PM
Here is part of what he spends YOUR money on - just one of his likes on FB:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazing-Bodies/387106654667565

scratchycat
03-10-2013, 03:43 PM
A portion of Chaim's latest:


At the very same time Freelancer.com loves to use counterterrorism and anti money laundering laws as an excuse to treat its users like some rightless beasts. Problem with such approach is that sooner or later you will step on wrong hoof… pardon: foot.


Okay, so how does Freelancer.com collide with the Australian law?

One of the answers is simple: hasn’t got Australian Financial Services Licence issued by Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which is required for certain services provided by Freelancer.com.


And under Australian Corporations Act of 2001:

The maximum penalty for carrying on a financial services business without an AFS licence is 200 penalty units ($22,000), two years imprisonment or both.

source: Australian Securities and Investments Commission - 12-196MR ASIC guidance on crowd funding (http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byheadline/12-196MR+ASIC+guidance+on+crowd+funding?openDocument)




They know about it and try to dismiss the potential charges in most goofy manner. When asked on open forums, the company people just ignore the question. In terms and conditions they state that:

Freelancer.com is not a bank or other licensed financial institutions and does not provide banking services

source: Freelancer.com | Online Jobs | Freelance Employment | Outsourcing Services | Programmers | Web Design | Freelancers (http://www.freelancer.com/page.php?p=info/terms)






Yeah, right… this is like selling cocaine and pretending to be in potato starch business. Changing the label doesn’t change the stuff. Subtle difference is that while cocaine is illegal, potato starch isn’t. Sadly, running de facto multinational financial corporation without any permission whatsoever is illegal too. And one doesn’t need any lab to prove what a deposit, money transfer or currency exchange are.


By the way: have those terms and conditions been written by real Australian lawyer or by some cheap Filipino copywriter?



Okay, let’s get on with the evidence. Categorized only the most significant issues. Not willing to quote the Australian regulations (yes, got them analyzed) - to make this document easier to read will compare Freelancer.com with companies providing similar services and do respect the necessity to register themselves. For those who are passionate about the law: please start your research with checking the status of non cash payments as financial products.

Get a Hindu (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/)

BTW!!! Chaim - great job on this presentation!! I would like to see US Media pick up on this one - it just might wake up the Austrialian government to what these people are doing. Tweet! Tweet! Twitter!! Get the word out folks and help those who have been scammed!!

alizap
03-10-2013, 11:29 PM
Thank you for your deep concern Scratchycat.

What good and clear article Chaim! Thanks! So They have replied to me, hopefully they have verified most of the steps but one, that says I need to set my account settings to my exact location and timezone in order to reactivate my account which is fine but they didn't mentioned what exact settings I should change so we could "SOLVE THE PROBLEM".

seems like the guys are really in their personal business with our money! I've replied them as soon as I could. (it was 7 in the morning when I replied) and got nothing yet, it's 3:30 in Sydney ... Why that slow?

gatoneli
03-11-2013, 06:54 AM
Hi,i would like to say i understand you and believe you because indirectly i know how do you feel.Last year the same time in Spain one friend of mine who worcked for the same company he hade the same problem with small cuantaty of money.He choose other company to work and left the battle with freelancer because they are verry strong and they command.I would like to congratulated for your battel with them thinking you will feel better.I wish you sucses.

scratchycat
03-11-2013, 08:20 AM
Thank you for your deep concern Scratchycat.

What good and clear article Chaim! Thanks! So They have replied to me, hopefully they have verified most of the steps but one, that says I need to set my account settings to my exact location and timezone in order to reactivate my account which is fine but they didn't mentioned what exact settings I should change so we could "SOLVE THE PROBLEM".

seems like the guys are really in their personal business with our money! I've replied them as soon as I could. (it was 7 in the morning when I replied) and got nothing yet, it's 3:30 in Sydney ... Why that slow?

I really hope you get your money alizap. It is not right that a company can keep money you have earned and then charge you extra fees if they do decide to 'release' it. Here is another article you might want to read:

I think Freelancer.com makes money by charging people excessive fees and flat out stealing peoples money. Before I wrote this article, I searched “Freelancer.com scam” on Google and read how Freelancer.com wasn’t even paying there freelancers after the jobs were complete.

Freelancer.com was asking people to fax over Passports, Birth Certificates, SSN’s, or pictures of themselves in the mirror holding a sign with there username and password on a piece of paper. That’s crazy and unprofessional.

So here’s how I think Freelancer.com works in a nutshell:
1.Employers deposit money into Freelancer.com’s shady escrow account.
2.After the jobs are complete, Freelancer.com makes it extremely difficult for the workers to collect there payments.
3.If the employer requires refund, Freelancer.com figures out a way to eat up as much of your money as they can! If they’re feeling extra scammy, they’ll just suspend your account, keep all your money, and release it when they feel like it.

By the way, don’t even waste your time contacting there customer service departments! Freelancer.com doesn’t even have a phone number, and the “online chat” customer service feature is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I felt as if I was chatting with 10yr olds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I was!

They’re a HUGE company right? What type of REAL company doesn’t have a phone number? Customer service is non existent now-a-days, and companies like this will not last very long.

Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)

scratchycat
03-11-2013, 08:25 AM
Hi,i would like to say i understand you and believe you because indirectly i know how do you feel.Last year the same time in Spain one friend of mine who worcked for the same company he hade the same problem with small cuantaty of money.He choose other company to work and left the battle with freelancer because they are verry strong and they command.I would like to congratulated for your battel with them thinking you will feel better.I wish you sucses.

Hello gatoneli and welcome to RealScam and this discussion. A lot of people have done just the same as your friend, they tire of the battle with freelancer, lose their money and move on. That makes freelancer the winner and Matt gets more money is HIS bank account. If a person starts to complain they seem to bring out the legal threats as do most 'programs' or 'sites' that are not operating 'within the law' tend to do. They call us who try to expose them, the "haters" and start pointing fingers, all you have to do is read some of the threads here in RS and you will see the familiar pattern.

scratchycat
03-21-2013, 10:05 AM
What is the latest on Freelancer.com?? Anyone getting paid or questions being answered??

ChaimS
03-21-2013, 01:38 PM
Freelancer.com cares when you make the case public. Been asking many times why is it so, haven't ever recieved an answer.

They claim this person was a scammer from India. Okay, let's assume it. In such circumstances asked those questions. Gut feeling is they won't get through moderation. So far 4 (FOUR) were accepted. And I think it is strange for a website claiming to have 7 million users.

Freelancer Blog (http://corporate.freelancer.com/uncategorized/dont-believe-everything-you-read-on-the-internet-lies-scams-and-freelancer-com/)

3412


Apart from that I responded Ms Cassandra about all the bad karma around her former partner:
Get a Hindu: THOUGHTS FOR MS C. (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2013/03/thoughts-for-ms-k.html)


And those points are valid no matter whether there was a scammer or not.

scratchycat
03-21-2013, 03:21 PM
I received the message about response on FL blog, so I went there and made a comment also, looks like we are in a holding pattern ChaimS!!

Sara0401 says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

March 21, 2013 at 4:08 pm



While this is all convincing, the first person that pops up in Find Freelancer is one that goes by deepsniti and is from where – New Dehli, India. Profile picture is an avatar and there are raving reviews from people with no picture.

deepsniti | Freelancer.com - Photoshp PHP ASP Flash Dreamweaver net (http://www.freelancer.com/u/deepsniti.html?ttref=HireMe_FF)

The link might not be accepted but just look at anyone under Find Freelancer. If you apply for a job why would you not be ‘yourself’? As an employer, I trust this and will hire a fake identity? Don’t think so. Not sure about this whole concept.

I found it interesting to learn that in checking the Find Freelancers, it is a list of profiles hidden behind an icon. Now why would a person looking for work have to hide behind a fake identity?

Hire Freelancers | Freelancer.com (http://www.freelancer.com/d/)

Then check out the latest freelance jobs:

Browse the latest freelance jobs and projects | Freelancer.com (http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/)

Many years ago, I might have tried for some of these things and actually did sign up as a freelancer at one time before this company. It was a much better setup than this one is and more trustworthy. I would not trust this at all. An unknown hires an unknown to place a bid on a project. Since I would not do this, I do not know the other steps necessary to bid on the project, do the work and have it accepted for payment. Well, I did some thinking on this today and came up with this.

Reasoning behind complicated website:

No one actually checks a freelancer out before they accept bids. Why? Well, here is one thought - if a person or group (as I believe it usually is) makes a bid for a project, gets accepted, does the work and waits to be paid. NOW, the company wants your personal information so they can prove you are who you say you are. As is possible in most cases, the person does not want to be identified and give out personal information. NOW YOU HAVE VIOLATED THEIR TERMS and your account will be frozen until you give them what they request. Can you check on the authenticity of the person or company you did the work for? Can you contact them directly? Did they pay freelancer for your work? If they did, why at the stage of the game do you have to give out anything other than your PayPal account for them to send you the money you earned. Were the hiring people fake also and you were charged fees for nothing?

So now they have you. You send them all required information and the employer actually did pay the money to Freelancer but you are being called a fraud because you hid behind a fake identity and "so sorry, no pay", you have not followed their guidelines. Do not complain, if so you will be threatened with legal action against you. In the meantime, guess where your money went??

These are things to think about in dealing with a company like Freelancer. This is my speculation and for those of you who have worded for this company, perhaps you can offer a better picture of it.

What I can't accept is that in most cases where a complaint has been stated, Freelancer is never at fault, it is always the person complaining.

scratchycat
03-21-2013, 03:34 PM
Recently, one post came to our attention entitled “Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff”. In this article, the author, EditorJCWriter, claims to be a freelancer called Jacqueline, from Kent USA, who has been a member since November 2012 and has a “growing reputation and stellar reviews”. Jacqueline puts forward some impressive qualifications:

And she’s won some pretty big projects:

Jacqueline then goes on the claim that their account was pulled up for a security check

Subsequently, Jacqueline claims that the projects were made invalid and the funds in the account removed, leaving her with $99. The user, quite irate at this point, writes several more blog posts, culminating in a quite bizarre love letter to myself.

Well, it’s a great story.

If only any of it were true.

You see, on investigation of this account, Jacqueline is not who she said she is. She’s not even an American. She’s never logged in from the US. She’s not even a “she”. It turns out that Jacqueline is actually Neerav from Delhi, India. Neerav is actually a scammer who has stolen someone’s identity, faked their profile and qualifications, and is attempting to commit fraud on Freelancer. The account EditorJCWriter has never won a $5,000 project, or a $7,500 project for that matter.

What about this “nancysaumya”? Well, our account security team had good reason to be concerned this account as well. You see “Nancy” was not Nancy at all. Nancy, as it turns out, is also Neerav. We can only imagine what Neerav was trying to do before our account security team caught him.

We treat the integrity of our marketplace as paramount. Scammers will go to great lengths in today’s day and age to rip people off. They will also go to great lengths to try to bully our fantastic support team here at Freelancer.com. I’m proud of our team here, and the length that they will go to stop the bad guys on the Internet.

Oh, and one last thing, in case you think EditorJCWriter looks familiar:

https://www.freelancer.com/users/4421442.html

Nadine Schweigert, North Dakota Woman, 'Marries Herself,' Opens Up About Self-Marriage (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/nadine-schweigert-woman-marries-herself_n_1546024.html)

And nancysaumya will look familiar to our users in India, as the photo has been stolen from Miss Koyal Rona, Miss Teen Indian 2008.

So, the scammer, being upset with us catching him, decided to post a few crazed rants on the Internet.

To improve the integrity of our marketplace, today we’re announcing that we are taking a number of steps to protect you from people like this in future. Effective immediately, we are enforcing accounts to have the correct country associated with them. We have set the country on every account on the website to the true country that person is from. We’re doing this to stop people from impersonating others or misrepresenting where they are from. Over the new few weeks we will be taking further actions to prevent identity fraud.

Secondly, we now allow every account to have a security phone number associated with it. This number will be used to verify important changes to your Freelancer account, such as your method of withdrawal, or name on the account. With this, we’re raising the bar on the level of security on your account, to protect you from hacking and phishing attempts. To set your security phone number, go to “Settings” under the “Profile” option in the menu.

Make sure you protect your account and set it today!

On the Internet, always be on guard. We’re here to help you but ultimately you should be careful- particularly where money is involved. Make sure you read our blog post on How to Avoid a Scam on Freelancer.com. Finally, don’t believe everything you read! Because that person that you’re talking to might not actually be who they say they are.

Regards,
Matt

Freelancer Blog (http://corporate.freelancer.com/uncategorized/dont-believe-everything-you-read-on-the-internet-lies-scams-and-freelancer-com/)

All of you RS members know how some negative persons have complained about us now revealing our true identities and in most cases there is good reason. The bad guys will be all over us with threats. None of us are being paid to do this work.

Why would a company establish contact with freelancers and projects with masked clients? People are expecting to be paid for a job or project they bid on and get accepted, I am sure they are not working for free. Also, we know how people will just grab a picture or icon from the internet and use it as their own. Why not? No one has asked them to be 'open' for post a legitimate photo or asked for ID until AFTER a project has been completed!! Is it just me or does anyone else buy this??

scratchycat
03-21-2013, 03:58 PM
Perhaps Freelancer needs to verify their accounts with these freelancers. I just visited one of them and looked at portfolio, one of the sites listed for verification was sayitwithstylecards dot com - DON'T GO THERE!! I got an intrusion alert of high risk!

esolzsales | Freelancer.com - .NET,ActionScript,Advertisement Design,Agile Development,AJAX (http://www.freelancer.com/u/esolzsales.html?ttref=HireMe_FF)

Username: esolzsales


Verified


Location: Kolkata, India India


Member since: Dec 2003

If you place your mouse over this info, you will see on each one that they have made a deposit. Otherwise, I am sure they would not have any kind of profile up there. Very interesting....

ribshaw
03-21-2013, 08:01 PM
Scratchy, am I missing something on their alleged security protocol? The story about "Nancy" above appears to me that she/he was hired to do a job and did the job. I would think in almost any legitimate situation the worker would be paid. I could argue that maybe screening would take place before you allow someone to bid on contracts to make sure laws are followed and people are competent. But after, who does that except people who don't want to pay?

This just seems like a real nightmare for a lot of folks.

scratchycat
03-22-2013, 07:54 AM
Scratchy, am I missing something on their alleged security protocol? The story about "Nancy" above appears to me that she/he was hired to do a job and did the job. I would think in almost any legitimate situation the worker would be paid. I could argue that maybe screening would take place before you allow someone to bid on contracts to make sure laws are followed and people are competent. But after, who does that except people who don't want to pay?

This just seems like a real nightmare for a lot of folks.

It is beginning to look as if this company should definitely be investigated and scrutinized for their business practices. Exactly, if they 'hired' Nancy to do work without any screening and she did the job, was paid and then they decide they need identification, what kind of company does business like that?? Just looking through the few profiles I got around to, they are all 'made up' and everyone I checked was from parts of India.

I believe you have it correct, it is a nightmare for those people who have completed projects and then denied payment because of some technicality.

scratchycat
03-23-2013, 02:40 PM
Here is one person telling of different aspects about freelancer.com - I hope you take time to read the entire article, what a rip off business practice!
Case 1:
You get paid for a project - 200 USD. You request withdrawal via paypal for 200 USD. Reducing 1 USD, they schedule 199 USD, to pay in 3 weeks. Now, within that three weeks period, you are awarded another project worth 100 USD, from the same or another employer. As you accept the project, Freelancer will immediately charge you 10 USD (or according to your subscription). Where will they charge from? Not from your credit card this time. They will charge from your Freelacer.com balance instead. Now the balance will be 200 USD - 10 USD = 190 USD in your account, where your previous request for the transaction was 200 USD. With the below message, Freelancer.com will cancel your payment request! "Not enough funds to complete your withdrawal request!"

Llovizna: Is Freelancer.com a complete scam, or a partial scam? (http://kkpradeeban.blogspot.com/2012/11/is-freelancercom-complete-scam-or.html)
You may request for 190 USD again now. They will schedule your payment now. But it will be scheduled again for a day after 3 weeks, again! Wait for 3 more weeks!

scratchycat
03-23-2013, 02:54 PM
For all freelancers who have been ripped off by Freelancer.com please join in the Class Action Suit against them. This is your chance to try and get back at least some of your money.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Pyago5bDnXuACv4qvAFSAspFgTLUqBjNJIaIazI1o50/viewform

Please spread the word!!

baylee
03-23-2013, 07:43 PM
For all freelancers who have been ripped off by Freelancer.com please join in the Class Action Suit against them. This is your chance to try and get back at least some of your money.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Pyago5bDnXuACv4qvAFSAspFgTLUqBjNJIaIazI1o50/viewform

Please spread the word!!

Great find and I completely agree with it!

surfer
03-23-2013, 08:05 PM
For all freelancers who have been ripped off by Freelancer.com please join in the Class Action Suit against them. This is your chance to try and get back at least some of your money.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Pyago5bDnXuACv4qvAFSAspFgTLUqBjNJIaIazI1o50/viewform

Please spread the word!!
So who's form is that?

scratchycat
03-23-2013, 08:55 PM
So who's form is that?

Someone who has been ripped off by freelancer.com and they do not want to be identified at present. Can you blame them?? Freelancer.com and Matt Barrie are very powerful with all their lawyers.

scratchycat
03-24-2013, 08:43 AM
Matt Barrie back in the news again!! When is someone in Australia going to start looking into the business practices of freelancer.com??

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2013/matt-barrie/story-fnhaclg3-1226592462972)


CEO, Freelancer.com

ONE of the most vocal members of Australia's technology industry, Matt Barrie has not been afraid to speak his mind about the state of it and those people running and regulating it.

He does so from a solid basis of credibility, with his online outsourcing service Freelancer.com reporting revenue growth that recently hit $66m. Freelancer.com now has more than 270 staff and offices in Sydney, Manila, London, Buenos Aires and Jakarta, and Barrie's goal is to make Freelancer.com the "eBay for jobs".

Barrie has also been a keen advocate for technology entrepreneurship and the promotion of computer science as a career path at high school, and teaches a technology venture creation course at the University of Sydney which he is keen to expand. He is also seeking to set up a free online education program for high school students to give them a basic understanding of computer science.


“An absolute national imperative”: Matt Barrie’s epic rant on Australia’s IT investment | Delimiter (http://delimiter.com.au/2013/03/21/an-absolute-national-imperative-matt-barries-epic-rant-on-australias-it-investment/#comment-594581)

Some very interesting comments at bottom.

scratchycat
03-24-2013, 08:49 AM
Anyone interested in this subject should come and like the page in Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freelancercom-Scam/559665087397688?fref=ts

scratchycat
03-24-2013, 10:46 AM
Matt Barrie back in the news again!! When is someone in Australia going to start looking into the business practices of freelancer.com??

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2013/matt-barrie/story-fnhaclg3-1226592462972)


CEO, Freelancer.com

ONE of the most vocal members of Australia's technology industry, Matt Barrie has not been afraid to speak his mind about the state of it and those people running and regulating it.

He does so from a solid basis of credibility, with his online outsourcing service Freelancer.com reporting revenue growth that recently hit $66m. Freelancer.com now has more than 270 staff and offices in Sydney, Manila, London, Buenos Aires and Jakarta, and Barrie's goal is to make Freelancer.com the "eBay for jobs".

Barrie has also been a keen advocate for technology entrepreneurship and the promotion of computer science as a career path at high school, and teaches a technology venture creation course at the University of Sydney which he is keen to expand. He is also seeking to set up a free online education program for high school students to give them a basic understanding of computer science.


“An absolute national imperative”: Matt Barrie’s epic rant on Australia’s IT investment | Delimiter (http://delimiter.com.au/2013/03/21/an-absolute-national-imperative-matt-barries-epic-rant-on-australias-it-investment/#comment-594581)

Some very interesting comments at bottom.

ACS Media Statement in response to Matt Barrie's rant in LinkedIn:


News & Media Releases
Key People
Media Contacts


ACS Media Statement


In reaction to an article by Matt Barrie of Freelancer.com, on LinkedIn.com.

The Australian Computer Society would like to clarify some factual errors that appeared in a post by Matt Barrie on LinkedIn.com .

The focus of the post was on ICT education in Australia and in particular the future engagement of young people.

The ACS applauds Mr. Barrie’s passion for supporting ICT education in Australia, which is an area we have championed and advanced since our inception in 1966. We are open to constructive conversation with industry leaders around helping to inspire more young people to pursue careers in ICT.

However, we would like to clarify that the event in question was not an ACS event but was a forum hosted by NICTA and chaired by Simon Kaplan who works for NICTA and is also part of the AIIA in Queensland.

One ACS representative attended the meeting, Vice President Paul Bailes. Paul arrived to find the brochures and material already distributed.

Secondly, the documents that Mr. Barrie has posted on his article are not an Australian Computer Society brochure, but are documents belonging to the ACS Foundation, an independent foundation founded in 2001.

While the ACS Foundation evolved from the ACS over a decade ago, it is a legally separate stand-alone entity with its own board and governance structure and CEO and management team.

What the ACS Foundation, its board members or CEO publishes and says in the public domain is not controlled or authorized by the ACS. The ACS is proud to have a continuing association with the foundation and any Organisation seriously interested in the future of ICT in Australia

The ACS will continue to reach out to industry leaders and stakeholders including Mr. Barrie, and looks forward to constructive discussion and debate on how we can further promote ICT in Australia.

https://www.acs.org.au/news-and-media/news-and-media-releases/2013/acs-media-statement

scratchycat
03-25-2013, 09:54 AM
Great find and I completely agree with it!

Thank you very much Baylee!! They are trying to keep as many people as possible from being ripped off by freelancer.com.

scratchycat
03-25-2013, 10:00 AM
Just in today!!! Another complaint against freelancer.com!!!

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/freelancercom-dealing-with-freelancercom-has-been-an-enormous-hassle-c657121.html#c1329228 (I have received a message that complaintsboard.com is down but I am still getting it.)


I needed a website built and I posted it on Freelancer seeking bids. I received many offers, The one I wanted to use asked for more time to provide a proposal and I granted it. He never got back to me and the bidding closed without my making an award. On Thursday out of the clear blue I got an email from Freelancer recommending I hire a named freelancer. I ended up re-listing the project for bids and they came in right and left. After some discussions, I selected one, worked out the details and made the award for $2, 000.00 with established milestones. Using PayPal, I deposited $2, 000.00 into my account on Freelancer. When I tried to escrow $400.00 to set up the first milestone payment, I found that my $2, 000.00 had been frozen by Freelancer. I checked my PayPal account and found that they had in fact paid my $2, 000.00 deposit to Freelancer and withdrawn $2, 047.39 from my bank account. I tried to withdraw my money from Freelancer and was informed I needed to pass a security process. I provided the requested information and then the system locked up on me. I was unable to get any information from Freelancer and was left with no option but to dispute the charge with PayPal to recover my money. Almost instantly, Freelancer sent me a notice advising they would not be able to refund my money unless I closed my PayPal dispute against them. Like I fool. I closed the dispute. I contacted Freelancer again and asked for my refund. I was informed the refund could not be made as they needed further information. I asked what they needed and was told to wait for the correct Freelancer department to contact me. I asked when they would contact me and was told that the correct department would need to provide me with that information. After several hours of going around in circles and getting nowhere, I tried to file another claim with PayPal. The written response was that due to the fact that I had settled my claim with Freelancer, I could not re-file with PayPal. I then contacted PayPal by phone and was put in touch with one of their fraud investigators. I was informed the matter would be cleared up in 12 - 24 hours. It's now been 15 hours and I'm still waiting.

So, as it stands right now. Freelancer has stolen $2.047.39 from me. My website is not being built. The nice freelancer I was contracting with to do the job is sitting on his hands with empty pockets.

What really gets me is I can't even contact anyone at Freelancer to discuss the situation and seek a solution. All I can get is some one at Freelancer texting messages to me that I need to wait to be contacted by the correct department.

As far as I'm concerned, Freelancer is out to cheat both the people paying money to get a job done as well as the individual wanting to do the work.

I'm not about to let these Freelancer steal over $2, 000.00 from me when all I was doing was using their "service" to get a project I needed done.

I'm very proud of the fact that I've been able to write this without using some of the words and names I wanted so badly to use.

I have both the time and the resources to obtain justice and prevent Freelancer from cheating me out of over $2, 000.00 they have taken from my bank account without out providing ANYTHING in return.

I hope others can learn from my mistake and avoid falling into Freelancer's trap and having their money stolen.

My name is John V McLure, I live in Athens, Texas, My email address is jmclure@aol.com. My phone number is 214-882-7833. Oh, and my wife is an attorney. :)

Thanks for listening. Contact me if you need any information or would like to join me in stopping this abuse.


For those of you who think some of the info posted here leads to anonymous users, I did a little background looking on this one:

https://www.facebook.com/tscrooks

https://www.facebook.com/john.v.mclure

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoolutions-LLC/376834762414482?sk=info

Poyol
03-25-2013, 10:01 AM
Freelancer now has my attention.

I'll do some digging and find all I can.
If anyone has any leads for me to go off, please message me or let me know here.

Jason

scratchycat
03-25-2013, 10:22 AM
Freelancer now has my attention.

I'll do some digging and find all I can.
If anyone has any leads for me to go off, please message me or let me know here.

Jason

Welcome The Jason!!

A friend reminded me of checking with Alexa and they have a lot of red down arrows on there!!


Freelancer.com Site Info (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/freelancer.com)

And, check out the reviews!

surfer
03-25-2013, 06:56 PM
Well, I can't really speak to who has been ripped off or not, but they definitely have a strange way of doing business.

Although I've been registered at freelancer for nearly 7 years, I had not done any work or hiring there.

Recently, I hired a contractor to do some banners for me.

At one point, he said:


OK, I want to accept the project but my account is empty so if I accept the project my account will be a negative dollar account and may freelancer.com suspend my account after some days, I want to ask you please if it's possible release $10 of $50 to my account after my accept-ion

I was fine with that, but not really knowing how freelancer worked, I had to ask later:

Why would you accepting a job from me make your account go negative? That's weird.
His reply:

freelancer cash it's user's for projects please check this link: Find freelance work and jobs | Freelancer.com (http://www.freelancer.com/info/lookingforwork.php)

at the bottom of page, under "How much does it cost?" title
That's just a screwy way to do business.

Why charge the freelancer up front for an accepted job? Why not just wait until it's paid and take your cut then?

scratchycat
03-26-2013, 08:24 AM
Thank you for your information Surfer. From all the complaints made online, I can understand why the person would ask some upfront money. Freelancer charges a fee just to list with them and they take their percentage (to my understanding) as soon as project is accepted. What makes it worse, whether or not the company (say you) pay the person for doing the work to your satisfaction, it does not mean that the person will receive the money. As other people have stated - and they are not under oath - unless they can prove they who they really are, FL will 'freeze' their account until they meet all the requirements for processing. If they ever receive their money, it will only be a portion and will take months of deliberation and way and see. Sounds like investing in a Ponzi and hoping you will get all the money as shown in digital accounts.

I hope you will keep us updated.

It would be good to have more people let us know if they have done work for or with freelancer.

scratchycat
03-26-2013, 08:32 AM
How much does it cost?


To bid for work, register for FREE on Freelancer.com, or become a paid member and get additional benefits. When you receive and accept an offer you will be charged the following fee, depending on your membership type:

•Free and Basic members pay $5 USD, or 10% of the total project cost, whichever is higher
•Standard members pay $4 USD, or 5% of the total project cost, whichever is higher
•Premium members pay $3 USD, or 3% of the total project cost, whichever is higher


Hourly Projects are only charged the percentage rates shown above, not the dollar amount.
Full-time Projects are exempt from ALL project fees

You can pay by Credit Card, Paypal, Skrill (formerly Moneybookers), WebMoney, Wire Transfer and money other regional banking methods.

Note: Australian members pay 10% GST on all fees

Find freelance work and jobs | Freelancer.com (http://www.freelancer.com/info/lookingforwork.php)

Take a look at some of their products!

Buy and Sell virtual files, Flash web design, Web templates, Music, Graphics, Video, 3D from $2 - Freemarket.com (http://www.freelancer.com/marketplace/)

Join the forum -

Tycoon Talk by Freelancer.com :: Be a Big Fish! (http://www.webmaster-talk.com/)

scratchycat
03-27-2013, 02:32 PM
I found this very interesting and clipped from an article in The Global Headhunter (http://www.australiaunlimited.com/business/global-headhunter)on February 20, 2013.

"Like many internet businesses, Freelancer.com could be based anywhere in the world. If a housewife in Kansas hires a web developer in New Delhi, the location of the intermediary website is irrelevant. Freelancer.com is based in Sydney because Barrie is. He describes Sydney as “the best city in the world to live”."

Why do they always picture him as an arrogant heavyweight??

scratchycat
03-30-2013, 08:17 AM
Scratchy, am I missing something on their alleged security protocol? The story about "Nancy" above appears to me that she/he was hired to do a job and did the job. I would think in almost any legitimate situation the worker would be paid. I could argue that maybe screening would take place before you allow someone to bid on contracts to make sure laws are followed and people are competent. But after, who does that except people who don't want to pay?

This just seems like a real nightmare for a lot of folks.

Ribshaw, I believe you will find some of your answers at this blog:

Here is one person who is determined to take freelancer to task and I applaud their bravery and would like to see others who have been ripped off to join in this effort.


should not believe everything that you read on the net

Posted on March 28, 2013


I have been thinking for some time as to whether the stupid and misleading post on freelancer.com’s blog needs to be indeed answered as the facts presented in the post are totally misleading and most of them are not even worth commenting on. Still, just because people like Valerie Scott are trying convince everyone into believing that I am a scammer, I am going to reply to the ‘imaginative conjectures’ that they have tried to use to explain the accusations leveled against them.

But to put things into perspective about whether I am a scammer or not. Let us compare the number of links against freelancer as opposed to the ONE link where ‘Matt’ has called me a scammer. Here is a small list of the links where a lot and I mean A LOT of people have complained about the scam that is being run under the garb of this ‘legitimate’ business.

Continue Reading... (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/freelancer-com-scam-yes-you-should-not-believe-everything-that-you-read-on-the-net/)

scratchycat
04-04-2013, 10:46 AM
epal on February 11, 2013 at 9:29 AM said:


They did something similar to me on april 2012, I had about USD 2500 from a project I had been working on very hard since january 2012.
I’m from Argentina and USD 2500 is a lot in my country.
Then my account and my employers account were both suspended. I had been a user of the site since 2006, with a considerable amount of good reviews and lot of succesfuly finished projects!
I sent all my documentation and photos they requested, but my employer didn’t want to send the documentation because he didn’t trust the site (who could blame him).
I started posting my case everywhere I could and I threatened them with legal action, my employer also helped me and sent very bold e-mails to their support system too. We finally, after more than one month, got to revert the payment to the client and revert the fees, and the client payed me by other means. I haven’t used freelancer.com since then.
I see that you joined the site on november 2012, if you had read my posts before you’d have been warned!!
Freelancer.com was a good site before 2009 when it was run by a swedish company.
When Matt Barrie bought it he immediately added new fees and rose those that existed. He also began to buy competing companies so you didn’t have other sites to chose.
The swedish site and logo were unattractive but I didn’t really care, it was super legit and trustable.
Now it is pure marketing crap and they don’t respect your work and your hard earned money.
How can you work on a site that doesn’t respect money earned from your hard work? I will never use freelancer.com again.

So my advice is, before compromising work or money check a lot first !!

Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/)

scratchycat
04-09-2013, 08:27 AM
Update:


Freelancer.com Scam – Highhandedness at its best

Posted on April 2, 2013


An act typical of Matt Barrie’s and freelancer.com’s tactics is that every time some one tries to stand up against them, they bash them down and ensure that people cannot unite against them. They also ensure that a lot of good press is bought to keep their image on an even keel. The use of SEO tactics ensures that they keep their results on the first page and all other pages detailing their scam in depth are relegated lower down in the search results. I must say these scammers do possess a cunning.

In a similar post in the recent past, Matt lamented on the non cooperation of the Australian government. However, what one needs to take a look at are some of the comments that he received on that post. One of the links is given below:-

Scumbag Comment

Matt, this is dedicated to you. I know that words do not begin to do justice to your actions, but here is a start…

I am not a person who hates people at the drop of a hat,
Albeit I could have made an exception for Matt…
But now I have come to understand this,
It is not just SOMETHING which is amiss…

Wherever I go I find something new,
Something wrong, something askew…
Doesn’t matter whether you are white, black or brown,
This site can make even Santa frown…

Irrespective whether you are on the globe,
If you have money in your account your @$$ they shall probe…
I am not after Freelancer.com because they ate my money
I am after them because this sh*t is not anymore funny…

When you submit your documents to freelancer.com,
They are safer than your high school prom…
Your information will not be sold or bought
It will pop up on the net as Matt, Anna, Emir or Valerie Scott…

Keep away from freelancer.com,
Not only because everyone says it is a scam…
Stay away because you will surely barf
For almost all the employers, projects or support staff,
Are all nothing but a sham

By the time you realize this and it is too late.
Just remember it is the sin and not the sinner that you must hate.

Dear Matt Barrie,

Please do send us all a post card from hell because that is where you are going to end up for sure. You can buy all the good publicity on this planet, but I am not going to stop from publishing more details about your website.

Freelancer.com Scam – Highhandedness at its best | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/freelancer-com-scam-the-rap/comment-page-1/#comment-364)

Sign the petition:http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/australian-government-stop-the-attrocities-of-freelancer-com

scratchycat
04-11-2013, 10:56 AM
More Freelancer woes! Alexa shows a downward trend in traffic and here are a few reviews:

3607

Freelancer.com Site Info (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/freelancer.com)

baylee
04-11-2013, 07:59 PM
The more I see about this "freelancer", the more I dislike it. At this point I can not find anything good that anyone could say about it.

scratchycat
04-11-2013, 08:05 PM
Thank you Baylee and I would love to see more RS members get involved in this. Although no one will admit it but freelancer and Matt Barrie could very well be the problem that RS is experiencing with the Ddos attacks and other. If any of you would be so inclined to follow up on the posts made here and in other threads.

littleroundman
04-11-2013, 08:50 PM
Thank you Baylee and I would love to see more RS members get involved in this. Although no one will admit it but freelancer and Matt Barrie could very well be the problem that RS is experiencing with the Ddos attacks and other. If any of you would be so inclined to follow up on the posts made here and in other threads.

Unfortunately, the nature of the forum means we are going to be continually under some form of attack or another.

Given the ease with which cyber attacks can be carried out means it is probably unhelpful to allocate any sort of blame to any particular attacker or attackers.

IM(very)HO, unhappy HYIPers, named and shamed cash gifters, discredited business "owners," the "usual suspect" forum owners, common garden variety cyber vandals and bullies or a combination of any/all of them could be responsible.

As they say: "It's the cost of doing [scam]business"

scratchycat
04-12-2013, 09:26 AM
Thank you LRM and so I understand it is very hard to determine just where they attacks come from, so perhaps I should correct my statement
freelancer and Matt Barrie could very well be the problem to "freelancer and Matt Barrie could very well be ONE of the problems".

At least it got you over here to comment and our favorite Roo is in agreement!!

And Freelancer continues to steal money from their users...

path2prosperity
04-12-2013, 02:17 PM
The more I see about this "freelancer", the more I dislike it. At this point I can not find anything good that anyone could say about it.

I spent more than thirty years of my life as an employment agent and met lots of employment agents who were dedicated to finding the right workers for their client's businesses. Recruiting free lance or contract or free lance employees is a different ball game. I loathe the majority of free lance agents who work off line. It must be more corrupt online

scratchycat
04-12-2013, 04:28 PM
I spent more than thirty years of my life as an employment agent and met lots of employment agents who were dedicated to finding the right workers for their client's businesses. Recruiting free lance or contract or free lance employees is a different ball game. I loathe the majority of free lance agents who work off line. It must be more corrupt online

There is no way I would commit to working for freelancer.com, it would much safer to flip burgers or work at a library.

scratchycat
04-12-2013, 04:32 PM
Tried to post this in the am but we get being 'off' (wish those hackers would go pick on another site), try Facebook, they have the means to fight back.

Here is a Blog that gives helpful information to those of you who are looking to freelance or companies offering bids to freelancers.

9 Clues That Your New Freelancing Gig May Actually Be a Scam | FreelanceFolder (http://freelancefolder.com/freelancing-scam/)

9 Clues That Your New Freelancing Gig May Actually Be a Scam

I see red flags in the first 2 clues that are definitely part of freelancer dot com:

1.Fake Contests. While there are many legitimate contests, some contests are not on the up and up. Be careful of contests that require you to sign over your intellectual property rights when you enter. If you are considering entering a contest, consider the source. Is it a well-known organization? Also, remember that a legitimate contest will have winners.
2.Phishing for Personal Information. Some freelance “clients” may actually be phishing for your personal information. Think twice about giving out sensitive information too early in the freelance job application process. And there’s some personal information that no freelance client ever needs to know.

Don't believe me? Go to their website and check out the "contests", then go search for those who have won those contests and NOT BEEN PAID!!

path2prosperity
04-12-2013, 04:43 PM
Thank you LRM and so I understand it is very hard to determine just where they attacks come from, so perhaps I should correct my statement to "freelancer and Matt Barrie could very well be ONE of the problems".

At least it got you over here to comment and our favorite Roo is in agreement!!

And Freelancer continues to steal money from their users...

BoggyBoy Fiedur could be another, Terry The Banker or Wan--- could be another, and it could even be Uncle Festa

scratchycat
05-09-2013, 10:49 AM
More complaints about freelancer.com

3834

Freelancer.com Reviews | SiteJabber Consumer Reviews of Websites (http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.freelancer.com)

ribshaw
05-09-2013, 07:48 PM
Nothing like going from 5 stars to 3 in 2 hours to solidify problems with a company. I have chatted with a few people outside the US on Facebook and have strongly suggested they stay away from freelancer. It is sad, a lot of them seem to be honest people just looking to make extra money. Two people who spoke multiple languages I gave links to some sites that do translation. I am loathe to give any links as I just don't know. One guy did get an assignment that paid $75, in his country he makes about $1000 per month so not too shabby. I never heard from the other person so I can not report.

scratchycat
05-10-2013, 08:49 AM
Nothing like going from 5 stars to 3 in 2 hours to solidify problems with a company. I have chatted with a few people outside the US on Facebook and have strongly suggested they stay away from freelancer. It is sad, a lot of them seem to be honest people just looking to make extra money. Two people who spoke multiple languages I gave links to some sites that do translation. I am loathe to give any links as I just don't know. One guy did get an assignment that paid $75, in his country he makes about $1000 per month so not too shabby. I never heard from the other person so I can not report.

It would be great to do freelance work and to hire freelancers but since Matt Barrie took over freelancer and several other sites, getting paid for the work you do is highly doubtful. Maybe they will follow through with a few 'paid' deals but then they start charging more fees and having access to your PayPal account, they can withdraw without your knowledge. So many people who have completed the work and been paid have suddenly had their accounts 'frozen' and the money taken back. If the client complains they will be threatened with legal action. These are examples of complaints all over the internet.

Still waiting to hear from a person who said they were hiring through Freelancer...

ZeeTee
05-15-2013, 01:17 PM
Registered with Frelancer as an employer and made the mistake to pay them via paypal. they have subsequently made several withdrawals and refuse to deal with my requests for refunds. They owe me more than $200 and have a system to give you the royal runaround when you ask for refunds. They close the ticket and send you an email saying you did not respond to their requests within 24 hours so your dispute is closed. Never mind I reopened same request several times, even approached the matter via other channels, no luck. So, next step is to resort to PayPal complaints and of course spend several years online warning other people against them.

scratchycat
05-15-2013, 02:50 PM
Registered with Frelancer as an employer and made the mistake to pay them via paypal. they have subsequently made several withdrawals and refuse to deal with my requests for refunds. They owe me more than $200 and have a system to give you the royal runaround when you ask for refunds. They close the ticket and send you an email saying you did not respond to their requests within 24 hours so your dispute is closed. Never mind I reopened same request several times, even approached the matter via other channels, no luck. So, next step is to resort to PayPal complaints and of course spend several years online warning other people against them.

I saw somewhere online in one of the blogs (will have to find it again) that some people are hinting of a conspiracy between PayPal and Freelancer. I have found no verification on this, it is just a rumor but worth looking into.

Your information sounds much like what I have read from many others whether you are a freelance employee or employer. Sorry it happened. Here is one blog you might want to comment in: Get a Hindu (http://www.getahindu.blogspot.com/)

scratchycat
05-15-2013, 03:03 PM
Monday, May 13, 2013US $636 has not been paid by freelancer.com
There many reports that freelancer.com is not letting its users withdraw the money they have earned. This is not done only to the freelancers but even with those who post projects - the employers. Among many many incidents here is one that mentions about ripping a user off.


This was reported by some one who wrote with the name (or pen-name) Festus Ndebele. As per the source, the freelancer lost his hard earned US $636 as the employer failed to respond freelancer.com's order to supply papers. additional papers.

The freelancer from South Africa describes that despite the fact that the employer was marked as verified by freelancer.com, later they said that without additional papers from the employer they will not let him get his payment.

Despite informing freelancer.com that the employer has his own wish to respond or not to respond. But in vain. even after 12 weeks the money was kept by freelancer.com. To read the full story you should go to Robert Matthew "Matt" Barrie and the www.Freelancer.com Scam - HPUB (http://hpub.org/robert-matthew-matt-barrie-and-the-www-freelancer-com-scam-by-festus-ndebele/) .

Freelancing Watch: US $636 has not been paid by freelancer.com (http://freelancingwatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/us-636-has-not-been-paid-by.html#more)

scratchycat
05-15-2013, 03:06 PM
This is interesting!!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013Der Untergang - The downfall; Not of Berlin but of freelancer.com!
the world's biggest crowd sourcing market place is getting back what it payed to its users. A vivid infographic reveals that from more than a year freelancer.com's traffic is falling. Users are gradually abandoning the site. Despite it's frequent take overs of other market places, instead of a boost of traffic, it is facing Dawnfall.
In a blog with the screenshots of traffic data from Alexa, it is shown that the site is losing its user's support day by day.The traffic chart testifies it's wrong doings and payoffs. What is more interesting is that a possible diffence against this bitter reality is rebutted by showing that even though freelancer launched separate domains like .au and .in, that does not explain this gradual fall of freelancer.com. The traffic chart shows that the traffic to the regional sites are no match for the main site.

It's worth understanding that bashing your family members cost you more than what your competitor could. Freelancer will understand this hopefully. Now here is the article titled "SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF FREELANCER.COM" to get the full picture - Get a Hindu: SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF FREELANCER.COM (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2013/03/something-is-rotten-in-state-of.html)

Freelancing Watch: Der Untergang - The downfall; Not of Berlin but of freelancer.com! (http://freelancingwatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/der-untergang-downfall-not-of-berlin.html)

scratchycat
05-15-2013, 03:10 PM
They are a scam site.....So far I have won two projects. Freelancer has taken my money and I have not heard from the employers after weeks of pms to them. When I contact freelancer.com support all they will say is no refunds. They do not protect their freelancers. Honestly, I think they award projects just so they can get the fees from the freelancer and rip them off.

The first project I was awarded, I was sleep when the award came. I made the bid at 9 p.m. My time and was awarded the project at 2 am my time. I woke up and accepted the project at 6 am. They say you have 36 hours to accept the project it only took me four. The project got reposted and they chose another developer in that after they chose me on the first post. I contacted support and they just said sorry, no refunds talk with your employer. I talked to them and they didn't do anything.

I said okay, lesson learned....never had an experience like this with scriptlance.com. It was a bad first impression with the but I decided to give them another chance. I was awarded another $30 project. I accepted the project and of course they took their fee right away. The employer has still not contacted me and I have sent many messages. Again they say sorry no refunds. It seems as if they make up these projects just to make money illegally and I pray their downfall will be imminent


Freelancer.com Reviews | SiteJabber Consumer Reviews of Websites (http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.freelancer.com#86)

scratchycat
05-27-2013, 12:12 PM
Freelancer.com Scam – Failed Trap, Tomfoolery or plain Stupidity? | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/freelancer-com-scam-failed-trap-tomfoolery-or-plain-stupidity/)


I admit, I was at a loss for words. The ‘Concierge’ department mailing me after all this time? How considerate of these B@ST@RDS.

That when these JERKW@DS had blocked my account many months ago and I have not logged into the site after that. They also publicly mentioned that the profile would be deleted ‘soon’.

Now, I am not interested in discussing whether this is just a trap that Matt Barrie’s team of expertly demented and mentally challenged advisers cooked up or it was just some tomfoolery on the behalf of a Mr. Albert Turner (who I am sure is as fake as Valerie Scott and Emir). Maybe it was just plain stupidity on the part of the self proclaimed messiah of the Australian IT industry of this century – Mr. Matt Barrie himself.

All I am interested in is replying to these scammers via this post – Whatever it is that you were trying to achieve via this email, please take it and shove it up your @sses you MOTHER F**KING SONS OF B*THCES,

Ciao


P.S. – Maybe Matt Barrie needs a handout because the traffic to his website is at an all time low now. Check out Alexa Rankings (http://www.alexa.com/)

Check the link above to see just what made this blogger so mad!!

scratchycat
05-27-2013, 12:16 PM
Comments: I employed a few people through freelancer untill the day they started to steal my money. They took money from my PayPal account for a good I never asked or signed for. I started a dispute with PayPal to get my money back which freelancer did not like, so they decided to substract the same amount again but this time from my freelancer account. So now I paid twice for the same good, which I never ordered in the first place. Then I looked for reviews on the internet and it became quite evident that they are stealing money from a lot of their customers. Of course there are people that can make a living though their website but the amount of people that get ripped of is just so high. Other outsourcing platforms have some bad reviews as well but these always regard problems caused by the users not the actual platform. In this case it is the company and policy behind the website that is a total scam.

Facebook User's review for freelancer.com on Alexa (http://www.alexa.com/reviews/single/7924431)

scratchycat
05-27-2013, 12:24 PM
Freelancer is the worst company ever. They truly are the worst. I feel like shooting them 4087 . They have blocked my money because my Employer didn't verify his residence address. WHAT!!?? What the h*ll!!

You bloody scammers why didn't you verify him before he was able to post a job and accept bid for it and even award the project? You are verifying him now when he has paid me you bloody retard scams. Why did you hold me for that? I verified my self what is my fault??

Are you really honest about verifying him or more interested about blocking some $$$? 4088

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356&page=6

scratchycat
05-27-2013, 12:29 PM
This one seems to sum up what freelancer.com really is:


Scam #1: Partial Payment Up-Front Scam

How the scam works:

Working freelance is a great way to earn money and work flexible hours. But freelancers have to be aware of the many scams that abound to take advantage of the nature of their work.

In the 'Partial Payment Up-Front' scam, the client will request a job to be done with a set budget. The client will offer the freelancer 30% up-front payment for the project and then the rest upon completion via a direct transfer to the freelancer’s bank account.

Of course, in essence, the freelancer has just handed the “client” everything they need to clean out their bank account.

Freelancers for Hire - Employment Scams - Scam Detector (http://scam-detector.com/employment-scams/freelancers-for-hire)

tommyosmena
05-28-2013, 08:11 AM
oh this is sad hopefully there's someone take legal action with you.

scratchycat
05-28-2013, 11:18 AM
oh this is sad hopefully there's someone take legal action with you.

The main legal action seems to come from freelancer.com against its freelancers and those hiring freelancers. Many of these people have reported they have been threatened by freelancer.com to bring legal action against them.

scratchycat
05-28-2013, 11:31 AM
Another one of many:

What is the reason for this flag? (limit 2000 chars)
Date Occurred: 03/11/2013 Reported Damages: $571.00 Location: USA Hello,

My freelancing id is : (Personal Information Removed)
I have been in this for 2 years, and have accepted 3 projects, which I completed it and the project team paid to me via freelancing.
But the team which gave project have some dispute with freelancing team and the freelancing team has banned their account.
Now they have with hold my payment which is already been paid by them and they are forcing me to resolve their issue.
Which is unfair

My work is to get the project and complete it, which I have done and I got the payment long back, but the freelancing team have hold my payment.
From freelancing Team:
" The three Milestone Payments from your employers "gamechanger0523" and "simantika2012" were reversed due to issues on the two members' accounts."
What you may want to do in this case is to contact the employers again and amicably resolve the issue with them with regards to the Milestone Payments.
20:00Victor C.: You can also advise them to resolve their account issues with us. Once their account issues are resolved, the Milestone Payments will be reinstated to your account.
"Note that the Milestone Payments are on hold due to their account issues with us and they have to resolve this."
Below is my transaction history.

HENCE ITS COMPLETELY UNFAIR ITS THE ISSUE WITH THE FREELANCING AND THE OTHER EMPLOYEE AND I AM SUFFERING.

Transaction History

All Transactions
Invoices
Milestones
Currency + Export Transactions
Show
FirstPrevious123NextLast
Date Transaction Invoice Amount Balance
11 Mar 2013 02:28 Reversal of [Done milestone payment from simantika2012 for project need iPhone application developer (Partial payment for project) (USD) from 06/25/2012 at 10:12 EDT] (USD) -83.00 100.00
11 Mar 2013 02:28 Reversal of [Done milestone payment from simantika2012 for project need iPhone application developer (Partial payment for project) (USD) from 06/25/2012 at 10:12 EDT] (USD) -165.00 183.00
11 Mar 2013 02:26 Reversal of [Done milestone payment from gamechanger0523 for project FLMD App Custom Project Sep 18 2012 08:14:38 for luvtodevelopapps (Partial payment for project) (USD) from 09/18/2012 at 11:36 EDT] (USD) -323.00 348.00


Please help me.

Thanks and Regards,
Sapna

http://www.scambook.com/report/view/220618/Freelancercom-Complaint-220618-for-$571.00

alizap
06-06-2013, 03:16 PM
Hi ScratchyCat,
I hope you remember me... :)
I had account limitation issue at freelancer few month ago. Hopefully I solved it (with your help)
Seems like a new wave is coming! freelancer is taking action against all users from Iran. (I'm from Iran too)
All accounts limited and money ... you know the game! it's a reasonable number of users.
So there is a number of angry/upset people wanting their money back. I hope we can take a serious action against freelancer's irrelevant behavior with your help.

So here we go. what are your suggestions?

Sincerest,
Alireza

scratchycat
06-06-2013, 03:45 PM
Hi ScratchyCat,
I hope you remember me... :)
I had account limitation issue at freelancer few month ago. Hopefully I solved it (with your help)
Seems like a new wave is coming! freelancer is taking action against all users from Iran. (I'm from Iran too)
All accounts limited and money ... you know the game! it's a reasonable number of users.
So there is a number of angry/upset people wanting their money back. I hope we can take a serious action against freelancer's irrelevant behavior with your help.

So here we go. what are your suggestions?

Sincerest,
Alireza

Sure, I remember the comments you made and glad you got it solved. Freelancer seems to operate solely on their own rules and regulations. Why Australian government allows this, I have no idea and they seem to control situations in other countries as well. So now you are saying there are some issues with Iran? Not surprised. We don't seem to have made much advancement with our exposure, except it is getting bad reviews in Alexa. See image above. #112

Here is one website you might want to contact owner and leave comment:

Freelancer.com Scam – Part II : Scam Employers – Onlylogical1 and Desource2012 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/freelancer-com-scam-part-ii-scam-employers-onlylogical1-and-desource2012-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff-2/)

alizap
06-07-2013, 01:26 AM
So... I guess we need more exposure! or just sadly sit back? :(

ribshaw
06-07-2013, 07:31 AM
So... I guess we need more exposure! or just sadly sit back? :(

Welcome Alizap, what I might suggest is to share the link to this thread any place you think Freelancers might come together. Perhaps even start within your own discipline as it would be a group where you can share your experience. There are any number of dishonest things going on on and off the web at any time, so the best you can hope is to educate people.

One other suggestion I would make is to write about it in a native language like Farsi as the 4 sources I know of on Freelancer are all in English. I say this because all of the people I speak with in other countries know people that do not know English. For instance, I have spoke with some people in Portugal about something called Banners Broker. The folks they were concerned about did not speak English. And these people are very likely to fall for this or any scam if there is not enough information they can readily access and understand.

I use Google Translate from time to time http://translate.google.com/#auto/es/parabens%20continua%20assim as I only speak English, but did this with Spanish for another scammer I wanted to warn some people about on Facebook with good results. I would think most people on this side of the fence would be comfortable if you translated and shared their work to avoid having to recreate the wheel. It is best to ask, but for most who do this I like to think the goal is to get the word out.

scratchycat
06-07-2013, 08:10 AM
So... I guess we need more exposure! or just sadly sit back? :(

I understand your feeling on this as I have a 'friend' who has about given up also. You have to keep trying, as I tell the others. These things do not happen overnight, it takes years and determination to bring awareness to some scams and freelancer.com has a lot of 'muscle' but as with this article "Barking dogs seldom bite".
Freelancer.com Scam – Highhandedness at its best | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/freelancer-com-scam-the-rap/comment-page-1/)

scratchycat
06-07-2013, 08:18 AM
You are so right Ribshaw to suggest sharing this link with everyone who has the same problem or interest.

We have several threads on RS relating to freelancer.com and I wish they were combined but that is up to administration.


http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-withholds-my-money-1281/

http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-took-back-my-money-due-employer-account-problems-1584/

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/

http://www.realscam.com/f8/freelancer-com-beware-2057/

scratchycat
06-07-2013, 08:26 AM
Take a look at the real Matt Barrie.

https://www.facebook.com/mattbarrie/media_set?set=a.10150856433085121.759128.688305120&type=3

4261

scratchycat
06-07-2013, 08:35 AM
This was a comment by littleroundman from another thread and in case others did not read it, I want to post it here also as it is a good statement. http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/ #16

"Cease and desist WHAT, Mr Barrie ??

Telling the truth ???

Offering an opinion ??

The problem with many of these celebrity business leaders is they start believing their own publicity and imagine themselves to be untouchable.

It may be fashionable to think of Australia as some backward, out of the way place, but I can assure readers that is not the case.

Cease and desist letters in Australia are just that, "letters"

Letters which anyone who can afford to pay can have sent out by his/her/their legal representatives.

They carry no legal weight at all.

In fact, should Mr Barrie and Freelancer decide to follow through with their threats, I am in no doubt the internet would have no compunction at all in responding with a complete exposure of the Freelancer practices described both here and on the countless blogs which are already on the Freelancer case.

I am also in no doubt Freelancers' policy of requiring identity verification by means of "someone/anyone" holding up a card will be the subject of endless ridicule when and if it becomes general knowledge.

Add in the hundreds of same/similar complaints currently circulating on the 'net regarding non payment for ridiculous reasons AND the fact 'netizens are notoriously reluctant to accept being bullied by anyone, and I can but imagine the outcome for both Mr Barrie and Freelancer.

Far be it for me to lecture anyone as "famous and well connected" as Mr Barrie or his Freelancer businesses, but, surely it would be far easier and more productive to fix the problem/s at the source instead of unleashing a shi*****m of unwanted publicity ??

Freelancers' "identity verification" procedures, customer service, complaint and payment procedure services are demonstrably inefficient on occasion.

No amount of bullying via "cease and desist" letters can change that and no amount of "cease and desist" letters can remove anyones' right to point out the fact thay are.

"Cease and Desist" THAT, Freelancer lawyers, who ever you are "

donalexander
06-13-2013, 08:46 PM
Hello scratchycat, after reading this thread I was down, I plan to join freelancer.com as a freelancer, I am now been looking for freelance websites that I can trust, I ever once cheated by peopleperhour.com. so I do not want to be fooled twice, do you have advice or suggestions? thank you

scratchycat
06-14-2013, 09:11 AM
Well, all I can say is based on reviews by those who have been scammed by freelancer.com, I know for sure I would not have anything to do with them. Even if you do a great job on a project and the employer pays you, if you do not comply with their "rules" do not submit the required personal information, it is possible they will pull that money from your PayPal account and charge you even more plus send you threatening letters. So many people have been taken by them and lost a lot of money. You could contact the owner of Freelancer.com Scam – Failed Trap, Tomfoolery or plain Stupidity? | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/freelancer-com-scam-failed-trap-tomfoolery-or-plain-stupidity/)

or read this one: Freelancers for Hire - Employment Scams - Scam Detector (http://scam-detector.com/employment-scams/freelancers-for-hire)

Since I am not a freelancer, I cannot verify any of the sites but freelancer.com has bought up a lot of them in the last year or so, you need to be careful.

scratchycat
06-14-2013, 09:13 AM
You can read more at this Blog:

Get a Hindu: FREELANCER.COM - FRAUD DIVISION MANAGER NEEDED (BONUS: FREELANCER.COM PHONE NUMBER) (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/freelancercom-fraud-division-manager.html#!/2012/11/freelancercom-fraud-division-manager.html)

donalexander
06-14-2013, 08:31 PM
Well, all I can say is based on reviews by those who have been scammed by freelancer.com, I know for sure I would not have anything to do with them. Even if you do a great job on a project and the employer pays you, if you do not comply with their "rules" do not submit the required personal information, it is possible they will pull that money from your PayPal account and charge you even more plus send you threatening letters. So many people have been taken by them and lost a lot of money. You could contact the owner of Freelancer.com Scam – Failed Trap, Tomfoolery or plain Stupidity? | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/freelancer-com-scam-failed-trap-tomfoolery-or-plain-stupidity/)

or read this one: Freelancers for Hire - Employment Scams - Scam Detector (http://scam-detector.com/employment-scams/freelancers-for-hire)

Since I am not a freelancer, I cannot verify any of the sites but freelancer.com has bought up a lot of them in the last year or so, you need to be careful.

I have read the references you provided, my head feels sicker, it looks like I will not be plunged again into the world of freelance. Thank you scratchycat

scratchycat
06-15-2013, 07:49 AM
I have read the references you provided, my head feels sicker, it looks like I will not be plunged again into the world of freelance. Thank you scratchycat

According to Freelancer.com Site Info (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/freelancer.com#) their traffic and reach has dropped in the past few months. I did notice they have had some of their robots giving rave reviews and I would guess that is what those 'likes' are. The same ones who jump in and defend them in RS and blogs.

I am sorry that this has discouraged you and there might be a few good ones. Maybe someone in RS knows who actually uses them. I cannot attest to it as I don't use them. What is important we might have saved you many headaches and lots of money.

JennaFreelancer
06-27-2013, 10:44 PM
Hi everyone,

I'm Jenna from Freelancer.com. I'd like to personally assist you on your individual concerns. Please send me an email to support@freelancer.com containing your username and the ID of the relevant project. Be reminded to direct the email to me by putting my name on the title so I would easily get it.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
Jenna

baylee
06-28-2013, 08:06 PM
Hi everyone,

I'm Jenna from Freelancer.com. I'd like to personally assist you on your individual concerns. Please send me an email to support@freelancer.com containing your username and the ID of the relevant project. Be reminded to direct the email to me by putting my name on the title so I would easily get it.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
Jenna

Hello Jenna,

I am happy that you are here and hope that you will be able to deal with the issues and concerns of the parties involved. I am sure we look forward to the end result.

scratchycat
06-29-2013, 10:16 AM
Hi everyone,

I'm Jenna from Freelancer.com. I'd like to personally assist you on your individual concerns. Please send me an email to support@freelancer.com containing your username and the ID of the relevant project. Be reminded to direct the email to me by putting my name on the title so I would easily get it.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
Jenna

Hello Jenna (robot) from freelancer.com, so good to have you drop by with the robotic statement given to most concerns. Why direct it to you? Have you replaced Emir?


My name is Emir and I work for Freelancer.com. I came across your post here. We are sorry that you had a bad experience. We would like to help and we have looked into your case for you.

We understand that you went through the account verification procedures. We’d like to assure that this Freelancer.com procedure is in place to verify the user's identity and to create a safe environment for freelancers and employers. Freelancer.com will not disclose sensitive information unless to comply to legal obligations or with your express consent.

As you discussed the employer has raised a chargeback for the funds that were associated with this project, these funds are now frozen on Freelancer.com, and there is an investigation being conducted into the reason for these chargebacks.

We will contact you via email to ensure you are kept up to date with the progress of this investigation.

Thank you very much.

or Alaister..


Hi sratchycat,

Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


Regards,

Alaister Low
Director of Customer Experience
Freelancer.com

At any rate, we look forward to all your offers of help and returning the money you have stolen from these people you have ripped off, according to the many complaints all over the internet and in here.

scratchycat
06-29-2013, 10:18 AM
Hello Jenna,

I am happy that you are here and hope that you will be able to deal with the issues and concerns of the parties involved. I am sure we look forward to the end result.

Waiting anxiously and I will try to inform all those parties concerned that Jenna is here to help them get their money!!! :shocked:

scratchycat
06-29-2013, 10:30 AM
Strange but this comes as more comments were made on various blogs today.

Freelancer Rip-OffExpress_It! (http://wp.me/p25EHk-kl)

ribshaw
06-29-2013, 12:02 PM
Hi everyone,

I'm Jenna from Freelancer.com. I'd like to personally assist you on your individual concerns. Please send me an email to support@freelancer.com containing your username and the ID of the relevant project. Be reminded to direct the email to me by putting my name on the title so I would easily get it.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
Jenna

Sorry, but give me an f'n break. If you want stuff sent directly to you why not set up an email account that goes directly to you? Seriously, are you trying to be condescending and annoying right out of the gate? Surely you as a "insider" already know who the people are who have had money withheld, how about show up with some results.

People may as well open their windows and scream your name for as seriously as I take this.

JennaFreelancer
06-30-2013, 12:47 AM
Hi Ribshaw,

Thank you for the message.

I completely understand how you are feeling about me giving the Support's email address. But if you would give me a chance, I would like to help you with issue you had on our site. To do that, please let me know your username, the relevant project you had an issue with, and a short summary of what happened. I would personally look into this and send you a message afterwards.

I shall wait for your message.


Sorry, but give me an f'n break. If you want stuff sent directly to you why not set up an email account that goes directly to you? Seriously, are you trying to be condescending and annoying right out of the gate? Surely you as a "insider" already know who the people are who have had money withheld, how about show up with some results.

People may as well open their windows and scream your name for as seriously as I take this.

JennaFreelancer
06-30-2013, 12:57 AM
Hi Scratchycat,

Thank you for the acknowledgement.

I'd be very glad to help the people here. Just shoot me a message at support@freelancer.com. I may not be able to promise that everything will turn out positively, rest assured that I would personally look into each and every query that I would receive and do the best I can to help you guys.

Hope to hear from people here. :)


Hello Jenna (robot) from freelancer.com, so good to have you drop by with the robotic statement given to most concerns. Why direct it to you? Have you replaced Emir?



or Alaister..



At any rate, we look forward to all your offers of help and returning the money you have stolen from these people you have ripped off, according to the many complaints all over the internet and in here.

ChaimS
06-30-2013, 02:28 AM
...
Jenna

Yeaaahhh... how nice to see another 'helpful' Freelancer.com's representative (after: Emir, Alaister, Max...)

So will ask a few questions. And will be asking them until I get proper answers:
1. Why has Freelancer.com's personnel been outing my surname on purpose? This is intentional privacy abuse just unthinkable for any business dealing with it.
2. Why have the complaining people been smeared by your company publicly? Why have I and Kent Mauresmo been accused of most preposterous behaviors without any proofs of those? What about Eccentric Blogger? Where are proofs this is a scammer? What kind of legit corporation defends itself by trashing the pissed customer on its official blog?
3. Why had Freelancer.com sent me C&D e-mail within HOURS after I have reminded its CEO about existing copyright infringement even though my blog was up for like 4 months? Why have Freelancer.com lawyers misled me about "getting back to me in the beginning of 2013"? Why have I been harassed via phone and e-mail even though my private data was to be kept confidential?


And, finally, as one smart person asked on BH forum:
What kind of customer service are you offering chasing the complaining people on forums where they complain? What if the person had been hurt by Freelancer.com but didn't have venue/will to complain publicly?

ribshaw
06-30-2013, 10:49 AM
Hi Ribshaw,

Thank you for the message.

I completely understand how you are feeling about me giving the Support's email address. But if you would give me a chance, I would like to help you with issue you had on our site. To do that, please let me know your username, the relevant project you had an issue with, and a short summary of what happened. I would personally look into this and send you a message afterwards.

I shall wait for your message.

Jenna I have not had a problem personally with Freelancer, have just witnessed enough from people that have in any one of the many many scam sites including those specifically set up for Freelancer. Up to and including people who were threatened with legal action for their complaints. You are either a decoy like the others that showed, considering you are like number four with the same story, or are painfully naive about who you are involved with. If you had any intention of making things right for folks, then as I said there are enough complaints out there on the web FIX THEM. You should have access to the people who's payments were withheld. PAY THEM!!! THIS IS HOW THINGS ARE FIXED!!!

Showing up at an internet site asking people to send emails to some generic email address and put your name in the heading is CHILDISH to say the least. How about a direct phone number if you are so concerned? That you would come here so seemingly uninformed and unprepared is insulting to everyone.

scratchycat
06-30-2013, 02:15 PM
Hi Ribshaw,

Thank you for the message.

I completely understand how you are feeling about me giving the Support's email address. But if you would give me a chance, I would like to help you with issue you had on our site. To do that, please let me know your username, the relevant project you had an issue with, and a short summary of what happened. I would personally look into this and send you a message afterwards.

I shall wait for your message.

Username, project, PayPal account number, bank account number, any personal documents with a legal photo along with a driver's license and you will "maybe not personally" but freelancer.com will be happy to withdraw money from your account.

scratchycat
06-30-2013, 02:26 PM
Hi Scratchycat,

Thank you for the acknowledgement.

I'd be very glad to help the people here. Just shoot me a message at support@freelancer.com. I may not be able to promise that everything will turn out positively, rest assured that I would personally look into each and every query that I would receive and do the best I can to help you guys.

Hope to hear from people here. :)

Matt must have decided it would be better to use females to "personally" look into each and every query. I would suggest hiring thousands to take care of the thousands of complaints spread over the world through internet.


Hi Arunch. My name is Max and I'm also from from Freelancer.com. We appreciate the feedback. I'm helping my colleague Emir, with replying to user concerns posted at this site. It is unfortunate you feel this way about our site. I would like to help with your account concerns. Please send your username to max@freelancer.com and I'll help you resolve the issues around your account. Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/freelancercom-c313787.html?page=2

While you are there, please read both pages... I am sure that will give you a really good start because I doubt that any of those cases have been settled.

scratchycat
06-30-2013, 02:33 PM
Yeaaahhh... how nice to see another 'helpful' Freelancer.com's representative (after: Emir, Alaister, Max...)

So will ask a few questions. And will be asking them until I get proper answers:
1. Why has Freelancer.com's personnel been outing my surname on purpose? This is intentional privacy abuse just unthinkable for any business dealing with it.
2. Why have the complaining people been smeared by your company publicly? Why have I and Kent Mauresmo been accused of most preposterous behaviors without any proofs of those? What about Eccentric Blogger? Where are proofs this is a scammer? What kind of legit corporation defends itself by trashing the pissed customer on its official blog?
3. Why had Freelancer.com sent me C&D e-mail within HOURS after I have reminded its CEO about existing copyright infringement even though my blog was up for like 4 months? Why have Freelancer.com lawyers misled me about "getting back to me in the beginning of 2013"? Why have I been harassed via phone and e-mail even though my private data was to be kept confidential?


And, finally, as one smart person asked on BH forum:
What kind of customer service are you offering chasing the complaining people on forums where they complain? What if the person had been hurt by Freelancer.com but didn't have venue/will to complain publicly?

ChaimS, you have a lot of unanswered questions and I hope you get some good information and the help you deserve. I have observed how you have been trashed by this company along with many others who have sought to publically denounce them and tell how they have been cheated out of hard-earned money because of some last minute 'details' that required more personal information than anyone should know about anyone.

Of course you will not get the answers you deserve or want, you will get more C & D junk that people should ignore. If you have been ripped off by a company, a person has a RIGHT to let others know.

scratchycat
06-30-2013, 03:19 PM
Jordan

May 2, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Someone that worked at freelancer.com put our account in verification I had about 600 in total escrow so I was basically pinned down cuz I needed to pay the contractor to make my client job get done so I have freelancer all info ssn birth certificate everything bank info and wow that’s pretty much when my life started tanking the customer service rep got into our company server and started extorting me and our clients the hackers got into our merchant account and started refunding customers their money he’s tried to open 10 to 15 banks across the us in my name and 3 to 4 loans , he deleted our company server and Database they have a team a Pakistan ppl here in usa and Pakistan I have his IP address when they took over my freelancer.com that’s how I know it was someone that’s works there. Anything you can imagine has happened freelancer .com will go down has the most insecure website on the planet buyer beware. But they do have good contractors just the customer service are crooks.


Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)

JennaFreelancer
07-01-2013, 07:18 AM
Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress (http://read2learn.net/freelancer-com-scam-2012/)

Hello Scratchycat!

Would you mind tell Jordan to send me a message with his username and the relevant project? I couldn't find much information on the message that you qouted.

Also, the link you gave is now being handled by my colleague. But, I have already inform them that you have raised it here on our thread.

I'll wait for Jordan's username. Cheers.

scratchycat
07-01-2013, 09:36 AM
Hello Scratchycat!

Would you mind tell Jordan to send me a message with his username and the relevant project? I couldn't find much information on the message that you qouted.

Also, the link you gave is now being handled by my colleague. But, I have already inform them that you have raised it here on our thread.

I'll wait for Jordan's username. Cheers.

I find that very laughable. You are asking me to do your work for you? Whomever Jordan is they would be well-advised to not send you anymore information. Especially bank account numbers and personal information, which by the way, it is probably already on file since it sounds like they did work through freelancer.com. The message I QUOTED was from the link posted above which you copied. I am sure your colleague is right on it and will get it done!!!!

What is this "raised it here on our thread"? I simply did a Google search, found that link and quoted from the latest update. If it is online, it is public information.

Have any of you answered ChaimS questions or concerns of any of the 1,000's of complaints out there??

Nice of you to drop by and try to make claims that you are really going to help these people but as stated by another person, what you really need to do is PAY THESE PEOPLE THE MONEY THAT IS OWED TO THEM!! Until that happens and we see action by freelancer.com to change some of their policies, then I don't have time to waste on replying to your flimsy comments.

ribshaw
07-01-2013, 10:16 AM
What is this "raised it here on our thread"? I simply did a Google search, found that link and quoted from the latest update. If it is online, it is public information.

Have any of you answered ChaimS questions or concerns of any of the 1,000's of complaints out there??

Nice of you to drop by and try to make claims that you are really going to help these people but as stated by another person, what you really need to do is PAY THESE PEOPLE THE MONEY THAT IS OWED TO THEM!! Until that happens and we see action by freelancer.com to change some of their policies, then I don't have time to waste on replying to your flimsy comments.[/COLOR]

What Scratchy said X 2!!! I hope this little stunt shows everyone who reads this thread what an unprofessional, dishonest, group of children you get when you deal with Freelancer.

ChaimS
07-01-2013, 04:50 PM
...

Repeating my questions:
1. Why has Freelancer.com's representatives intentionally and repeatedly compromised customer personal data?
2. Why does Freelancer.com operates using stolen ideas?
3. Why does Freelancer.com try to threaten the victim into silence?

ribshaw
07-01-2013, 05:20 PM
Repeating my questions:
1. Why has Freelancer.com's representatives intentionally and repeatedly compromised customer personal data?
2. Why does Freelancer.com operates using stolen ideas?
3. Why does Freelancer.com try to threaten the victim into silence?

I gave this a little thought today and here is what I would expect at this point, especially if my company was completely run off the rails in such a corrupt fashion.

Matt himself would show up here, not an employee. Sorry Jenna.

Matt now speaking.

1. ChaimS, those employees have not only been terminated we are pursuing all available legal remedies up to and including filing police report # xxxxxx.
2. We have engaged legal counsel to make certain that anyone who has sustained a financial loss as a result of stolen or misused data will be made whole without question or delay.
3. Please see number 1, we take this very seriously.
4. We have gone back and paid every disputed amount, plus interest in ALL situations where there is no fully substantiated complaint. The employees who played this game have been terminated and this will never happen again.

I humbly apologize for the criminal and unethical behavior of my organization, I except sole responsibility and will be working night and day to make things right for the people we have wronged.

Sincerely
Matt

-------------------------------

That is the severity I see just based on your questions. People at Freelancer broke the law, and there is a razor thin chance Matt is not complicit. The fact that a CSR is showing up that can't even say she has resolved a few rather glaring problems is unconscionable.

scratchycat
07-06-2013, 12:43 PM
What happened to Jenna?? Are they recruiting some of the bigger dogs to come tell us their excuses for stealing money from their members?

ribshaw
07-06-2013, 01:15 PM
What happened to Jenna?? Are they recruiting some of the bigger dogs to come tell us their excuses for stealing money from their members?

Poof gone like Houdini. But I found some "greatest hits" over at the other site. The first comment takes some serious brass.

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356&page=6
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=212798

5035
5036
5037
5038

scratchycat
07-07-2013, 02:30 PM
Looks like the robots are taking a beating over there also!! Thanks for posting, I have not had time to do the rounds lately but did just get an update on one of the blogs.

ALTERNATIVES TO FREELANCER (DOT) COM (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/alternatives-to-freelancer-com-viable-alternatives-to-the-scam-being-run-by-matt-barrie/)

ChaimS
07-08-2013, 12:51 AM
Looks like the robots are taking a beating over there also!! Thanks for posting, I have not had time to do the rounds lately but did just get an update on one of the blogs.

ALTERNATIVES TO FREELANCER (DOT) COM (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/alternatives-to-freelancer-com-viable-alternatives-to-the-scam-being-run-by-matt-barrie/)

As I wrote here:
Llovizna: Is Freelancer.com a complete scam, or a partial scam? (http://kkpradeeban.blogspot.com/2012/11/is-freelancercom-complete-scam-or.html?showComment=1352003772996#c129179326036899 9683)

...the big competitors and new kids in the town aren't asleep. And so far they aren't engaging in a major mistake... declaring a war on some of users.

More alternatives? This list is a bit outdated, but you can give it a try:
50 Freelance Job Sites For Designers & Programmers – Best Of (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-freelance-job-sites-for-designers-programmers-best-of/)


Are you current customer of Freelancer.com? Read the testimony below and reconsider whether you still like to have any contact with such shady enterprise:

I also received notification from Freelancer.com about your account
suspension. Frankly, I am somewhat confused as to what is going on,
especially as I am a first-time user of the service.
Not sure if I will use it again.

LemuriaDesign
07-14-2013, 10:30 AM
Hello everyone, I just have been fooled by Freelancer again. Maybe my situation is not so critical because my account is not suspended, but I won a Logo Contest that was GUARANTEED, that means the contest holder already paid Freelancer for it and once the source files of the project are delivered Freelancer should pay the contest winner (me). Freelancer never paid me, when I contact support they said the contest holder must verify their account, that's something they don't tell you before you work on the designs. The contest holder doesn't answer me back so basically Freelancer stole my money. Is this kind of CORRUPTION common in Australia or what?

ChaimS
07-14-2013, 12:15 PM
1. Tell them you will expose it:
Stay away from freelancer.com - Page 6 (http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/blackhat-lounge/521248-stay-away-freelancer-com-6.html#post5801998)
Get a Hindu (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/08/can-freelancer.html)
Get a Hindu: FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE - ASK THE MEDIA ABOUT FREELANCER.COM (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2012/11/fight-fire-with-fire-ask-media-about.html)

2. File a report to ACCC:
ACCC (http://www.accc.gov.au/)

Ask them your last question. This is Australian governmental organization so they should love to answer your last question related to the whole situation.

scratchycat
07-14-2013, 03:20 PM
Hello everyone, I just have been fooled by Freelancer again. Maybe my situation is not so critical because my account is not suspended, but I won a Logo Contest that was GUARANTEED, that means the contest holder already paid Freelancer for it and once the source files of the project are delivered Freelancer should pay the contest winner (me). Freelancer never paid me, when I contact support they said the contest holder must verify their account, that's something they don't tell you before you work on the designs. The contest holder doesn't answer me back so basically Freelancer stole my money. Is this kind of CORRUPTION common in Australia or what?

Let's just say, freelancer.com and matt barrie get away with it!

Sorry you also 'got taken'. I know I would not do anything for or with them.

scratchycat
08-05-2013, 08:42 AM
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freelancer-Scam/489318101158611

For those of you interested, the above is a recent FB page.

Another interesting blog:

Llovizna: Is Freelancer.com a complete scam, or a partial scam? (http://kkpradeeban.blogspot.com/2012/11/is-freelancercom-complete-scam-or.html?showComment=1352003772996#c129179326036899 9683)

scratchycat
08-09-2013, 09:46 AM
New Comment about Freelancer.com.

Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/)

August 9, 2013 at 7:10 AM said:
They are an absolute bunch of scammers everyone, do not trust them. I am an Australian and they are a bunch of criminals. MY freelancer has just spent months developing something and has now finished. I have paid $1150 into Freelancer and he cannot withdraw the money. I am now asking for my money back so I can Paypal it to him and do the honourable thing for this poor guy. An absolute joke. I am taking this further and will let you know how I go.

Don’t use this website at all.

Hope these people will come here and leave comments also.

scratchycat
10-18-2013, 07:06 AM
Update on blog concerning freelancer dot com:
Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/comment-page-1/)

Read comment by Paul on October 14, 2013

scratchycat
10-18-2013, 07:10 AM
Not sure right now if the Eccentric Blogger was down for a bit since I rather lost touch lately. Well, it is back and Matt Barrie beware!

Hullo Again!!! | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/hullo-again/)

Anddos
10-23-2013, 02:43 PM
What makes me laugh about freelancer is when you see previous work screenshots,is that any proof that they did that?, no its not proof at all,they could be from anywhere,they need to implement something like the request to show passport in a photo with some code written on paper kind of authentication,or let the people who work for freelancer collect screenshots from the people the bidder did work for, dont let the actual bidder show the screenshots lol,that is asking for trouble.

scratchycat
10-24-2013, 08:25 AM
What makes me laugh about freelancer is when you see previous work screenshots,is that any proof that they did that?, no its not proof at all,they could be from anywhere,they need to implement something like the request to show passport in a photo with some code written on paper kind of authentication,or let the people who work for freelancer collect screenshots from the people the bidder did work for, dont let the actual bidder show the screenshots lol,that is asking for trouble.

All I know is that if I were still doing freelancing, I would not get involved with freelancer. com.

scratchycat
12-07-2013, 01:45 PM
There have been some updates on more people being taken by the monster Freelancer dot com and I wanted to also post some here.


Tanas Alexandru Florin on November 24, 2013 at 5:43 AM said:
Very carefully with this site !!! Now I’m lost $ 400 !!! I was paid by someone to sell a facebook group with many likes 30K.I was paid all right,but after one hour my balance was below minus $ -400.This customer have account for 40 per month Premium and i think it is a user that is part of staff,I say that because the project was not locked at the time of her (staff freelancer) but it was locked after all the transaction was carried through (after one hour) !!! When I published a project that was not under terms and conditions was blocked and put in pedding within max 5 min and NOW ??? why after more one hour ??? We highly recommend that you very carefully with freelance.com !!! I hope to be understood.

Read more... (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/)

scratchycat
04-16-2014, 09:34 AM
Update from Blog:


In case some of you had problems reading the interesting part:

Freelancer International Pty Limited is an Australian Proprietary Limited Company, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Freelancer.com Pte Ltd is a Singapore Company, regulated by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Plendo Sweden AB is a Swedish company regulated by the Swedish Companies Office (Bolagsverket).

source: Stay away from freelancer.com (http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/blackhat-lounge/521248-stay-away-freelancer-com.html)


So the company suddenly ceased to be regulated by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or was it the paragraph that became ugly as far as website’s aesthetics is concerned?

What’s the big deal? Well, as you can read here: Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Our role (http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/ASIC.NSF/byHeadline/Our%20role)

ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator.

Some may say: Freelancer.com Is Australian corporate body, so it is automatically regulated. True, but such statement would be simply redundant. Especially when one removes the redundant part soon after one’s legal grounds got questioned.

When the facts described above are taken in mind, two options are left to be considered:

Freelancer.com hasn’t ever been regulated by ASIC (as financial authority) as it didn’t have to. In such case this governmental organization’s name had been used for illegitimate credibility boost. And this is called a confidence trick… or simply a scam.
Freelancer.com should have been regulated by ASIC (as financial authority), did not care though. That’s a hard one as this would be not only a scam and illegal operations, but potential deliberate spoliation of future evidence as well.


A piece of mind for all the people who have dirty laundry in their closets:

If you do have something to hide, at least don’t bully and blackmail those who seem only to pass you by… otherwise you may attract some really unwanted attention.

Chaim

Posted 16th August 2013 by Chaim Kovalsky

Get a Hindu (http://www.getahindu.blogspot.com/)

Sorry, I have been unable to keep up with what is happening between freelancer and its clients (past & present) but it ties in with the emails I am receiving from Allen and Matt.

Hi honestme,

This is Matt Barrie, Chief Executive of Freelancer.com.

I am pleased to announce that Warrior Forum has joined the Freelancer family.

We are excited and looking forward to working with you to better support the community.

Allen Says founded Warrior Forum in 1997 and I’ve personally watched the community grow to over 730,000 members, becoming the world’s largest Internet marketing forum.

If you haven’t visited the forum in a while make sure you check out all the improvements that have been made at WarriorForum - Internet Marketing Forums (http://www.warriorforum.com)!

We will be allocating substantial resources to further grow the site. We will be dedicating engineers to build features and customer experience specialists to interact with the community in order to understand intimately what you like. They’ll be working closely with the moderators moving forward.

The most important thing, however, is that we listen to you- the community. We’ll be going through the suggestions section and would love to hear more about your ideas and feedback.

Also please feel free to email me at matt@freelancer.com with any suggestions, ideas, and thoughts or just to touch base and introduce yourself.

Effective immediately we are making a few permanent improvements to pricing:
* All WSO listings will now be reduced from $40 to $20
* All War Room members will have their 20 year membership extended to lifetime, immediately. Moving forward new memberships will be $20 per year.

Thank you for your support of Warrior Forum in the past and I look forward to working with you to take Warrior Forum to the next phase!

Regards,
Matt Barrie

What exactly does Warrior Forum (http://www.warriorforum.com/) do??

cseabhilasha
06-20-2014, 09:33 PM
I am on freelancer website from last 7 months. It was all going fine and I completed 2-3 projects successfully with excellent 5 star ratings when I put a withdraw request and with in 2 weeks Freelancer.com have started their so called verification process then the real image of freelancer has started to come out.
Even then I comply on the same and On their request I have again and again submitted multiple documents from last 1 month for Id, address proof including Driving License, Bank statements, Utility bill, Government issued certificate but all of these documents are rejected without giving any proper logical reason while these documents are accepted by government including VISA processing etc.
It seems they are preoccupied to steal my hard earned money as they have done with many other freelancers before. I found many articles on web and their current actions are again similar. There are no changes in their behaviors.

Please help me in getting back my money. Thanks !!

scratchycat
06-21-2014, 11:36 AM
I am on freelancer website from last 7 months. It was all going fine and I completed 2-3 projects successfully with excellent 5 star ratings when I put a withdraw request and with in 2 weeks Freelancer.com have started their so called verification process then the real image of freelancer has started to come out.
Even then I comply on the same and On their request I have again and again submitted multiple documents from last 1 month for Id, address proof including Driving License, Bank statements, Utility bill, Government issued certificate but all of these documents are rejected without giving any proper logical reason while these documents are accepted by government including VISA processing etc.
It seems they are preoccupied to steal my hard earned money as they have done with many other freelancers before. I found many articles on web and their current actions are again similar. There are no changes in their behaviors.

Please help me in getting back my money. Thanks !!

Wish there was something we could do to help you csea... but all we can do here is inform and try to prevent this from happening at present. You people who are being ripped off by this company need to report it to proper authorities of your origin and also in Australia where their headquarters are. Google search is full of cases just like yours and for some reason freelancer dot com and Matt Barrie continue to get away with it. My advice is anyone who reads this is to stay away from this company and all its affiliates.

skeptic99
01-02-2015, 12:17 PM
Wow this thread has been incredibly informative, thank you!

I used to be a member of Freelancer.com as a translator. Fortunately I didn't get any projects! I bid like crazy for a while but never got chosen; now I'm thankful for that :P

I'll just share that it took me about 5 days to unregister, because they don't let you just cancel your membership, you have to go through their terrible customer service reps. Once the request is made via email, they send you at least two lengthy emails stating the thousands of "benefits" of being a member, "why don't you reconsider", etc. I found this very annoying!

Thanks again.

leomedina01
05-20-2015, 11:55 AM
I've been a freelancer.com's member since 2011. I have completed more than 140 projects and have good feedbacks.

I have done a hard-working and long job for a client of USD$1,500 inside freelancer.com, around 1-2 months ago. Today, he requested a chargeback and now my account balance is USD$1,500 negative. Freelancer.com refuses to send me funds back.

Now, probably my account will be cancelled, and I will have to move to another freelancer website like guru.com, and I will loose all my reputation which I'm building since 2011.... Anyway, there's no way to work on freelancer.com anymore, since I will not cover the negative funds which was "stolen" from me. I'd never do that.

So, I think the only way is to start over again....

scratchycat
05-21-2015, 01:02 PM
I've been a freelancer.com's member since 2011. I have completed more than 140 projects and have good feedbacks.

I have done a hard-working and long job for a client of USD$1,500 inside freelancer.com, around 1-2 months ago. Today, he requested a chargeback and now my account balance is USD$1,500 negative. Freelancer.com refuses to send me funds back.

Now, probably my account will be cancelled, and I will have to move to another freelancer website like guru.com, and I will loose all my reputation which I'm building since 2011.... Anyway, there's no way to work on freelancer.com anymore, since I will not cover the negative funds which was "stolen" from me. I'd never do that.

So, I think the only way is to start over again....

I do feel for you and you should feel lucky to have accomplished what you have with them for that long without getting burned. There is no way I would trust a company to have advantage of my account where they can deposit or withdraw whenever they want to... Eventually, you will be left with a negative balance as has just happened with you. You need to call up your 'friend' Matt and see if he won't give you some of the money back he stole from you - he has plenty of it and knows how to spend it!!

Jimmyboy
06-10-2015, 04:53 AM
I've been a freelancer.com member for some years now as outsourcer and there were never any kinds of problems.

On the other hand, I did a few times accidentally "pay" the membership fee by them getting me to activate the free trial and then making it very complicated to cancel it until my card got charged. It was just $15 or something like that, but still...

ChaimS
01-22-2016, 02:04 PM
Now it's official. Australian privacy authority slapped Freelancer.com with 20,000 AUD in aggravated damages for privacy infringement.

Freelancer.com fined for 'reckless indifference to privacy rights' • The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/11/freelancercom_fined_for_reckless_indifference_to_p rivacy_rights/)

http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2016/01/oaic-freelancercom-infringed-my-privacy.html

AmandaD
01-27-2016, 05:23 PM
If you post on Facebook they will most likely delete the post and block you from posting, that's what People Per Hour did to me!

ribshaw
01-27-2016, 09:48 PM
If you post on Facebook they will most likely delete the post and block you from posting, that's what People Per Hour did to me!

Outta sight outta mind...

sureshquest
02-14-2016, 11:27 PM
Freelancer just emptied the money from my account, just because the guy who gave me the project did not complete his verification. I am with freelancer for more than 7 years. I told them, it is his freewill I really can not interfere with other people’s freewill. What benefit he has to complete the verification process?
I completed my verification process by providing all my ids faithfully. But asking other people to submit their id is not really with in my control. If freelancer want this kind of verification to be done, then they have to make the verification to be completed before accepting money from the client.

I trusted Freelancer and I released my work to him. Where is the security for my work that was delivered to him? I am just small people working hard and making just small wages like few hundred dollars. And Freelancer is literally treating their members like as if they are part of a terrorist organization or something. There is a limit to police the activities on the website, this seems like too extreme. I did all the things they asked me to do and submitted every document they requested, regardless of that they want to reverse my hard earned money.

I would really recommend them to work for CIA or FBI , they are more suitable for that kind of job, they do not know how to care for the hard work their members did.
Why I am being the middle man between Freelancer and the guy who gave me the project to ask him submit their documents for the project that was completed and closed?
I really pitty the people who have suffered similar fate like me.

I would really recommend people to move away from this site slowly, even there are many other similar sites who take higher margin, but it is more safer platform than Freelancer. What is the point can you imagine you are with them for 7 years, and suddenly just because of one issue they take away your money or block the account? Especially when we have so many customers and reputation, all these takes years to build, which they can just simply block with one click? No one should be in such a dire situation.

Just because of their own incapacity to make others complete the verification process, they just wiped my money from my account. Does anyone see any humanity in such a thing? I can only see a monstrous attitude with absolutely no care.

STAY AWAY from this site, don’t even waste a second anymore on this site.

sureshquest
02-15-2016, 10:03 PM
Just because the guy who gave me the project, did not complete the verification they took my money.

But the craziest thing was, they also ask me to pay back the money for the project that was completed long ago and successfully completed. I told Freelancer clearly, that the previous money you wiped out from my account was not at all refund to the client. So please send me the proof that this has been done and he really received the money.

And they did not even willing to answer my question and started repeating the message like, please deposit money, please deposit money. Then it strikes me, why they are not answering my questions and keep repeating, maybe I am talking to a chatter bot. All the while i thought I was talking to a real human being who has same emotions and feelings like me.

By repeating what it can achieve? Or by avoiding not answering my question if it thinks, it can achieve anything let it keep thinking that. No smart person will think, by repeating same question again and again he can achieve anything. This is really a dumb bot.
So either Freelancer is having chatter bot to resolve customer support issues, or maybe they put people from junior high school as their support staff. No mature person will avoid answering a question.

Apart from the above funny bot issue, my question is what happened to the money they wiped from my account ? It is not in my account, my client also did not receive it. So where it went? I am sure any body can make some educated guess on that.

ChaimS
02-19-2016, 09:02 AM
Now it's official. Australian privacy authority slapped Freelancer.com with 20,000 AUD in aggravated damages for privacy infringement.

Freelancer.com fined for 'reckless indifference to privacy rights' • The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/11/freelancercom_fined_for_reckless_indifference_to_p rivacy_rights/)

Get a Hindu: OAIC: FREELANCER.COM INFRINGED MY PRIVACY, 20,000 AUD IN DAMAGES AWARDED (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/2016/01/oaic-freelancercom-infringed-my-privacy.html)

Freelancer filed an appeal. So it's a never ending story.


Apart from the above funny bot issue, my question is what happened to the money they wiped from my account ? It is not in my account, my client also did not receive it. So where it went? I am sure any body can make some educated guess on that.

I invite you to read my blog. One day I may publish quite reasonable hypothesis about it together with the evidence I'm holding. To the very best of my knowledge such situations occurred on regular basis, had their systemic background and have been taking place for over 4 years. After I have commented on Freelancer.com's questionable procedures, I have been illegally harassed.

Get a Hindu (http://getahindu.blogspot.com/)