The Data and Private Information Scam

Many young or first time giggers are not confident in how the gigging process works and can fall prey to scammers while trying to please their client. One big scam surrounding this concerns data and private information of freelancers.

Scammers often approach freelance models or actors through social media platforms with the proposal of a shoot or gig. They often ask for pictures and basic information, which is a common practice in the professional world. However, watch out if they ask for specifically suggestive photographs or private information, like your banking information.

The Solution: Don’t be afraid to ask some questions first. Find out what agency they’re from, how they found out about you, and for more information on the shoot before any information is shared. As a general rule of thumb, never give out your banking info or sensitive information online!

The “Test” Project

This scam is not a scam exactly, and can be tricky to navigate. If you’re new to gigging, a “test” project is when a potential client asks for a proposal and wants to test things out before committing fully. Where this gets tricky is that you could end up doing almost an entire project and then have a scammer ghost you and take your work along with them, leaving you unpaid and frustrated.

The Solution: Create a contract! Whether you sit with a lawyer to draft one, or write one yourself, make sure this client signs a document to include a downpayment for the duration of the “test”. You can choose to have it refundable, so they don’t have to feel like they lose out if they don’t like the work either.

The Failed Payment

With payment systems getting tighter, this scam is getting more and more complex. How this scam works is that at the end of a project, the client will offer a payment method that may be outside of what you asked for in the beginning. For example, they might have agreed with a bank transfer but now want to do a cheque. Others may offer a little more payment if they can pay through a different channel so they can avoid taxes (which, btw, is illegal!) While sometimes seemingly harmless, some of these scammers can access your information through these shady payment methods, and there have even been scams where the cheque bounces and you become responsible for the payment.

The Solution: Save yourself some headache, and make sure you set up several solid, trustworthy payment methods that you have control over. Always make sure everything goes through an official channel.

Gigging is hard enough, and these scams make it even more stressful. However, don’t fret, because with a bit of organisation and care on your part, you can make sure these scammers get nothing from you!

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