This content originally appeared on HackerNoon and was authored by Shayam Thomas Mohan Ram

Upwork is supposed to be a place of opportunity. But for many freelancers, it becomes a minefield of scams, manipulation, and wasted time. Below, we bring you real titles and stories from actual freelancers who got burned — so you don’t have to.

“Upwork’s Bonus Payment Trap. Warning to Freelancers.”

“I was invited to a voice recording job. The catch? The payment would be sent as a bonus after task completion. Turns out bonus payments aren’t protected if you haven’t worked with the client before. Upwork did nothing when the client vanished.”

Lesson: Never accept jobs where payment is offered solely as a bonus. Use milestone or hourly contracts with tracked time to stay protected.

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“I lost $1,500 due to a chargeback — even after winning the dispute.”

“The client filed a chargeback after Upwork ruled in my favor during arbitration. Upwork took the money back anyway and locked my withdrawals.”

Lesson: Even “won” disputes can go south. Learn how chargebacks work and avoid clients who seem to look for loopholes. If possible, prefer hourly contracts with work diaries.

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“Client ghosted me after getting the files. Now threatening with a dispute.”

“After delivering the design files, the client went silent. Then they suddenly disputed the milestone and claimed I overbilled.”

Lesson: Always send preview-only versions of your work until payment is received. Document all client approvals in messages.

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“Unusual job offer via Telegram… then came the scam.”

“Got a message offering a copywriting job. They sent a Telegram handle, then a shady form with personal questions and a bonus-based payment model.”

 Lesson: Any job that pulls you off-platform early is usually a scam. Stay inside Upwork’s ecosystem until trust is built — and never give personal info outside contracts.

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“Client asked me to send a urine test for a VA job.”

“Not kidding. They wanted a urine test and a psychological profile. For a part-time remote assistant gig. Absolutely unhinged.”

Lesson: You don’t owe anyone your bodily fluids. This is an extreme red flag. Decline and report such behavior immediately.

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“A top-rated freelancer… suspended without warning.”

“I submitted my ID and did a video call, but Upwork still banned me. I lost access to all my pending payments.”

Lesson: Keep backups of everything: contracts, work files, and withdrawal receipts. Don’t rely 100% on a single platform — have an exit strategy.

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“470 Connects. Zero jobs. Feeling like selling a kidney.”

“Spent a ridiculous amount boosting proposals. Got ignored or ghosted. Some jobs looked real but never had any intention of hiring.”

Lesson: Don’t assume more Connects = more chances. Look for red flags: clients with zero hires, vague descriptions, or ‘too good to be true’ budgets.

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“Client keeps expanding the scope but won’t adjust payment.”

“Initially it was one email. Then two. Then landing pages. All under the same milestone. I’m being squeezed dry.”

Lesson: Scope creep is real. Define hard boundaries in your contract, and pause work the moment deliverables go beyond what was agreed.

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“No feedback given = bad feedback?”

“Client didn’t leave feedback. But my JSS dropped immediately after. Did I just get silently punished?”

Lesson: Clients can leave private feedback even if they say nothing publicly. Always aim to wrap projects with clear deliverables and satisfaction.

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“Unsolicited invite. Suspended account. Dodged a bullet.”

“I was about to accept the contract, then noticed the client’s account was brand new. The next day it was suspended. I could’ve been trapped.”

Lesson: Always check client history: hiring rate, reviews, and time on the platform. If it’s too new, it might be fake.

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Wrapping Up: Don’t Let This Be You

These are not just stories — they are real pain points from real people trying to earn a living. Every freelancer should:

• Stick to contracts.
• Verify clients.
• Protect deliverables until payment.
• Avoid off-platform communication.
• Trust your instincts.

 “If it feels off, it probably is. You’re better off walking away than working for free.”

Stay sharp out there. The freedom of freelancing is powerful — but only if you protect it.

\ Tired of scams, ghost clients, and wasted connects on Upwork?

You’re not alone — and you don’t have to fly blind anymore.I’ve started using UpsiftAI, a smart tool that scans and scores Upwork jobs before you apply.

• Flags suspicious or scammy posts
• Highlights legit, high-quality clients
• Saves your connects and your sanity
• Helps you spot red flags like the stories above — before you live them

If you’re serious about protecting your time, money, and mental health on Upwork, UpsiftAI is a game changer.

This content originally appeared on HackerNoon and was authored by Shayam Thomas Mohan Ram