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Side hustles have become a popular way to make extra money, build a small business, or transition into a freelance career. But not all part-time side gigs are what they seem. Just like with traditional employment scams, con artists use fake opportunities to lure unsuspecting victims into a trap.
Their objective? It may be identity theft, a fake check scam, or a shipping scheme. Whatever their ploy, scammers hope to get their hands on your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to protect yourself.
How to avoid side hustle scams
- Screen potential clients. If you are approached by an individual instead of a company to do freelance work, like photography or pet-sitting, get to know them before you agree to do any work. Ask lots of questions, look up their social media accounts, and press for a meeting via video chat. Most scammers will avoid meeting you and won’t answer specific questions.
- Keep work on freelance job sites where it belongs. Upwork reports that one common scam on freelancer job sites involves circumvention. In this con, a supposed employer first approaches you on the website. Then, they ask you to do work and accept payment outside of the site. These scammers may try to convince you to accept payment through PayPal or another outside…
