Beware of fake freelance offers. How I dodged a £5,000 scam

As a UK-based freelance copywriter, I regularly receive project inquiries from around the world. Most are genuine, and I’ve secured some fantastic clients this way.

But every now and then, a request comes along that seems off. And sometimes it's more than just vague, it’s dangerous.

Recently, I received an email that appeared to be a B2B content writing project, complete with a tempting £5,000 price tag.

Here’s what happened.

The hook

An email arrived from someone calling herself Sophia Laurier, offering a project to write 15,000 to 20,000 words of website content for a ‘B2B consulting brand in development.’ The brief was detailed, the deadlines clear, and half the fee was to be paid after the first half of the work was delivered.

Normally, there’s a bit of back-and-forth with jobs like this. A request to see my portfolio, and an introductory call or meeting. This skipped straight to contract talk for work to be completed for a mystery company. No intro, or conversation, just: here’s the brief, let’s get started.

And that’s when the alarm bells started ringing.

Red flags

Sophia’s email came from an address ending in @protolance. org, a domain I’d never seen before. The email had no footer making reference to this platform, and neither did the brief outlining the work needed.

I looked up the website. It presents itself as a platform that connects freelancers with clients. But while it technically existed the contact information is minimal and the copy is riddled with references to Upwork, suggesting it had been clumsily copied and pasted. The blog section is bizarre; articles with headlines that don’t match their content and entire paragraphs that make no sense.

I ran the site through a scam-advisor tool, and it was flagged as potentially fraudulent.

A quick search for “Sophia Laurier” and “Protolance” on LinkedIn and Companies House turned up nothing. No profiles. No business records. No trace.

Due diligence

I emailed back politely asking for company details and an introductory call to verify the project. Sophia responded that the client was still in development, so there were no existing products or materials, and the brief would guide the work. She began pushing for me to sign a contract she’d send. At that point, I noticed Sophia had stopped signing off emails entirely.

With no verifiable information, zero transparency, and a strong stench of scam, I decided to decline the project.

Maybe I’m too polite, I probably didn’t even need to bother replying, but I explained that this was part of my standard due diligence, especially for larger projects.

Unsurprisingly, Sophia didn’t reply.

What’s the worst that could have happened?

If I hadn’t spotted the red flags early, I believe the consequences could have been serious. I might have wasted weeks creating content without payment, losing valuable time and effort. There’s also the risk of financial loss, especially if asked to cover expenses or pay upfront fees. Sharing personal or banking details could even lead to identity theft or fraud. Worst of all, you might unknowingly be involved in unethical or illegal activities. Even a lucrative offer isn’t worth risking your time, work, or reputation.

My advice

• Ask for upfront payment. Especially for large projects, request a deposit before starting work. This protects you from clients who disappear after you deliver content.

• Check the email carefully. Does the sender’s name match the email? Is the domain linked to a real company?

• Verify the company. Search Companies House, LinkedIn, and look for a real website.

• Look for a professional email footer. Legit businesses include contact info and disclaimers.

• Request a call or video chat. Avoid clients who refuse live communication.

• Trust your gut: If something feels off, pause and research. Don’t rush into contracts.

• Keep records: Save all communication and report suspicious activity to Action Fraud.

I’m sharing this experience not just as a warning, but as a reminder that it's okay, and absolutely necessary, to protect your boundaries as a freelancer. Saying no and walking away when things don’t feel right is part of being a professional. That’s not easy when a tempting £5,000 offer is dangled in front of you!

I’m glad I listened to my gut, asked the right questions, and did the research. Tools like scam-checking websites, Companies House, and even a simple Google or LinkedIn search can make a huge difference.

If my story helps someone else avoid a scam, it’s worth sharing.