Freelancing Refund Scam Alert

Recently, I received an email from what initially seemed like a potential client. They claimed to be interested in having me create some illustrations for them.

Hello, I came across your website and I enjoyed your work and use of color. I am an academic event organizer looking for an illustrator to create illustrations to be used at a workshop about pandemic preparedness. I will need these illustrations by the end of July. I would love to know when you are available and interested in this project so I can share with you what needs to be illustrated and the budgeted prices. Thanks for your time! Regards, - [REDACTED]

Ah, how nice! They think my art's good enough that they want to hire me to put together some quick illustrations. Sure, I thought. So, I responded, told them I was available, and asked for specifics.

Man... they had some specifics, alright. I'll insert notes in this long-winded email. It's one heck of a pitch.

Hello Troy, I appreciate your interest in the project. I am an independent academic consultant based in Richmond, Virginia. My role involves part-time research work and organizing educational seminars and workshops for young individuals on various subjects. This is free at no cost whatsoever to the participants of the workshop. I approach well-meaning individuals, organizations, and large corporations for sponsorship of these programs and present proposals to them.

The upcoming workshop, "Combatting Monkeypox: The Importance of Vaccination and Immunization," is a free workshop organized by Pinnacle Foundation to educate young people about the risks and prevention strategies against monkeypox. This interactive session aims to empower students aged 12 - 17 with knowledge on:

- Understanding monkeypox transmission and symptoms
- The importance of vaccination and immunization
- Effective prevention measures and best practices
- Breaking down stigma and myths surrounding monkeypox

We need illustrations for two workshop parts, with three illustrations required for each part.

Outline:

Part 1: Understanding Monkeypox and Vaccination
1. Diagnosis and Treatment Discussion
Illustration: Depicting a doctor discussing diagnosis and treatment options with a patient.
2. Community Engagement
Illustration: Depicting a crowded urban setting, with individuals adorned with various styles of nose masks.
3. Educating the Public on Monkeypox
Illustration: A health educator at a community health center is presenting on Monkeypox, detailing symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rash

Part 2: Promoting Preventive Measures and Healthcare Access
1. Emergency Healthcare Response
Illustration: Depicting the arrival of an ambulance at the hospital's emergency entrance, where a dedicated nurse awaits.
2. Long Queue at a Vaccination Site
Illustration: A long line of people keeps a six-foot distance at a busy vaccination site, where staff assist with check-in and provide water and hand sanitizer. Signs help guide the flow of people, and a security guard monitors social distancing, maintaining a calm and organized atmosphere.
3. Mass Vaccination
Illustration: The illustrations will depict a large sports stadium transformed into a mass vaccination site, featuring numerous vaccination stations set up on the field.

Illustration Specifications:
- Size: 8.5 x 11 inches (2550 x 3300 px)
- Color: Vibrant, coherent, and clear color scheme
- Style: Cartoon style emphasizing expressiveness and appropriate detail level
- Text Titles: Each illustration will feature a clear and legible text title to provide context
- Text Placement: Strategic visibility while maintaining aesthetic appeal

Review Process:
Draft illustrations will be submitted in PDF format via email for review and feedback. I would like you to know that feedback must be incorporated to ensure alignment with project goals and preferences.

Submission and Deadline:
Draft submissions will be sent separately for each part of the project to facilitate focused feedback and revisions.
- Part One: Deadline - June 18 (review first drafts of all 6 illustrations)
- Part Two: Deadline - July 17 (finalize all 6 illustrations)

Budget:
$650 per illustration, totaling $3,900 for all six illustrations. Payment methods include QuickBooks, cashier's, or bank-certified checks.

Payments will be structured in two parts: a 70% upfront deposit will be made, with the remaining balance payable upon project completion.

Project Cancellation Policy:
1. Client-initiated cancellation:
- Up to 15 days after project commencement: 75% refund of upfront payment
- After 30 days: no refund

2. Designer-initiated cancellation:
The client receives a full refund of the upfront payment

Confirmation Requested:
Please confirm the proposed cost per illustration or provide a counteroffer for negotiation. Upon agreement, a contract will be sent to formalize the deal.

I look forward to your acknowledgement and cooperation.

Sincerely,

- [REDACTED]

After my response to this, subtly calling their bluff on the refund / cancellation terms, they ghosted me.

After some deliberation and consulting with the very tool they probably used to write their emails, it was more or less confirmed that this was a well-documented refund scam and I filed a report with the FTC as well as a complaint against the scammer (who used a GMail address) with Google.

So, if you ever get an email like this and you're a freelancer, this is just a heads up that this kind of thing is almost 100% certainly a scam. Don't fall for it!