| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | Looking for advice to detect scammers/fake translators Thread poster: WWL
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Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
Baran Keki wrote:
There are a few PMs who have agreed to let me use their names as references (in fact one of them suggested this to me out of the blue when I didn't even have a notion of what a reference was) and said that it was okay for them to respond to such queries on my behalf. So it was consensual, you see? It's not like I was begging or threatening them to do that or doing it without their knowledge.
If you don't like the idea of putting people to such inconvenience, don't do it by all means, but don't try to make your opinions sound like established professional rules by saying "we are not supposed to give any information etc. etc."
That's fair. As long as the PM/CP is not at all concerned about their name being mentioned, and aware that there may be people trying to contact them to ask some questions, it's no problem. To be frank, I also list some of those I've worked for in my work experience. They never prohibit me to do it in any shape or form, so I'm not breaking any rule. Though I still won't share the PM's/CP's email addresses and phone numbers regardless. If an agency/client wants to vet me by asking references, they'd have to find the contact details themselves.
I suggested this to the OP as a vetting method. Earlier this year a Palestinian scammer stole my old CV and sent it to my old employer (where I worked as an in-house translator for 10 years and I left on less than favorable terms) by changing my name and contact details. He must have done this to countless other agencies throughout the world. My email name was listed on a translation scammers website (forgot its name) as if I was a scammer.
Yes, this is why I'm always reluctant to share my CV. Can't we just replace it with a LinkedIn profile instead?
[Edited at 2021-12-16 15:17 GMT]
| | | | Baran Keki 
Türkiye
Local time: 18:18
Member
English to Turkish
Thomas T. Frost wrote:
I don't go around publishing my professional or even private contacts like an open book and I don't use LinkedIn or other social media, as I can't control how all that information is used or abused. All that information simply isn't anyone else's business.
Seeing as how you cited the provisions of the GDPR, I'm not surprised! Do you know every single clause by heart?
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 18:18
Member
English to Turkish
Adieu wrote:
They can and will simply note your rates and the contacts you provide and email them an offer to undercut you.
You mean an agency contacts another agency to undercut a freelancer?
I use my references only when seeking collaboration with serious and reliable translation agencies (I'd like to believe that I've come to distinguish those after 4.5 years of freelancing). My references are from my valuable clients, I wouldn't like to piss them off by giving out their names to every best rate agency that comes calling. I use them sparingly and only when necessary.
| | | | Adieu
Ukrainian to English
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| You never know | Dec 17, 2021 |
Any company can fall into naughty practices after a bad quarter or two or have a bad actor who tries to get promoted by drumming up business
Anybody can suffer from leaks and most companies regularly do
Any clown can pose as an agency, at time convincingly
And any underpaid PM at a genuine agency can dream of establishing a "side hustle"
Baran Keki wrote: Adieu wrote:
They can and will simply note your rates and the contacts you provide and email them an offer to undercut you. You mean an agency contacts another agency to undercut a freelancer? I use my references only when seeking collaboration with serious and reliable translation agencies (I'd like to believe that I've come to distinguish those after 4.5 years of freelancing). My references are from my valuable clients, I wouldn't like to piss them off by giving out their names to every best rate agency that comes calling. I use them sparingly and only when necessary.
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Liviu-Lee Roth
United States
Local time: 11:18
Romanian to English
+ ...
| If your translators are in the US | Dec 20, 2021 |
WWL wrote:
Mike,
Thanks for your input. I am hoping to get some good ideas on how to avoid situations like this in the future. I am sure many of you have some good ideas about the best way to do it.
I would suggest asking the translator to submit the W-9 and a signed Translation Certificate for each project.
At least, you can prove to the client that you are in good faith.
Good luck.
| | | | WWL
United States
Local time: 10:18
Spanish to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks Liviu | Dec 20, 2021 |
I really appreciate every and all comments about how to protect a company from becoming a victim of some sort of fraud or missrepresentation from a potential translator. As I realized now, is not an easy task to properly vet an individual for all the different reasons expressed by the participants in this conversation. I'm sure will find a way to develop professional and honest long term realationships with translators/editors and proofers around the world. Happy Holidays to you and to everyone ... See more I really appreciate every and all comments about how to protect a company from becoming a victim of some sort of fraud or missrepresentation from a potential translator. As I realized now, is not an easy task to properly vet an individual for all the different reasons expressed by the participants in this conversation. I'm sure will find a way to develop professional and honest long term realationships with translators/editors and proofers around the world. Happy Holidays to you and to everyone who shared their ideas about this topic! Cheers to an oustanding 2022! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 17:18
French to English
You're asking how to vet translators: As a PM in an agency, if the trusted translator I normally outsourced to couldn't do the job, I would ask whether they knew anyone who could. That way the translator knew they would still get first refusal and their friend would be a back-up.
If that didn't work, then I would look on the ITI website. I needed translators into British English and that seemed to be the most reliable resource. Most of the translators I found on there were excellen... See more You're asking how to vet translators: As a PM in an agency, if the trusted translator I normally outsourced to couldn't do the job, I would ask whether they knew anyone who could. That way the translator knew they would still get first refusal and their friend would be a back-up.
If that didn't work, then I would look on the ITI website. I needed translators into British English and that seemed to be the most reliable resource. Most of the translators I found on there were excellent. Translators are all vetted before being allowed to become a member. Here on Proz just about anyone can call themselves a translator, cobble together a profile and apply for jobs, but on websites where the translators have been vetted, there's a higher chance of finding someone decent. I expect you can find equivalent websites for other target languages. ▲ Collapse
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