Poll: Do you use ProZ.com's Education -> Translators scam alert center? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you use ProZ.com's Education -> Translators scam alert center?".
View the poll results »
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Simon Bruni 
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:45
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
| Common sense | Mar 19, 2012 |
If it smells of fish it probably is fish
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 07:45
Member (2006)
German to English
| Scam Alert Centre | Mar 19, 2012 |
Is this a supplement to the Blueboard?
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Jessica Noyes
United States
Local time: 01:45
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
| If needed (Other) | Mar 19, 2012 |
I am glad to know it is there, but I usually manage to figure out for myself if an inquiry is legit or not. If I had any doubts (and needed the work) I would check it.
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| Scam alert center and the Blue Board | Mar 19, 2012 |
Michael Harris wrote:
Is this a supplement to the Blueboard?
Hi Michael,
The new Translators scam alert center is a complement to the Blue Board in the sense that both are useful risk management tools for translators, but they address a different kind of risk: while the Blue Board is basically about real outsourcers, the scam alert center is concerned with unlawful operations aimed to stealing (work or money) from translators and interpreters.
In early 2011, in response to an increase in scams reports by our members via support, and the obvious need to bring them to a wider audience, the Scams forum was created, as was a ProZ.com wiki article, Detecting and reacting to false job offers and other scams.
Now this new scam alert center was created to provide organized, concise information regarding false job offers and other scams which may be aimed at or are affecting language professionals. Information provided in the center is based in part on reports made by ProZ.com members through the online support system and in the Scams forum.
Scams are categorized by type and the outstanding characteristics of each are outlined, to make detection easier. General information on detecting and reacting to a potential scam is also included. ProZ.com members have the option of subscribing by email to the Scam alert center, to receive useful news and alerts of new scams as they are detected.
Regards,
Enrique
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| Better to be safe than sorry | Mar 19, 2012 |
Thanks Enrique for bringing this to our attention.
I'd vaguely read about the scam alert but had not yet signed up.
While most scams are easy to detect, some scammers are getting more and more clever.
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Rad Graban (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:45
English to Slovak
+ ...
| Never heard of it | Mar 19, 2012 |
but wouldn't use it anyway as Proz.com so cluttered by many useless features that it's hard to believe.
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 01:45
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Looked at it | Mar 19, 2012 |
It's a nice rundown of most of the common scams and points to look out for.
There's also a few industry specific scams.
However, my spam filter catches most, if not all, of them, so no, I don't see any need for a special service.
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 22:45
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | I signed up with this service today | Mar 20, 2012 |
Due to this poll I became curious how it actually works - if I will be sent copies of the most recent scam emails and such.
Let's see.
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| Spam filters filter spam, not serious scammers | Mar 20, 2012 |
Rebecca Garber wrote:
However, my spam filter catches most, if not all, of them, so no, I don't see any need for a special service.
Hi Rebecca,
Your spam filter can probably protect you from Nigerian and similar scams, but for real scammers like the ones denounced at the last scam alert (offering false translation jobs in the name of a real colleague and using a false email address) you need good information and solid risk management procedures.
Regards,
Enrique
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