In perfect written English
By Canellita
@Canellita (12029)
United States
July 29, 2010 11:33pm CST
I know it's probably quite wicked of me but I just can't resist. I joined this website years ago where you can bid on freelance jobs and there wasn't much of anything there so after a while I forgot about it.
Recently I started receiving emails from there about projects that were available to bid on. I almost deleted the first email and something told me to read it. That was when I realized I actually had an account at the site and this wasn't just another spam message.
Well the most recent project notification is someone looking for a writer to produce articles in "perfect written English." However, the request is far from perfect, leaving me to wonder at just how legit of an offer it really is.
Here is a sample:
I am looking for an article writer who can write perfect written English.
I run a 10 companies in the UK, and I need someone to write the following
articles below, plus 10 articles a day for the foreseable future (which means
300 articles a month). A bit about me, I am a successful entrepeneur who has
been working on the internet for the past 5 years. I would consider as genuine,
honest and respectful. I look after people who work hard and deliver, and I can
work with with anyone.
Now, if you read this, would it instill confidence in you and make you want to invest your time and effort in this person's project?
4 people like this
13 responses
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
30 Jul 10
HAHAHA. This person is obviously NOT from the UK. Even their English is not this bad! I can see why the person wants someone with perfect written English. LOL Looks like a big ol' scam to me. You write and the person doesn't pay you, yet he or she uses your articles. There's a great scam to start. LOL
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jul 10
This person obviously doesn't know anything about professionalism or even proofreading! How would they even recognize "perfect English" if they saw it?
@angryeve (684)
• Philippines
30 Jul 10
I have to say that freelancing saved me. There are legit freelance sites around but not all of the clients, or should I say, pretending clients are honest. Some are just plain scammers. Anyway, we can still try to lessen the risk by looking at their records most of the time. If they have tons of positive feedbacks from past freelancers they've worked with then its often an assurance that the client is legit and a good person to deal with. Another way is to also ask for an upfront payment, though sometimes there are clients who wouldn't like paying in advance since there are also scammers that sign up as a freelancer. Either way, it often helps to be cautious before signing up for a deal. =)
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
30 Jul 10
Thanks for the information you provided here. Its true that unless verifying the credentials of the buyer on the website, it is quite difficult to assess the legitimacy of the client. The reason is the fact that on internet there are 100s of ways of hiding your real identity and playing fraud. So always better to play safe.
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
1 Aug 10
The person may be living in a different country, and running the 10 companies by remote control.
What did the person mean by 'perfect English'? British? American? Australian? Or some other variation? Using a grammar checker is not a guarantee that the work produced will be accepted since grammar checkers do not work in the same way.
I smell a rat. I remember reading a discussion by a person who was led up the garden path. She had to enlist the help of another person n order to fulfil the request. The person said she would be paid after completing a batch of articles. After completing and submitting the work she was told that she would be paid for the task after completing another task.
I lived in the UK for 8 years, and did not commit the same grammatical errors.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
2 Aug 10
I just feel that if you want a person to do the work who is professional then you need to present yourself professionally as well. English is spoken all over the world and usually by people who have been privileged in their education.
There are a lot of situations like the one I described on that web site.
@iakulchen (615)
• Singapore
31 Jul 10
This reads to me like someone who is trying to present himself as something he (or she) isn't really is. A "successful entrepeneur who has been working on the internet for the past 5 years" is not going to say "I would consider as genuine, honest and respectful." A "successful entrepenuer" means he'll have something to show for his efforts, and given the way that the e-mail has been taking pains to mention his "good qualities" in every sentence, it's kind of dubious that there hasn't even been a mention of a previous successful project.
At best, he's a desperate wannabe who's lying about his credentials. At worst, he's a scammer.
And I haven't even touched on his "perfect written English" 
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
31 Jul 10
Wow, remind us all never to get into a debate with you where details are essential, lol.
But seriously, I get so many of these notifications it really makes me wonder about the site itself.
@med889 (5941)
•
30 Jul 10
I am on that site too and I have been receiving works from some people, some are good to work with whereas there exist some who are not happy enough even if you deliver the best ever work you think is best. Writing articles is a good thing, I have done such works too but you must do a lot of research before submitting that too.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
30 Jul 10
That is the great headache my friend.....It takes two to three hours before you are done.
@jakewarcat (12)
• United States
31 Jul 10
"with with" in that paragraph is hilarious. :) ... not so perfect english -
@Mitraa (3184)
• India
30 Jul 10
Provision of time is very much important for any sort of creative work. If the required time is given regularly, then the work will sure progress and bring good results! So, time dedication is very much important and that is of top priority. Thanks and have nice writing work!!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
31 Jul 10
That is just it, in the time it takes to put together proposals to bid on these jobs, I could just be writing something.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 Jul 10
I would not take the offer seriously myself. What screams at me is 300 articles a month, that seems to be a job for two people, maybe three people, not just one. 10 articles a day even seems to be asking too much. However, they don't have perfect english themelves which makes me think that maybe they want people to write articles for them so they sound more... legit maybe? Not sure what the case is. Ten companies in the UK, hmm, don't you think they'd just send this job down to one of the secretary's or something?
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
30 Jul 10
Hi canelita,
None is perfect save GOD. That we are human beings and are most likely to commit errors.
So go on writing articles with your 'perfect English" as I have earned some $300 writing articles for the 'perfect English.' lol
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jul 10
Rajib, all written content is subject to being edited and if the information is good enough the publisher will not mind misplaced commas and spelling errors.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
30 Jul 10
Hello, Canellita. I think I'd walk on by on that one, but there is one question I have. How would this person know what perfect written English is if he can't manage it in a short job description? You certainly get 'em, don't you? Call me cynical, but as soon as I see poorly presented stuff like this, my 'Spam and Scam Alert' kicks in.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jul 10
Sandra, I am amazed Guru even accepts these jobs being placed on the site. There was one a few months back that peaked my interest for a Jazz blogger. I updated my profile, did the writing sample and submitted a bid only to receive a message that the project had been closed. Waste of time.
At least I was able to revamp the sample and submit it to AC for upfront pay. (One of the rare times they accepted something. And speaking of standards...)
Richnai, I am willing to consider that someone who is not fluent owns a business and wants to contract out for writing. However, you would think that this person could have one person in the UK who can read, write and speak fluently that s/he could call upon for assistance.
This is like going in to orientation on a new job and having someone improperly dressed talk to you about dress code and professionalism.
1 person likes this
@eurekafemme (5876)
• Philippines
30 Jul 10
I was a member of that site. I was able to won a bid and started doing the project but after 3 articles and no payment arrived, I stopped writing and ignoring the emails form that site from that site. It was a great waste of my time.
I learned one lesson though, never trust someone so easily.The site might not be a scam but there are people who doesn't want to do their share of responsibility giving the site a bad reputation as well.
I wouldn't care writing for that person, Canellita. But, it is your call. Goodluck.:-)
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jul 10
Eurekafemme, I never mentioned the site. Which one did you sign up with?
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 10
I guess that is why, Canellita this person looks for someone else to write for him. His English is quite atrocious. But you cannot judge his sincerity based on his English either. Perhaps he is a good employer, who knows? I think you can find out about his history of employing people from the site and see if he pays on time and so on.
But the job that is being offered here is pretty demanding. Ten articles a day is really too much, for me anyway.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
2 Aug 10
UmiNoor, most people are not going to take that kind of time to spend researching someone. They need to be assured that the person has already supplied their credentials. When you are working from home with no outside income time is money and every second counts.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
30 Jul 10
Hi Canellita,
Going by the content by the provider, yes, it wont take me into confidence but on second thoughts I would make a bid for this one... People with different primary languages are on the Internet and there can be a chance that this buyer is someone who doesnt have much of English knowledge.
But these are the precautions that I will try to keep in mind and follow -
1. Look at the previous works submitted by this buyer - this will give me an idea if he is not a scammer
2. Ask for some part of the amount to be paid in advance or kept in escrow (if the website allows)
3. If it is a long term assignment, I would also request for pay per delivery - I mean if it is a long duration work, I would be delivering articles in bunches and would need a payment per bunch - this would keep the losses to the minimum.
4. If they have a website, I would try finding out about them.
But all this depends on what is the amount they are paying me ! The higher the payment, the higher the chances of my doing all this.
Hope you find this useful
