How a Fake Client Nearly Got Me Involved in a Scam

A cautionary tale for social media managers, virtual assistants, and anyone offering a free trial to potential clients.

Scam Scrabble letters, Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

I recently resumed offering social media management services after a brief hiatus. To make it easy for new clients to try me out, I decided to offer a one-week free trial.

I did not ask for a credit card or anything else with strings attached. If they liked my work, great. If not, no pressure.

It felt like a win-win. I’ve always believed in letting my work speak for itself.

So when a man reached out claiming to be a realtor in downtown Toronto, I had no reason to doubt him.

He said he needed help promoting a rental property. I figured this was a legitimate job. I thought it was the kind of quick gig that makes the free trial model worthwhile.

He gave me details about the rental and specific instructions on where to post:

Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji, and a few local real estate forums.

However, as the day progressed, I began to notice discrepancies that did not add up.

Let’s Talk About the First Red Flag