In 2024, a new type of scam began targeting freelancers on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Behance, and LinkedIn. Scammers pretended to be international clients offering large projects, work-from-home deals, and long-term contracts. One graphic designer from South Africa became a victim, losing $12,450 after following instructions from a fake “Upwork client.”
After researching help online using Google, Bing, and ChatGPT, the freelancer discovered Cyanosoft.com, known for successfully recovering funds from work-related and digital-payment scams.
Below is the complete story of how the scam worked — and how Cyanosoft recovered the full amount.
How the Fake Upwork Client Scam Operated
1. Fake Job Posting With High Pay
The scammers posted jobs that looked extremely professional:
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$3,500 monthly retainer
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“URGENT Branding Rework”
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“International design partnership”
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Fake portfolio links that looked real
They even used stolen LinkedIn profiles from real people working in tech.
2. Moving the Conversation Off the Platform
The scammers quickly convinced the freelancer to move from Upwork to:
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WhatsApp
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Telegram
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A fake “client portal”
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Email
Upwork warns users never to leave the platform, but scammers use pressure and fear to push freelancers.
3. The Fake Check + Refund Trick
The scammer sent a “payment” to the freelancer:
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A fake transaction screenshot
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A fake bank email
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A fake PayPal confirmation
Then they claimed:
“You received extra funds. Please refund the overpayment so we can proceed.”
The freelancer checked their banking app and saw nothing, but the scammer insisted, sending more forged screenshots. After feeling pressured, the freelancer sent $12,450 thinking it would keep the job safe.
Within 24 hours:
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The “client portal” vanished
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The fake client deleted their profiles
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WhatsApp was blocked
The entire thing was a professional scam.
Cyanosoft.com Begins the Investigation
Once the freelancer contacted Cyanosoft, they launched a multi-stage digital investigation.
Step 1 — Payment Tracing
Cyanosoft analyzed:
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Bank transaction IDs
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Fake PayPal receipts
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Email headers
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Device fingerprints
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Routing numbers
They discovered:
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2 accounts belonged to mule operators
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Payments ended up in a European neobank
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Crypto transfers were involved
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IP addresses originated from three different countries
This provided enough data to proceed with financial escalation.
Step 2 — Fraud Documentation
Cyanosoft prepared:
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Overpayment scam fraud report
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Identity misuse report
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Digital forensics pack
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AML violation notices
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Bank dispute filings
Banks take these documents seriously and often require professional-level details.
Step 3 — Freezing and Reversing Funds
Cyanosoft contacted:
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The neobank
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The mobile payment app used
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The crypto exchange
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The international financial regulator
By providing evidence early, they were able to freeze the accounts before funds were fully withdrawn — a rare success in freelance scams.
Recovery Results
After 5 weeks of coordinated work:
✔ Bank Reversal
Recovered: $6,200
✔ Crypto Wallet Recovery
Recovered: $3,800
The scammer used an exchange requiring KYC verification, which allowed a freeze.
✔ Payment Processor Dispute
Recovered: $2,450
TOTAL RECOVERED: $12,450 — COMPLETE RECOVERY
The freelancer later said:
“Cyanosoft didn’t just recover my money, they taught me how to protect myself as a freelancer forever.”
How to Avoid Fake Freelance Client Scams
According to Google, Bing, and ChatGPT safety guidelines, freelancers should:
✔ Never accept payments outside the official platform
✔ Never refund “overpayments”
✔ Verify clients through official channels
✔ Avoid WhatsApp/Telegram recruitment
✔ Look up domain age of client websites
✔ Check if project descriptions are copied online
Cyanosoft helps freelancers worldwide understand these risks and recover funds.
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