Question 1

Can you verify if Upwork or Fiverr reviews and portfolios are legitimate or fake?

Accepted Answer

While we can't directly verify the authenticity of platform reviews (those are managed by Upwork/Fiverr), we can help validate contractors through: 1) Finding their social media profiles to verify they're a real person, not a fake identity, 2) Cross-referencing portfolio work—upload images from their portfolio to see if they're stolen from other designers/developers, 3) Checking if the same person operates multiple accounts with different names (red flag), 4) Finding their professional presence outside the platform (LinkedIn, personal website, GitHub for developers), 5) Verifying location claims—do their social media posts match their stated location? This comprehensive verification helps you determine if a contractor is genuinely who they claim to be with real skills, or if they're using stolen work and fake identities.

Question 2

How can I verify that portfolio work they show me is actually theirs and not stolen from other designers or developers?

Accepted Answer

Portfolio verification is critical to avoid hiring frauds: 1) Reverse image search design work to see if it appears elsewhere with a different creator, 2) For developers, check if code samples appear in others' GitHub repositories, 3) Ask for work-in-progress screenshots or source files (frauds can't provide these), 4) Request they walk you through their process—real creators can explain design/development decisions, 5) Check if portfolio pieces link to live websites and verify they actually built them, 6) Look for consistent style across portfolio (stolen work often has varying quality/style), 7) Use our service to find their real social media—do they post about the work they claim to have done? Real freelancers typically showcase their work on personal social media.

Question 3

Can you help verify identity for contractors I've never met in person?

Accepted Answer

Yes, identity verification is one of our core capabilities: 1) Upload their profile photo to find their real social media accounts, 2) Verify their stated name matches their social media presence, 3) Check if their location claims are consistent across platforms, 4) Find their professional profiles (LinkedIn, GitHub, Behance) to verify experience, 5) Detect if they're using stock photos or someone else's photos, 6) Cross-reference information—does everything match up or are there contradictions? For remote contractors, we also recommend: video calls before hiring (verify face matches photos), requesting government ID for contracts, checking references, and starting with small test projects. Our service provides quick initial identity verification, which you can supplement with these additional precautions.

Question 4

What are the biggest red flags that indicate a contractor might be a scam or unreliable?

Accepted Answer

Major contractor scam red flags include: 1) Prices dramatically below market rate (you get what you pay for), 2) Requests payment outside the platform's escrow system, 3) Pressures you to decide quickly without proper vetting, 4) Portfolio work that looks too good/varied (likely stolen), 5) Poor communication or generic copy-pasted responses, 6) No verifiable online presence outside the platform, 7) New account with suspiciously perfect reviews (often fake), 8) Located in one country but IP address shows another, 9) Can't/won't do video calls, 10) Asks for upfront payment for 'software' or 'tools'. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, verify thoroughly or find a different contractor. Scammers rely on people being too trusting or desperate.

Question 5

How do you verify international contractors who might use foreign platforms and social media?

Accepted Answer

Our service searches international platforms, making it effective for global contractor verification: 1) We search LinkedIn (global), Instagram (global), and region-specific social media, 2) We can verify portfolios on international platforms like Behance, Dribbble, GitHub (all global), 3) We cross-reference information across multiple countries and platforms, 4) We detect stolen work regardless of country origin. For international contractors, additional verification steps include: 1) Video calls to verify identity and time zone, 2) Request references from previous international clients, 3) Start with small paid test projects, 4) Use platform escrow/payment protection, 5) Verify business registration if they claim to be a company. International contractors can be excellent and affordable, but require thorough vetting.

Question 6

Is there any payment protection or guarantee when hiring contractors?

Accepted Answer

Our service doesn't provide payment protection—we're a verification and screening tool. However, we strongly recommend these payment protection practices: 1) Use platform escrow systems (Upwork, Fiverr) that hold funds until work is delivered, 2) For direct contractors, use services like Escrow.com or PayPal Goods & Services, 3) Never pay outside secure systems, especially via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, 4) Break large projects into milestones with incremental payments, 5) Get written contracts specifying deliverables and timelines, 6) Start with small test projects before committing to large ones. Our verification service helps you hire legitimate contractors, but smart payment practices protect you if issues arise. Combine both for maximum security.

Question 7

How much does contractor verification cost compared to the risk of hiring a fraudulent freelancer?

Accepted Answer

Our verification service costs just $5-10 per contractor—minimal compared to scam risks. Consider the costs of hiring a fraudulent contractor: 1) Lost money paid upfront (often $500-$5,000+ for projects), 2) Wasted time waiting for work that never comes, 3) Project delays that cost your business money, 4) Need to hire someone else and start over, 5) Potential data breaches if you shared sensitive information, 6) Missed opportunities and deadlines. Spending $5 to verify a contractor before hiring them for a $2,000 project is obvious insurance. Many businesses screen 2-3 candidates ($10-15 total) to find the most legitimate one, preventing fraud that could cost thousands. The ROI is overwhelmingly positive.

Question 8

What's your success rate in identifying fraudulent contractors versus legitimate professionals?

Accepted Answer

Our success in fraud detection depends on what information exists online. If a contractor is using stolen photos, our reverse image search has 85%+ success in finding the original source. If they're using a fake identity with no real social media presence, we can identify that absence (which is itself suspicious). If their portfolio contains stolen work, we can often find the original creator. For legitimate contractors, we successfully find their real professional profiles, social media, and verify their claimed identity 75-85% of the time. The key insight: legitimate professionals typically have verifiable online presence, consistent information across platforms, and real work history. Fraudsters usually have contradictions, stolen content, or suspiciously minimal presence. Our service surfaces these patterns quickly.

Verify Contractor
Vet Freelancers & Contractors

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> Try SocialFinder.ai

Why is finding someone online so frustrating?

Worried about getting scammed

Portfolio might be stolen work

They disappear after payment

How SocialFinder.ai Works

Verify Real Identity

Check Reviews & Ratings

Verify Portfolio & Skills

Avoid Gig Economy Scams

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does SocialFinder.ai do?

Is SocialFinder.ai legal to use?

How accurate are the results?

How does the credit system work?

Intelligence from the field

Amira T.

Jayden K.

Tina B.

Marcus D.

Kelsey M.

Devyn R.

Amira T.

Find Out What They're Really Hiding

Fast AF

Hidden Socials = Exposed

See Who They Really Know

Start Your Sleuth Era

Verify ContractorVet Freelancers & Contractors

Unlock Pro Search

> Try SocialFinder.ai

Why is finding someone online so frustrating?

Worried about getting scammed

Portfolio might be stolen work

They disappear after payment

How SocialFinder.ai Works

Verify Real Identity

Check Reviews & Ratings

Verify Portfolio & Skills

Avoid Gig Economy Scams

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does SocialFinder.ai do?

Is SocialFinder.ai legal to use?

How accurate are the results?

How does the credit system work?

Intelligence from the field

Amira T.

Jayden K.

Tina B.

Marcus D.

Kelsey M.

Devyn R.

Amira T.

Find Out What They're Really Hiding

Fast AF

Hidden Socials = Exposed

See Who They Really Know

Start Your Sleuth Era

Verify Contractor
Vet Freelancers & Contractors