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Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

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Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#121

Post by alsetmusic »

impersonated wrote: post #66
lolpython wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to hear about that problem. Maybe you could put a warning about the impersonator on your LinkedIn bio.

Thank you for the recommendation! I'm having trouble phrasing a warning in a way that's clear to a scam victim, without seeming weird or off-putting to business contacts. It's somewhat upsetting to think about this too much, which may be why I'm struggling. Would you mind suggesting how to word it?

> Would you mind suggesting how to word it?

Here’s a first draft:

NOTICE: It has recently come to my attention that someone is impersonating me, by using my name and photos, to take advantage of people on some social apps. If you saw my profile on a dating app or similar service, it isn't me. I'm not on any of those platforms. Thank you and please stay safe.

edit: removed scare quotes

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#122

Post by wisty »

bberenberg wrote: post #54
throwawaysleep wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Congrats, you're the problem.

~10% of people are dishonest to a fault and are lucky to stay out of prison, they're the kind who will have a judge tell them they'll do hard time the next time they are caught and just nod and think "yeah maybe he's bluffing".

~80% of people will push the limits until they see people are punished for breaking the rules.

~10% of people (often a little on the ASD spectrum) will follow the rules even if they don't really matter.

If your wallet is stolen from your locked home, it's the thief's fault. But if you leave your wallet in a crowded nightclub for an hour and it goes missing, maybe it's also your fault.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#123

Post by streetcat1 »

throwawaysleep wrote: post #48
a_simm wrote: post #42

Just wanted chime in with second a second anecdote that I was going to post. We needed a Django developer. Put an ad on Upwork at the high end of the recommended salary range. The ad specified US Eligible worker for legal reasons. Of the 10 or so applicants, seven flat out refused to appear on webcam so I decided to talk to the eighth. This person claim to be in Seattle. Having lived there I asked them two relatively…

Quoted post unavailable.

So you do not mind committing a fraud. Not sure how this is different from any other crime.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#124

Post by rcurry »

a_simm wrote: post #42

Just wanted chime in with second a second anecdote that I was going to post. We needed a Django developer. Put an ad on Upwork at the high end of the recommended salary range. The ad specified US Eligible worker for legal reasons. Of the 10 or so applicants, seven flat out refused to appear on webcam so I decided to talk to the eighth. This person claim to be in Seattle. Having lived there I asked them two relatively…

What is the color of the boathouse at Hereford?

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#125

Post by buscoquadnary »

gumby wrote: post #56
bgibbons wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Refusing to be on web cam without a compelling reason is a huge red flag by itself.

There have been good A/B studies showing significant changes in response rate to resumes with and without photos. How someone looks doesn't seem like it should be correlated with their ability to draw a picture or choose a search algorithm.

I actually think I've benefited from the reverse. I have a very Asian sounding last name (spelled completely different though) despite being of Russian-Dutch-English descent.

I've noticed in the age of remote work some people seem suprised when they first see me. I am now wondering if I am benefiting from the opposite problem of people correlating me with Asian stereotypes?

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#126

Post by HWR_14 »

pessimizer wrote: post #112
HWR_14 wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FYI, it's not a rationality question. This involves ethical questions you can rationally argue about.

Companies don't have moral responsibilities, they have legal ones (and the least they can lobby for.) The only people burdened with moral responsibilities in the employer-employee relationship seem to be the employees.

Living up to your side of a contract is a general principle, and one we expect companies to also live up to. Not working 3 full time jobs is a legal obligation.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#127

Post by lostgame »

robbiep wrote: post #82
impersonated wrote: post #18

I'm looking for advice on a similar issue. Somebody is impersonating me on dating sites and blackmailing women. They convince their victims to send nude photos, and then they threaten to send the photos to their families. The scammer (or scammers) use photos of me that used to be publicly available on social media. They also use my real name, presumably so that the victims see a legitimate LinkedIn profile when they…

I had a similar problem, except he raped a woman (convinced her to come to an address, come inside, all lights off, no talking). She contacted me via LinkedIn when he ghosted her. Got police involved but took 18 months to get all the information lined up from bumble and Snapchat (ie phone numbers etc). He was deported for domestic violence before they could arrest him. Trying to get plenty of fish, bumble, tinder to…

This is nightmare fuel. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#128

Post by HWR_14 »

refulgentis wrote: post #118
HWR_14 wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FYI, it's not a rationality question. This involves ethical questions you can rationally argue about.

Yeah, addressed upthread. Acting like there's some abstract dialogue to have here hides the ball. This isn't a common viewpoint, there's a reason why, and it's not because people arent aware

I have no idea what you're saying or what upthread you're referring to.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#129

Post by ryandrake »

refulgentis wrote: post #65
throwawaysleep wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I fully agree. But society sends no signal that I am a problem beyond outrage when I admit it. Nobody would admonish me for being exactly the same without me mentioning it to them.

Sure, but, frankly? That is a form of psychopathy. Please don't take that offensively. I'm not throwing the word around. I don't mean "evil". I don't think it's "evil", I'm even jealous. Not just of money. Of the rationality. The rest of us don't do this stuff because we'd feel horribly bad for doing it, to the point benefits would outweigh the costs. I'd hazard a guess that most people would also say it was fine giv…

OP's getting dunked on but he has a point: There are no consequences anymore for wrongdoing, unless it's one of a few very specific (often mortally violent) wrongdoings. So, the wrongdoers get a major advantage with no risk. To be honest, sometimes I feel like a sucker for not taking advantage. The whole spectrum from "criminal" to "mere asshole" goes unpunished. I could walk into a store in San Francisco today, right now, and walk out with an armful of goods, and nobody will lift a finger to stop me, including the police who will ignore it. You can start a business and just defraud people all day, and you're probably not going to face consequences. People are out there breaking into cars, running red lights, berating service employees, shitting on the sidewalks, harassing and doxxing people they disagree with, belligerence, bigotry, bullying and so on. Nobody does anything about it. The police can't be bothered, other public officials who could help just keep their heads down, bystanders look the other way and have no incentive to get involved.

You don't even need a good reason--just go out and do what you want, and nobody is going to stop you. It's like society hardly even functions anymore.

Re: Tell HN: Upwork has an impersonation problem

#130

Post by __mharrison__ »

I was just emailed by a "client" asking me why my responses on Upwork had such poor English when I've written multiple books...

Turns out that someone was impersonating me on Upwork.

I now have a call with a potential real client next week.

I feel like I need to go cybersquat my identity everywhere now.

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