A Call for Action Against Scammers on Fiverr

Scammers on Fiverr have become a frustrating obstacle for many freelancers, including myself, as I recently embarked on showcasing my Chinese calligraphy work on the platform. As a passionate artist, I was excited to share the beauty of traditional Chinese characters with a global audience and earn an income through my craft in my Gigs. However, my initial enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment as I encountered a flood of scammers on Fiverr and fraudulent inquiries that undermined the platform’s promise of connecting creators with genuine clients.

The Problem: A Haven for Scammers on Fiverr

Within days of setting up my Fiverr profile, I received messages from individuals posing as potential customers. Initially, I was thrilled—my work was generating interest! But soon, the red flags became apparent. Many of these “buyers” requested my personal email address, proposed to move the conversation off the platform, or offered vague promises of bulk orders that felt too good to be true.

I also googled this incident and found there were numerous sellers had met the similar or exactly the same scammers on Fiverr. So this is not a simple case.

These messages weren’t genuine inquiries. They were thinly veiled attempts to exploit freelancers, either through phishing scams or by luring them into transactions outside Fiverr’s secure environment.

The Impact on Freelancers

For creators like me, these scammers on Fiverr are disheartening and waste valuable time. Freelancers pour effort into honing their craft, only to be bombarded by fake inquiries. Instead of focusing on real opportunities to grow our businesses, we are forced to navigate through a sea of spam.

This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a threat to our trust in platforms like Fiverr. When scammers dominate the conversation, genuine buyers may hesitate to engage, fearing they too will encounter fraudulent activity.

Fiverr’s Responsibility: Where Is the Support?

Fiverr markets itself as a safe and reliable marketplace for freelancers and buyers. However, my experience raises serious concerns about the platform’s ability—or willingness—to protect its users.

Despite reporting numerous scam messages through Fiverr’s official channels, I have received no meaningful feedback or acknowledgment of my complaints. The same scam accounts remain active, continuing their predatory behaviour unchecked.

This lack of action suggests a troubling reality: Fiverr may not be investing enough resources into moderating its platform or safeguarding its community.

Why This Matters

Freelancers are the backbone of Fiverr’s business model. Without us, there is no marketplace. It is deeply frustrating to see the platform fail to prioritize our safety and trust. By allowing scammers to proliferate, Fiverr risks alienating the very community it relies on for its success.

Moreover, unchecked scams can tarnish the platform’s reputation, discouraging both buyers and sellers from engaging. This harms not only individual users but also the broader freelancing ecosystem.

A Call to Action

To address this growing issue, Fiverr must take immediate and decisive action:

1. Strengthen Moderation Tools: Implement advanced AI systems to detect and block spam messages before they reach freelancers.
2. Improve Reporting Systems: Ensure that all reports are reviewed promptly and provide meaningful feedback to users.
3. Educate Users: Launch campaigns to educate freelancers about common scams and how to avoid them.
4. Enforce Policies: Take swift action against accounts that violate Fiverr’s terms of service by engaging in fraudulent behaviour.

Protecting the Freelancer Community

Fiverr was built on the creativity and hard work of freelancers. If it wants to remain a trusted platform, it must prioritize the needs and safety of its users. Ignoring scammers on Fiverr may seem like a minor issue in the short term, but it undermines the long-term viability of the platform.

Conclusion

Scammers on Fiverr thrive when platforms fail to act. It’s time to step up and fulfill its responsibility to the freelancers who rely on it. As users, we must continue to hold the platform accountable and push for meaningful change.

My journey on Fiverr began with excitement and hope. While this experience has been frustrating, I remain optimistic that by shining a light on these issues, we can drive improvements—not just for me, but for the entire freelancer community.

Let’s stand together and demand the respect and protection we deserve.