This week, several unsolicited emails landed in my inbox from freelancers offering to help with research. One came with a résumé and portfolio attached. The sender said they preferred to communicate in writing and asked whether my team would pay for background research on an upcoming story. It looked like a typical business receiving payment and describes the assignment. If the name on the payment doesn’t match the seller, sort that out before you pay.
I’d use a credit card through an established payment service, and only after verifying the seller. A debit card pulls directly from your bank account, so I’d leave it out of this. And never email your card details or share banking passwords or verification codes.
To check an invoice in PayPal, open the app or type the address yourself rather than clicking an email link. Choose Goods and Services instead of Friends and Family, since PayPal excludes personal payments from its Purchase Protection. Even then, the rules exclude “significantly not as described” claims for items that are wholly or partly custom-made, so don’t assume a commissioned report comes with a guaranteed refund.
Virtual card numbers from your card issuer can limit exposure of your actual card number, but they don’t tell you whether a seller is trustworthy. I’d steer clear of paying an unverified seller by bank transfer, cryptocurrency or gift card.
Keep the pitch and the written agreement with your receipt. If the work never shows up, contact your card issuer right away. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains how to dispute a charge and protect your billing-error rights.
If one of these pitches lands in your inbox, a few questions up front can save you money and a headache later.
Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.
Starting at $4.32/week.
