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I think I'm facing a scam, what can I do?

It is important to us that you can work safely on the platform. This is why we moderate the commercial proposals before sending them to you. 

How is the moderation on Malt?

First of all, be aware that each customer cannot contact more than 6 people at a time.

For these 6 people maximum contacted, we have a rules engine that automatically moderates certain cases (forbidden words, certain email domain names) and blocks these messages from being sent.

If the messages are still sent because they have passed through the automatic moderation, Malt can also block users a posteriori for these specific cases: non-serious messages, insults, disputes, spam reported by freelancers.

However, we want to give freelancers a maximum chance to be reactive, that's why we don't moderate all messages, so if a potential customer passes the filter of forbidden words or domain names, the messages are forwarded to the freelancers.

We rely on the community to alert us and moderate users together. So you need to be particularly careful when you meet a new user.

How do I know if a user is new?

From your mailbox, there is an insert on the right side of your screen giving you access to the client's information:

  • The size of the company

  • Method of payment as well as term of payment

  • but above all the number of missions already accomplished on Malt

If the client has never done a mission on the platform, it will be displayed "No mission" and a message will be revealed directly to you in the conversation.

So stay vigilant and don't hesitate to report the client to us if you have any doubts.

How do I report a suspicious customer?

From your conversation with the client, you have two possibilities to report this person:

  • From the conversation thread: under the message informing you that this customer has never done a mission on Malt, you have a button "Report this customer"

  • Above the conversation and information insert on the right, you also have access to the same button allowing you to report this client.

All you have to do is tell us the reason for your report. Do not hesitate to be as precise as possible so that we can investigate this account.

Once the report has been validated, it is sent to our dedicated teams who will verify the profile and take the necessary measures in case of proven fraud.

What steps are taken in the event of fraud?

If the alert turns out to be a proven fraud, the customer account will then be deleted from Malt. You will then see the words "account deleted" in your conversation with this customer.

An information e-mail will then be sent to all freelancers who have been contacted by this fraudulent customer to prevent them.

Of course, the best protection is to use Malt throughout your mission: from the creation of the quote to the payment of the mission. 

What are the most common cases of fraud?

The most frequent and dangerous case circulating on the platform at the moment is the following: the client asks to go outside the platform, then makes a check or a transfer (asking for the freelance's bank details) before the mission begins, informs the freelance that the amount sent is higher than the quote and asks him to refund the difference.

The freelancer then sends a transfer to the client, the check being bounced, the funds are withdrawn from the freelancer's account and the freelancer is therefore prejudiced by the transfer amount of the difference in payment.