O-desk question - Picture IDs

[Sheri35]

Hello All!

So thrilled to be able to pick your collective brains! ) I am new to Odesk and thankfully have gotten a bite as a Virtual Assistant - however the client asked me to e-mail them outside of odesk - and requests a picture ID - they have not committed to hiring me through odesk yet - I am nervous about being scammed. They also request I ad skype software - which I have no clue how to do - if it was you - would you politely ask the client to contact you through odesk or ask if you are hired before you send out personal information like a driver's license? -they have already asked for a picture which I sent would love to hear your thoughts as soon as possible - especially if you have added a picture Id and utility bill without any incident...Thanks

BTW - they have not verified their payment method and there is no record of any other hires

[Sheri35]

o.k. the company is based in Japan - I asked if we could continue with the interview phase and if I meet with their approval - then provide the photo ID. My contact got really huffy - said that they want to allow me access to their systems to see if I can do the work first. I'm kind of torn and then with their tone - I don't know if I want to work for them - HELP somebody - anyone awake?

[xxtinamariexxx]

You can ask what it is that they need for the photo ID.. You can always cross everything out, I know that when I had to send one in for the company I am with, I blackened it all out. Are they looking for age verification, or proof of residency, I think that if they are a legit place, then they would understand the hesitation to give out such things.

Good luck in your decision!

[SmartChic]

Integrity is everything to me and it tells me a lot about the company. Just because they broke an oDesk rule, I would not go with the company. Employers are not suppose to solicit work on oDesk and then steer the freelancer away from oDesk to communicate with them. Not only is it unethical, its a red flag.

In my opinion they do not want to do business under oDesk because they have malicious intentions. If they were legit about what they are doing, they could have just posted on another "open" job board where they had free reign to communicate with potential workers as they please. But to use a platform to hook candidates and then move them elsewhere to communicate with them is a clear sign that they are trying to hide something from oDesk.

In the event that they scam you, you can not prove anything through the oDesk system because everything was done outside the system.

But thats just my opinion.

[Sheri35]

Well I talked to my husband and he agreed that it was not a good idea. I contacted them once more to see if there was another way around it and they never responded. So it does sound like a scam to me or at the very least completely unprofessional.

[lindsayhogan]

I am agreed with SmartChic completely. This is a perfect advice.

[jessiedsa]

Originally Posted by Sheri35

Hello All!

So thrilled to be able to pick your collective brains! ) I am new to Odesk and thankfully have gotten a bite as a Virtual Assistant - however the client asked me to e-mail them outside of odesk - and requests a picture ID - they have not committed to hiring me through odesk yet - I am nervous about being scammed. They also request I ad skype software - which I have no clue how to do - if it was you - would you politely ask the client to contact you through odesk or ask if you are hired before you send out personal information like a driver's license? -they have already asked for a picture which I sent would love to hear your thoughts as soon as possible - especially if you have added a picture Id and utility bill without any incident...Thanks

BTW - they have not verified their payment method and there is no record of any other hires

A big red flag!! Never ever provide any identity to buyers/employers on oDesk. Except oDesk no one is suppose to ask any identity from you. All buyers on oDesk need to do all the communication via oDesk only. Once you start the contract with any buyer, you can communicate them via your personal email or skype. It's acceptable. And, I have done it. But the payment should always come through oDesk.

It's advisable that you communicate via oDesk message center for all the work related purpose. That's only the proof of your communication (about the contract, project and other details) with your buyer.

Hope this info helps.