ProZ.com Translation Forums

SCAM ALERT!! Impersonation of Penguin House Publishing | Re: SCAM ALERT!! Impersonation of Penguin House Publishing

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:46:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT!! Impersonation of Penguin House Publishing
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: SCAM ALERT!! Impersonation of Penguin House Publishing

Checking the executive named on the contract was a clever move, and it shows that real VAT numbers, addresses and a signature only prove someone can copy public information. The "worker profile" and ID verification step is the part I'd watch most closely: a publisher commissioning a translation needs your rate, availability and invoicing details, not a scan of your ID or an account on a platform you've never heard of. I once lost a short translation to someone posing as a well-known agency, so I'd apply the same checks even when the job is small. For anyone landing here with a similar Gmail offer, writing to the publisher through the contact details on its own website settles it quickly.

info@ecwpress.ORG - scam | It clearly seems so

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:18:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: It clearly seems so

The expired domain clearly confirms that.

info@ecwpress.ORG - scam | They moved on?

Daryo — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam
Poster: Daryo
Post title: They moved on?

ecwpress.org
Your domain is expired. Renew the domain to activate the website

[url removed] #:~:text=ecwpress.org,activate%20the%20website

Interesting coincidence: yet another scammer usint a domain name registered with Hostinger [url removed] ...

Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house | PayPal flag

Joakim Braun — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:14:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house
Poster: Joakim Braun
Post title: PayPal flag

[quote]Shri wrote:

(...) claiming to represent a well-established German publishing house. (...) PayPal. [/quote]

Well-established German publishing houses wouldn't use PayPal.

info@ecwpress.ORG - scam | Re: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:47:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam

For anyone who still has one of these messages and wants to help with the request for headers: in Gmail they're under "Show original" in the three-dot menu, and Outlook shows them in the message details or properties, including the Received, Authentication-Results and X-Mailer lines. Since the request came from a new account here, it may be safer to send them via the contact details on ECW's own .com website, which also confirms you're dealing with the real publisher. And for later readers: the one-letter domain change is the whole trick, so a polished email and a real book title mean nothing until the sender's domain matches the publisher's own site.

Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house | price per word

Birte Mirbach — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:26:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house
Poster: Birte Mirbach
Post title: price per word

Literary translations in Germany are not paid per word, but per page. And why on earth should a German publishing house demand a translation into a language that is not spoken in Germany? This alone should tell you that something is fishy.

Resume scams | Re: Resume scams

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:55:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Resume scams
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Resume scams

A good follow-up to your CV thread. Before a CV goes to someone new, it's worth confirming the agency exists independently of the email that reached you and that the sender's address matches its own domain. For a first contact, a CV without date of birth, home address or signature is plenty, and ID scans, a social security number or bank details shouldn't be needed until there's an actual job and a contract. And if you ever spot your CV circulating under another name, reporting it to the site where it appears helps limit the damage.

Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house | If it seems too good to be true...

Marjolein Snippe — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:24:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house
Poster: Marjolein Snippe
Post title: If it seems too good to be true...

[quote]Shri wrote:

(...)

The proposed rate was €0.34 per source word,

[/quote]

No requester would offer a literary translation job for this rate.
Also, it is extremely rare to be contacted out of the blue by a publishing company.

Well done for not falling for this!

Resume scams

Michael Newton — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 07:35:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Resume scams
Poster: Michael Newton

As a coda to a recent post I made about a request from an Egyptian agency that wanted my CV while proffering a 'ghost document", I would like to add the following. Last week's hijacking of some USD 6 billion in a massive crypto-theft project was most likely carried out by a band of North Korean super nerds. The crypto-nerds and other bad actors gain access to various venues by presenting stolen resumes. Be sure you are dealing with a reliable entity before you give up the goods. Their ilk operate in India, Cambodia, Myanmar and other exotic climes. Should your resume end up in the wrong hands, you might end up on the wrong side of the law. Social security number theft is also commonplace nowadays.

Be very careful with this "agency": "American Online Hires"! | Re: Be very careful with this "agency": "American Online Hires"!

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:51:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Be very careful with this "agency": "American Online Hires"!
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Be very careful with this "agency": "American Online Hires"!

Darshini, sorry this happened. If the "payroll officer" now has your bank details, I'd call your bank on the number from its own website or your card and tell them, so they can watch for unusual activity, and be wary of any money that lands in your account followed by a request to send part of it back or on to someone else. Keep the emails and the Teams chat rather than deleting them, as they help if the bank needs evidence or you report it to Action Fraud. For anyone else getting the "Susan Lee" message: a high rate, a short deadline and a quick move to Teams are exactly the pattern described in this thread, so it's worth stopping before any work starts.

Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house | Re: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:50:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house

Writing to the publisher itself was exactly the right check, and getting it confirmed in writing is a useful result for everyone who reads this later. One thing worth adding: in these fake book jobs the trouble often starts after delivery, with a "payment" that comes in larger than agreed and a request to send back the difference, so a balance showing in your account shouldn't be taken as proof the money is real. If you're comfortable sharing the sender's address and the name they signed with, that would help others match the same message when they search the forum.

Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house

Shri — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:21:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Translation scam: Fraudsters impersonating a German publishing house
Poster: Shri

I would like to share my recent experience to warn fellow translators and prevent others from falling victim to a translation scam.

I was contacted by someone claiming to represent a well-established German publishing house. The offer was for an English-to-Telugu literary translation of approximately 8,708 words (22 pages), with a deadline of four days.

The proposed rate was €0.34 per source word, with payment supposedly to be made through an international bank transfer or PayPal.

The offer initially appeared quite convincing. It included detailed project information and referred to the publisher's actual business activities.

However, before proceeding, I decided to verify the opportunity directly with the publishing house through its official contact details.

To my surprise, I received written confirmation from its representatives that the translation offer was fraudulent and that someone was impersonating their company. They also informed me that the matter had already been reported to the police.

Fortunately, I verified the offer before investing my time in the translation.

I am sharing this experience because scammers are exploiting the names and reputations of legitimate publishing houses to deceive freelance translators.

My advice to fellow translators:

- Always verify translation offers directly with the company through its official website.
- Check the sender's email domain carefully.
- Be cautious of attractive rates combined with unusually tight deadlines.
- Never pay registration, identification, processing, or payment-release fees to receive your earnings.
- Do not start substantial translation work until you have independently verified the client's identity.

Please stay alert and share this warning with fellow translators.

A legitimate translation job should never require you to pay money to receive your earnings.

Let's help protect our translation community!

SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO) | Re: @Stanislav

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:51:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: @Stanislav

One more thing I should have mentioned: for anyone using the AI part of the checker, I pay the AI costs out of my own pocket, so it costs users nothing there either.

SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO) | Re: @Stanislav

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:48:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: @Stanislav

[quote]Zea_Mays wrote:

Are you affiliated with the site you provide the link to in your various similar replies? [/quote]

Fair question, Zea. Yes, ConsultingTranslator.com is my own site, and I've never hidden that. My name is on it. I see it as giving something back to the translation community that has supported me for years. The scam checker is free and will stay free, and I have no plans to make money from it.

SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO) | @Stanislav

Zea_Mays — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:19:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)
Poster: Zea_Mays
Post title: @Stanislav

Are you affiliated with the site you provide the link to in your various similar replies?

SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO) | Re: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: SCAM ALERT – AA Global Impersonation / Translation Scam (WhatsApp + Fake PO)

Sonja's update shows where this one ends up: once the "project" is agreed, the money starts flowing the wrong way, this time as a GBP 112 "Freelancer ID card" supposedly needed before payment can be processed. No genuine agency needs its translators to buy an ID card to release a fee, so that request alone is reason to stop. AA Global has itself warned that personal email addresses and requests to move the conversation to WhatsApp are signs of impersonation, and an NDA or PO doesn't change that, since paperwork is easy to copy. If a similar message turns up in another language pair, check the sender against contact details you find yourself on the company's website; a checker like this can also help list what to verify: [url removed]

SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS | Paradox

Peter Motte — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 19:43:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS
Poster: Peter Motte
Post title: Paradox

[quote]Heidi Rauch wrote:

What concerns me the most, is that these guys told me they saw me on Proz.com. This web site should be a place to offer our translation services and get new clients, NOT a site where scammers can track us. [/quote]

The problem is: if you want to get clients, your contact information has to be readily available. If not, potential clients won't find you. Unfortunately, that also means you can get scams and false mails of all sorts. It's something we have to live with.
I'm more worried about the lack of serious offers on the site, than about the stupid e-mails I get from stupid people who think I will fall for their stupid scams.

SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS | Re: SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 18:51:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: SCAM ALERT: BEWARE OF TRANSLATIONS REQUESTS FROM COMPANIES USING GMAIL OR ANY CASUAL EMAILS

Agree that the address alone doesn't settle anything. What I'd check is whether the sender's story holds together: look up the company's own website independently, find its contact details there, and see if the person and the email domain actually match. If the job offer comes with a pushy deadline, a request to move to Telegram or WhatsApp, or any talk of upfront fees or a payment portal, I'd stop right there, whatever the email provider is.

Confirmed Scam: Academic History Text translation from Williams Lea Ltd. | Re: Confirmed Scam: Academic History Text translation from Williams Lea Ltd.

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:49:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Confirmed Scam: Academic History Text translation from Williams Lea Ltd.
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Confirmed Scam: Academic History Text translation from Williams Lea Ltd.

Contacting the author directly was a smart move, and it settles things far better than anything the sender can show you. For anyone who gets a similar email later: these approaches often go on to a fake overpayment with a request to refund the difference, a fee to "unlock" the project, or simply unpaid work, so the safe point to stop is before any money or bank-related request comes up. Insisting on WhatsApp for the project details is worth noting too, as it moves the conversation away from the company's own channels, where you could check whether the person really works there. If you're unsure about a similar offer, the scam checker at [url removed] can help you list the warning signs and the questions to ask before replying.

Possible CV scam | why they ask for a CV at all?

Zea_Mays — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:06:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Possible CV scam
Poster: Zea_Mays
Post title: why they ask for a CV at all?

As freelancers, we are not required to send CVs if we are not seeking permanent employment.
When agencies ask for my CV, I usually just reply with an overview of my services, when I started, my working fields and some recent and/or long-term projects. I also send them some client testimonials upon request (obviously not from direct clients).

Possible CV scam | Difficult to avoid

Peter Motte — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:54:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Possible CV scam
Poster: Peter Motte
Post title: Difficult to avoid

[quote]Michael Newton wrote:

Several days ago an agency in Egypt contacted me telling me they had a Russian document for translation, requested my CV and my rates. I asked about the document theme, the length and the deadline. I got back: "Well, we don't actually have the document right now, we're deciding on the availability and rates". I said I would consider it once they provided the requested information. Twenty minutes later, from the same agency: "We have a document in traditional-simplified Chinese. Please send your CV and your rates". Again, I asked about the theme, the length and the due date. I got; "Well, we don't actually have the document right now, we're deciding on availability".[/quote]

Looks af the answer by a bot.
Even if it is a scam to get your cv, it's difficult to avoid that. I mean: in that case they could even send you a small job only to get your cv. We're in a difficult position when it comes to such schemes.

Possible CV scam | Re: Possible CV scam

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:45:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Possible CV scam
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Possible CV scam

Asking twice about theme, length and deadline and getting the same non-answer is a good test, and it's the right way to handle it. A request for a CV and rates with no actual document behind it is a pattern worth treating with caution. Whatever the motive, the CV carries your contact details and work history, so it's sensible to keep a note of the sender's full address and compare it with the domain of the agency's own website, which you find independently. If anyone like this comes back with a real file, agree scope, rate and payment terms in writing before you start, and never pay anything or return any 'overpayment' to get the job going.

Possible CV scam

Michael Newton — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:37:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Possible CV scam
Poster: Michael Newton

Several days ago an agency in Egypt contacted me telling me they had a Russian document for translation, requested my CV and my rates. I asked about the document theme, the length and the deadline. I got back: "Well, we don't actually have the document right now, we're deciding on the availability and rates". I said I would consider it once they provided the requested information. Twenty minutes later, from the same agency: "We have a document in traditional-simplified Chinese. Please send your CV and your rates". Again, I asked about the theme, the length and the due date. I got; "Well, we don't actually have the document right now, we're deciding on availability". I said I would consider it once they sent the requested information. I never heard from them again. Apparently these were ghost projects. I think they just wanted my CV which they might use for underhanded practices: present to a potential client touting their stable of translators or just plain theft. Or maybe I am overthinking.

SCAM ALERT – Fake "AaGlobal" job offer for a legal/academic translation (EN>IT) | Re: SCAM ALERT – Fake "AaGlobal" job offer for a legal/academic translation (EN>IT)

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:48:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: SCAM ALERT – Fake "AaGlobal" job offer for a legal/academic translation (EN>IT)
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: SCAM ALERT – Fake "AaGlobal" job offer for a legal/academic translation (EN>IT)

Worth adding for anyone who lands here with a similar message: AA Global's own warnings say their genuine emails come from @aaglobal.co.uk, so anything from a personal address, or a request to continue on WhatsApp, can be set aside straight away. The same template is still circulating with other language pairs and tailored to the recipient's profile, so a correct pair and a plausible subject prove nothing. If you've already replied or sent a CV, keep the messages, treat any overpayment followed by a request to send money back as the next stage of the scam, and check the person and the job only through contact details you find yourself on the company's website. For a quick second look at a suspicious offer, there's a free checker here: [url removed]

Anyone else has been contacted by Anna Robinson robinsonanna1094@gmail.com allegedly from Stepes? | Re: Anna Robinson allegedly from Stepes

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:46:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Anyone else has been contacted by Anna Robinson robinsonanna1094@gmail.com allegedly from Stepes?
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Anna Robinson allegedly from Stepes

For anyone who finds this thread later with a similar offer: being asked to sign up on a separate "payment portal" after delivery is the point to stop, especially if any fee or charge is involved in releasing the money. Katarzyna, if you haven't already, it may be worth telling Stepes about the impersonation through contact details taken from their own website rather than from Anna's emails, and keeping the original messages, the brief, your delivery and the invoice together in one place. Since the work went to someone who used the agency's name, the real Stepes probably isn't the party that owes you, so I'd also report the Gmail account and the portal domain wherever you can. Before the next unknown "agency" contact gets a full translation, a quick check of the sender's domain against the company's own site and a confirmation from the agency itself can save a lot of trouble.

Is this offer legit? | Yes, it is a lot

Peter Motte — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:47:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Is this offer legit?
Poster: Peter Motte
Post title: Yes, it is a lot

[quote]2538238 (X) wrote:

Deluxe Spain reached out to me about a transcription job and joining their transcription pool. After a lot of back and forth, they wanted me to do a 2 hour unpaid test. It felt a bit much, [/quote]

Yes, that is a lot. I also did a test once for them, and it was much shorter.
They didn't offer me any job, though.

[quote]They said they're only able to pay in USD and seem to favour PayPal and Payoneer over bank transfer[/quote]

That's the fishy part. I don't think they told me that. Moreover, my impression was that it was a Belgian company, or at least something from the neighbourhood.
The once's I was in touch with, worked for audio-visual media.

Is this offer legit? | Re: Is this offer legit?

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:47:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Is this offer legit?
Poster: Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
Post title: Re: Is this offer legit?

Whatever Deluxe decides, I'd treat a two-hour test with no NDA, no confirmation of receipt and no answers about the work as a warning sign in itself. A short test can be reasonable, but its purpose and scope should be clear, and anything that long is worth agreeing in writing as paid before you start. For the next agency that reaches out through ProZ, check that the sender's address matches the company's own domain, and confirm the person and the project through contact details you find yourself on the company's website. And if they come back with more test material or unpaid training, I'd ask what is paid before doing anything else.

Fraudulent messages impersonating ProZ.com staff | Update: login alerts and two-step login for every account

Fawad Aslam Awan — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:28:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: Fraudulent messages impersonating ProZ.com staff
Poster: Fawad Aslam Awan
Post title: Update: login alerts and two-step login for every account

An update for this thread: every account now gets an email when it is signed in from a browser or device we haven't seen before, and when its password or login email changes, with a "This wasn't me" button to lock the account down. Members can also turn on two-step login, so a stolen password alone is no longer enough: [url removed] #two-step

ProZ.com Support Team

info@ecwpress.ORG - scam | I work at ECW Press

Jess Albert — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:09:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam
Poster: Jess Albert
Post title: I work at ECW Press

Hey folks,

I work at ECW Press and am trying to get this scam shut down. I'm wondering if anyone might be willing to send me the header of the scam email that they received. I'm looking for this info from either or both of the jobs@ and info@ email addresses that have been used:

Received (IP address)

X-Mailer: (Software or service used to generate the email)

Authentication-Results (Should say something like spf=, dkim=, and dmarc=)

With this, I am hoping that I can contact their mail server and have them ban the inboxes. If you are able to send me the email itself so I have proof to send over as well it would be much appreciated!

You can verify that I'm a real person who works at ECW on my LinkedIn here: [url removed]

Emily is also a real person who DOES, in fact, write her last name with a capital F.

Please feel free to reply to me / DM me here, connect with me on LinkedIn, or email me at my full first name (includes the 'ica' after the first four letters) at ecwpress dot com (definitely not dot org!)

Thanks for your help! At least one positive outcome of this scam is that we do indeed sometimes need to hire translators, and now we know a great forum on which we can find you!

Jess(ica) Albert
ECW Press Digital Operations Director

info@ecwpress.ORG - scam | Email from the same scammer

Sofia Gutkin — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:09:00 +0000

Forum: Scams
Topic: info@ecwpress.ORG - scam
Poster: Sofia Gutkin
Post title: Email from the same scammer

Hi everyone, I've now received an email from the same scammer.

++++
Email address: [email removed]
+++
I hope you’re doing well.

Ecw Press is currently seeking an experienced English-to-NorwegianTranslator for an upcoming freelance translation project.

We are looking for a qualified translator who can produce accurate, natural, and polished Norwegian while preserving the original meaning, tone, context, and style of the source material. Strong attention to detail, consistency, and the ability to meet agreed deadlines are essential for this assignment.

Project Details

- Language Pair: English →Norwegian
- Work Arrangement: Remote / Freelance
- Project Type: Written Translation
- Engagement: Project-Based
- Compensation: Based on project scope and translator experience

++++
Emily ferko
Project Coordinator
Ecw press
Toronto, Ontario
✉️ [email removed]
🌐 [url removed]
++++

While I hadn't noticed that the email uses ".ORG" while the website uses ".COM", I thought it was suspicious that the writer wrote their surname with a small "f" and that ECW Press was written as "Ecw press". A real literary agent wouldn't be so sloppy.