How to Avoid the Most Common Virtual Assistant Scams

As long as you use reputable virtual assistant agencies and freelance websites, you can avoid virtual assistant scams.

As a result, your company is expanding to meet the demands of an ever-increasing clientele and to boost profits. Adding a virtual assistant to your staff or assembling a remote team sounds appealing because it’s more cost-effective, time-saving, and convenient. Then, is it safe? So, you need not be alarmed, because we will tell you how to avoid the most common scams involving virtual assistants.

Your company can take advantage of a plethora of resources available on the Internet. Because of the internet and the shifting economic landscape, it is now easier than ever before to hire a virtual assistant or build a remote team from around the world. You open yourself up to scams as things become easier to find with a simple mouse click on the internet.

Scammers and the like are taking advantage of the growing popularity and demand for remote teams and virtual assistants. This is not to say that using a remote team for your business can’t be beneficial on the other hand.

Identifying the red flags

Hiring a virtual assistant can be a game-changer for your business, but it can also be a game-breaker. As a result, an increasing number of companies are turning to virtual assistants for assistance.

Identifying red flags early in the hiring or working process can help you avoid problems down the road. However, it serves as a reminder. Before assuming you’re dealing with a crook, show some humanity and try to make sense of the situation.

The warning signs may appear before or after the VA search or application. If you want to avoid getting conned, here are a few things to keep an eye out for.

The VA lacks a portfolio.

When searching for a candidate, clients frequently request a resume or curriculum vitae. An applicant’s identity can usually be verified with a resume. Resumes, on the other hand, are easily falsified. The first step in determining whether or not a virtual assistant is capable of delivering on the promises made in their resume is to look at their portfolio.

The VA lacks character reference.

Scammers are experts at what they do because they are trained professionals. These people have no problem obtaining a resume and putting together an impressive portfolio. Character references can be used to verify a candidate’s credentials in a similar way to the traditional hiring process.

The offering rate is too low for the VA’s qualifications or job’s workload.

You’ve been convinced by the VA’s resume, portfolio, and references that he or she is the real deal. In addition, the VA has the lowest rates of any candidate. Virtual assistants (VAs) who are well-qualified expect to be paid for their time and effort.

In order to provide their clients with high-quality work, virtual assistants purchase their own tools and equipment. An unusually low rate for the same work may be a red flag for the VA.

Something to keep in mind. In order to expand their VA portfolio, some VAs may offer lower rates than the market average for their services. To be on the safe side, pay your VA what you believe they are worth, even if their rates are lower

The VA avoids having a meeting with you.

The VA nailed the job interview and has a stellar resume. When you first begin working with your chosen VA, you may notice that the VA avoids meeting with you. This does not imply, however, that the VA you hired is a rogue businessman.

Nevertheless, if the VA is giving you reasons not to meet with them, it’s possible you’re dealing with an unofficial third-party agency. This implies that the person with whom you are speaking is not the one with whom you are working.

The VA asks for confidential information.

In order to complete assigned tasks or verify your identity, a virtual assistant may ask for personal information such as your name and email address. User names and passwords are all part of this data. A red flag may be if you feel pressured to provide information that isn’t necessary by the VA or if you feel uneasy about doing so.

Be on the lookout for scammers posing as virtual assistants (VAs). If something doesn’t add up with the virtual assistant, trust your instincts; if so, there may be a problem.

Avoiding virtual assistant scam

Now that you know the signs of a possible virtual assistant scam, there are also tips on avoiding one. Avoiding virtual assistant scam will save you trouble, waste of time, energy, and disappointments.

Hire a reputable staff management company or use credible freelance websites. 

If you’ve learned the warning signs of a scam, here are some tips for avoiding one. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration, time, and energy if you don’t fall victim to a virtual assistant scam.

Engage the services of a reputable personnel management firm or rely on reputable freelancer websites.

When looking for a virtual assistant, the best way to avoid scams is to use a staff management company. Most scams are perpetrated by freelancers because they have no one to blame but themselves.

When you work with a reputable staffing firm like VA FLIX, you can rest easy knowing that your virtual assistants are well-trained and reliable.

When you use a virtual assistant through a company, you can relieve stress and save time by having the virtual assistant take care of things like:

1. The virtual assistant’s performance is the responsibility of the company.
2. The company is in charge of all aspects of human resources management, including candidate selection, hiring, payroll, and so on.
3. This company has a talented pool of employees that can meet your company’s needs.  
4. It’s up to you to sign the agreement with the virtual assistant.
5. It’s up to you to sign the agreement with the virtual assistant.e.  Candidates are screened and vetted by the company before being presented to you.
6. The company usually provides training to keep VAs up-to-date on the latest technology.

VAFLIX’s Virtual Assistants offer a free initial consultation if you are completely unsure of how outsourcing and virtual assistants work. Virtual assistants can help your business in a specific way, and you should ask about this during the initial consultation.

Reliability and integrity are the cornerstones of avoiding scams. There are dozens of reputable virtual assistant and freelancing agencies available to help you protect your rights as a client from fraudsters.

Do a background check.

It’s always a good idea to run a background check on any freelancer you’re considering hiring. Check out the references they’ve provided and the previous companies they’ve worked for online. You can also check out the candidate’s social media accounts if they’ve listed them. Linked In is a common place to find the professional profiles of job candidates.

Pay on time.

When you work with a staff management company, you won’t have to worry about money because they have a system in place. Clients and virtual assistants negotiate payment terms when working with freelancers. It is common practice for clients to pay virtual assistants once a project has been completed or at each milestone.

Also, make sure to use payment platforms like Transferwise, PayPal and Payoneer, which are known for their reliability. A link sent by a virtual assistant asking for your bank or credit card information may be a hacking site, so don’t click on it.

Document everything.

Scams come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Document every transaction and communication with the VA to protect your business as well as yourself. if you can’t prove something, then it didn’t happen at all.

However, if you’re using a staff management company or your state’s laws apply to remote work or virtual assistants, you can skip this step.

Check the red flag listed above.

One of the red flags listed above indicates that a scammer may be advertising as an online virtual assistant, and you should steer clear.

Making a major business decision, such as whether or not to hire a new employee, is always fraught with uncertainty and risk. A risk to you, your company, or the virtual assistant industry should not be a factor in your decision to hire a virtual assistant.

As long as you use reputable virtual assistant agencies and freelance websites, you can avoid virtual assistant scams. Use a virtual assistant to help you Both you and the VA should learn a lot from the experience.

Use the Virtual Assistants from VA FLIX to stay safe from scams. We want to hear from you!