Should You Ever Pay Money To Work a Side Gig?

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Taking on a side gig can be a great opportunity to earn some extra cash, but what if you’re asked for money upfront?

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), you should never have to pay a fee to get a position. It also cautions that a legitimate company will never advance pay to you before you actually start working.

Find out whether experts think paying money to work a side gig is a good idea and how you can avoid getting scammed. 

Is Paying Money To Work a Side Gig a Wise Move?

Stephen Greet, CEO and co-founder of BeamJobs, said that when it comes to side gigs, you have to be very careful. “Unfortunately, there are some real shady characters looking to take advantage of honest folks just trying to earn a little extra cash,” he said. 

Beam explained, that most of the time you should not have to pay for typical side gig work, like hourly tasks or freelance projects. An exception, he said, might be if you’re asked to pay for training that leads to a valuable credential. 

“My advice is to really dig into any opportunities that expect money upfront,” he said. “Read all about the duties, pay and what past ’employees’ have said online. Be extra suspicious of vague roles or ones that ask for private info like your bank before even interviewing. Also, watch out if something seems too good to be true salary and schedule-wise. Those are often red flags.”

Beam also said that while having to pay for legitimate training is one thing, you generally don’t want to hand over cash to work. “Do your research, only work with known reputable outfits and trust your gut if something feels off,” he said. 

Signs of a Side Gig Scam

Mark Anthony Dyson, founder of The Voice of Job Seekers, said to look out for these signs of a side gig scam. 

• They say you are a ‘right fit’ based on little-to-no experience in the field. 
• If you’ve received a random text with a “seems-too-good-to-be-true” offer to make easy and lucrative money, it usually is.
• They say they are rushing the process because of an urgent need or a particular circumstance. They intend to gain your trust even if they send you an assessment or set up job interviews. Scammers today strive to emulate an actual hiring process but without scrutiny.
• They want private data like bank account numbers, Social Security numbers and birthdates.
• They want you to front a monetary transaction and they promise to reimburse you.
• They want to send you a (fraudulent) check to deposit in your account.
• The scammer may use the real name of an actual recruiter, but the recruiter has not posted the position.
• The side hustle may be an independent contracting position and no one at the company can confirm the contract request.
• The recruiter cannot be found anywhere on LinkedIn. If they’re legitimate, they will have a complete profile with verifiable credentials.

“Scammers will use actual recruiter names to lure potential victims, so vet them through LinkedIn. Ask them to send you a connection invite. Don’t ask them to contact you if they seem to have a fake profile. Report them,” Dyson said.

Dyson also said to be skeptical of any “easy money” opportunities friends tell you about because they may be unwitting victims of a scammer.

What You Should Do If You Notice Red Flags

Dyson said that both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the BBB encourage reporting scams. He also said that the  BBB has a “Scam Tracker Tool” for public use to find specific scams.

If someone you believe to be a scammer contacts you through text or email, Dyson said to block them. “If they approach you on a social network, screen-capture the interaction, then report them,” he said. 

Dyson also said to tell your network about the scam. 

“Think ‘neighborhood watch club’ when telling others, as you’re reporting suspicious people calling you, asking unusual questions and poking around for personal information,” he said. “If you’ve been scammed, tell your story to as many people as you’re willing to. The more specific you are, the more you’ll help others avoid it or inspire them to do the same.”

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