Safety
How to tell a real project from a scam
Real annotation platforms never ask you to pay to start. A few checks catch most fake offers.
Red flags
You are asked to pay for training, a starter kit, software or a “verification fee”. The offer arrives by WhatsApp or Telegram from someone you never applied to. The pay is far above similar listings for no clear reason. You are asked to buy gift cards, move money, or share a bank login or one-time code. Any one of these is enough to stop.
Check the source
Apply through the platform’s own website, not a link sent in a message. Look at the web address carefully; copycat sites use near-identical names. On Remotefolio every role links to the platform that posted it, and platform pages show reviews from people who signed in with a verified email.
What normal onboarding looks like
An application form, an identity check through a known provider, a skills assessment, and a contractor agreement you can read before signing. Identity checks are common and legitimate, but they happen inside the platform’s own site or app, not over chat.
If something feels wrong
Stop replying, do not send documents or money, and report the profile on the site where it contacted you. If you already shared bank or ID details, contact your bank and change the related passwords.
These guides are general information, not legal, tax or career advice. Check each platform’s own terms before you apply.