Did someone ask to make a payment outside Upwork?

Getting paid outside Upwork is dangerous and against our Terms of Service. Help us keep Upwork safe by reporting it.


Report Circumvention

Telegram, my client wants to contact me through Telegram, Whatsapp, give my Whatsapp number

Circumvention is when a client and freelancer meet through Upwork but try to continue their relationship elsewhere. The most obvious example is trying to pay or get paid outside Upwork, but also includes people trying to contact you outside the platform, through Telegram, Whatsapp, etc.

It's a serious breach of our Terms of Service for two reasons.

  • First, it can hurt you. Giving away your contact and billing details makes you vulnerable to scammers and fraudsters.
  • Second, it hurts our business too. We can't keep running our marketplace without the fee we get when clients pay freelancers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is asking to be paid outside of Upwork a violation?

Yes, even if the person who requests it doesn't go through with it.

Is there a way to move contracts off Upwork without violating the Terms of Service?

Yes, you can pay the Upwork Conversion Fee. Once the conversion fee has been paid, we'll let you know that you're both OK to work together off of our platform. Learn more here

What do I do if someone asks to pay me, or get paid, outside Upwork?

Just let them know you'll have to decline since it's against our rules. Please also report it to us.


Report Circumvention

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