Did someone ask to make a payment outside Upwork?
Getting paid outside Upwork violates our Terms of Service and can result in permanent loss of your account if you participate. You can keep your account safe by reporting this behavior.
This article explains the importance of keeping communication and payments within Upwork to comply with our Terms of Service, and also outlines the risks of sharing contact information or handling payments outside of Upwork. The article also provides guidance on how to respond if someone requests off-platform communication or payment, and includes sample responses and frequently asked questions to help freelancers navigate these situations.
Sharing contact or payment information outside of Upwork when you meet on the platform is a direct violation of our Terms of Service. This includes attempting to contact someone via Telegram, WhatsApp, or other external methods, and handling payments outside of Upwork.
Consequences of violating this policy
Sharing contact information before a contract begins and taking payments off platform can result in loss of talent badges and, in some cases, permanent closure of your Upwork account.
In addition to this disciplinary action, contacting and paying others off-platform risks exposure to scams and jeopardizes the protection of your account and payment details.
What should I say if someone asks me to move payments off of Upwork?
Let the requester know it’s against our Terms of Service. Violating this rule will result in both parties losing access to Upwork, including valuable payment protection and support.
Sample replies:
- Unfortunately, if we move payments off of Upwork, we both lose some really important payment protections and support from Upwork. It's also against Upwork's Terms of Service and doing so could result in our Upwork accounts being permanently closed, meaning we wouldn't be able to use the site to find work or get work done.
- I want to be able to use Upwork for other contracts and work in the future. If we take payments off Upwork we are violating their Terms of Service. This means we could both permanently lose access to Upwork.
What should I say if someone asks to reach me outside of Upwork?
Remind the requester that sharing contact information before a contract is in place is prohibited. Direct them to Upwork's guidelines on what contact information can be shared and when.
Sample replies:
- "Let’s keep our project discussions on Upwork to maintain a single point of reference."
- "We should keep our conversations here to ensure Upwork can assist if any issues arise."
- "I’m excited to work together and will share my contact information once we have a contract in place, per Upwork’s Terms of Service."
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, even if the request isn't completed.
Decline the request and report it to us immediately.
You can use your own tools after a contract has started. Sharing forms of outside communication (or any other form of contact outside Upwork) before a contract starts is circumvention, which is against our Terms of Service.
After a contract starts, use the contract workroom to message and share details. Keep all pre-contract communication within Upwork to stay safe.
Yes, you can pay the Upwork Conversion Fee. Once paid, you can work together off-platform. Learn more here.