I received several messages from people asking me to help them

[silvanostagni]

I usually help people. Lately, I receive a couple of messages a week, usually from *********, from people who ask me for help getting started with Fiverr. Usually, they start with ‘hello’. I really would love to help them but they impact my working time and on my personal time so I have to say no and cut it short.
I can’t possibly be the only one who receives them. How do you react?

Mod Note: Country/region reference removed.

[lenasemenkova]

Mark these messages as spam. There is nothing you can do.

I had a few very extensive chats with people like this out of interest, trying to figure out what they thought I could do for them. They basically want free money from you. They usually have no gigs set up, no samples of previous work and substitute all that with begging. I can’t expose my client base to someone I don’t know, have no ways to get to know, can’t get any guarantees out of. Sob stories are not a proper foundation to build any kind of collaboration on.

[catwriter]

I usually help people. Lately, I receive a couple of messages a week, usually from *********, from people who ask me for help getting started with Fiverr. Usually, they start with ‘hello’. I really would love to help them but they impact my working time and on my personal time so I have to say no and cut it short.

I can’t possibly be the only one who receives them. How do you react?

Mod Note: Country/region reference removed.

How do you react?

I report them for spamming and block them.

[english_voice]

I respond “No” and mark all such messages as spam. We are sellers and not charities.

I also suspect that most these ‘sob story’ messages are fraudsters looking to make money.

[alyonagrapie]

Oh boy, those are my favourite. My go to replies are “No”, “Ok”, “Thanks”. I have a mental block on reporting victimless crimes, so I don’t report them. But I’m seriously considering something to mess with them without breaking the ToS or getting them banned. Perhaps something ominous, like a photo of their profile picture surrounded by black candles and creepy made up symbols :thinking:

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[vickiespencer]

I act like I do not understand and have this quick response ready for them:

If you’re interested in making a purchase, please provide the following information:

1. Is the text in MS Word? (That is the only format in which I work.)
2. What kind of writing do you have for me to proofread?
3. How many words are in the text?
4. Which type of English do you use? American, British, Australian, or Canadian?
5. How soon do you need the work completed?
6. Are you willing to buy a rush fee for quicker delivery?

[j6nyc6]

I act like I do not understand and have this quick response ready for them:

If you’re interested in making a purchase, please provide the following information:

1. Is the text in MS Word? (That is the only format in which I work.)
2. What kind of writing do you have for me to proofread?
3. How many words are in the text?
4. Which type of English do you use? American, British, Australian, or Canadian?
5. How soon do you need the work completed?
6. Are you willing to buy a rush fee for quicker delivery?

Block and report. It’s one thing to ask how they can improve their gigs and chances of being successful, but flat out asking for work is straight up lazy.

[silvanostagni]

Thank you for all your comments. I am relieved it does not just happen to me 🙂

[catwriter]

Block and report. It’s one thing to ask how they can improve their gigs and chances of being successful, but flat out asking for work is straight up lazy.

It’s one thing to ask how they can improve their gigs and chances of being successful

It’s not allowed to spam other sellers and ask them how to improve gigs and become successful. It’s a ToS violation.

[j6nyc6]

It’s one thing to ask how they can improve their gigs and chances of being successful

It’s not allowed to spam other sellers and ask them how to improve gigs and become successful. It’s a ToS violation.

Yes I know, but personally I rather have someone ask for help improving instead of asking for work. Again just my personal opinion being shared and I’m well aware of the TOS.